School News
A&M-Commerce Planetarium to host Christmas Show every Friday
By Brent Lyday, Texas A&M University-Commerce
Dec 3, 2009

Commerce, TEXAS ­-- The Texas A&M University-Commerce Planetarium is getting into the Christmas spirit, and will be hosting the holiday show, "Mystery of the Christmas Star," beginning Friday, Nov. 13.

Shows will play every Friday through Dec. 18 at 7 and 8 p.m., and will offer a scientific view of what the star of Bethlehem may have been. The historical significance of the Biblical story about the star will also be discussed.

"The planetarium is a perfect place to study this because of its ability to exactly reproduce the skies as seen from Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago," said Dr. Kent Montgomery, planetarium director.

The shows begin with brief remarks by a member of the planetarium staff, who will guide audiences on a tour of the night sky as seen from Commerce, Texas on the planetarium auditoriumıs 40-foot dome.

"Mystery of the Christmas Star" is one of our most popular shows and has become a family tradition for many," said Cheri Davis, assistant planetarium director.

Reservations for each show are encouraged and can be made in advance by calling 903-468-8650. General admission tickets are $4, A&M-Commerce students with ID and all guests under 18 are $3, and university employee and senior citizen tickets are $3.50.

The planetarium will be closed from Saturday, Dec. 21 through Jan. 11 for the holidays. The public shows will resume on Friday, Jan. 15, continuing in the celebration of the International Year of Astronomy with, "Galileo: The Power of the Telescope."

For more information on the planetarium, visit
http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/home/university/planetarium/.

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