Experience the 'Season of Light' at Augustana's John Deere Planetarium in Rock Island

Augustana Colleges John Deere Planetarium invites visitors to experience its yearly holiday show, Season of Light, running from December 6 to 12. Performances will take place on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., with weekday shows at 7 p.m. Doors open 15 minutes before each presentation, and late arrivals will not be admitted. The program is not suitable for children under 8 years old.

The planetarium is located at 820 38th Street, Rock Island. Admission is free, but reservations are required.

Dr. Lee Carkner, the planetarium director, will guide attendees through the experience. Created by Loch Ness Productions, Season of Light combines images, video, animation, and music to explore the connections between holiday traditions and the night sky. The show also illustrates the changing seasons, winter constellations, and offers insights into the Star of Bethlehem.

In addition, visitors can view Apollo program artifacts and a quarter-ton fragment of the Canyon Diablo meteorite at the Getz-Rogers Gallery in the planetarium lobby. The nearby Fryxell Geology Museum will be open to the public from 1-4 p.m. on December 6-7 and 7:30-8:30 p.m. on December 8-12.

Author: Logan Reeves