Enjoy a Missoula Star Gazing Night in UM Planetarium

Here's hoping the "Big Sky" lives up to its name when the University of Montana hosts their Winter/Spring Planetarium Shows!

The University of Montana’s Department of Physics and Astronomy invites the public to its shows in The Payne Family Native American Center Star Gazing Room. The shows are about 50 minutes long, and will be offered at 6:30 and 8 p.m. Fridays on the following dates: Jan. 20; Feb. 3 and 17; March 3, 17 and 31; April 14 and 28; and May 12.

Tickets cost $6 for adults and $4 for children ages 12 and under, and are available for purchase through the UM Physics Department ticket site. The maximum capacity for public shows is 28 people, so tickets are limited. Shows generally sell out far in advance and are not available the night of the show.

They do some really cool stuff, as each program takes attendees on a tour of the current night skies of Missoula, pointing out noteworthy objects, constellations, planets or upcoming events visible in the night sky. The show then will shift to engaging topics chosen by that evening’s presenter.

Attendees should plan to arrive 10 minutes before the beginning of the show to check in.

We hope you get a chance to enjoy one of these shows. It seems like it would be difficult not to when you're in a place called the "Star Gazing Room."   DB