The Culp Planetarium at High Point University

That's a wrap on Spring 2024 Family Weekend planetarium shows! Thanks to all who attended, and a special thanks to the Natural Sciences Fellows volunteers who made it all possible!

Planetarium Manager Erin Brady is at the 243rd Meeting of the American Astronomical Society in New Orleans, LA, this week! She's working with associates at Digitalis Education Solutions, Inc., to show off the capabilities of their inflatable planetarium domes.

We enjoyed watching the eclipse with everyone on Saturday!

Yesterday we were honored to host Dr. Derek Fish in the planetarium. He is the Founder and Director of the Unizulu Science Centre in Richards Bay, South Africa and is also serving as a year-long Fulbright Scholar in the Institute for Learning Innovation in Oregon this year. Dr. Fish gave a wonderful presentation on his experience working in science education in South Africa. The lecture was supported by the Fulbright Outreach Lecture Fund.

On Friday and Saturday, we welcomed nearly 1500 people into the planetarium for shows during HPU's Fall Family Weekend! These shows were made possible thanks to Planetarium Manager Erin Brady and the hard-working Natural Sciences Fellows listed below. Thanks to everyone for a successful weekend!

Alyson Acquard
Lucas Arciola
Kiara Busby
John Dickerhoff
Jalen Dixon
Michael Lee
Jenna Mastropolo
Tatum Mehring
Jake Mergenthal
Rebekah Olls
Sophie Spalding
Makenzie Wiseman

New fulldome movie alert! We have acquired "Living in Balance: Anishinaabe Star Knowledge." This show highlights Anishinaabe stories of constellations and moons in relation to contemporary insights about environmental changes, emphasizing how the environment and its changes affect star knowledge. It presents teachings about the stars, planets, seasons, and how to live a good life, respecting the lands, waters, animals, and all forms of life.

The show presenter has indigenous knowledge on its own and not in relation to western knowledge.

The script and art was created by Dr. Elizabeth LaPensée and the show heavily features the Eastern dialect of Anishinaabemowin. It was narrated, reviewed, and approved by Anishinaabe elders and community members. Teachings shared by Native Skywatchers Carl Gawboy, William Wilson, and Dr. Annette S. Lee are narrated by Aarin Dokum with Anishinaabemowin translations by Alphonse Pitawanakwat.

We often describe the Culp Planetarium as "the coolest undergraduate classroom in the country." This semester, there are several courses being taught in our facility, including Environmental Science, Astronomy, and Principles of Ecology, Evolution, & Biodiversity. Professors teaching these courses supplement traditional lecture presentations with fulldome movies and simulations to engage students in new and exciting ways!