planets and other heavenly bodies against a black backgroundApril 2, 2019—The Bushman Planetarium inside Agenstein Hall will host a public showing of “Nine Planets and Counting” at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 4.

How many planets are there in our solar system? Nine, right? Or is it eight? Maybe it’s ten, or twelve, or more. Take a tour to explore the variety of objects that populate our solar system. Along the way, we’ll examine each planet individually and then step back to look at the big picture: rocky worlds compared to gas giants and more. What is a planet, anyway? The answer may surprise you.

Planetarium tickets must be purchased in advance, either online at missouriwestern.edu/planetarium or in person at Agenstein Hall, room 140 during regular business hours (8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday).

The Bushman Planetarium features a Digistar 4 projection system and a dome that is tilted slightly, rather than directly overhead, making viewing easier. A 17-channel stereo sound system enhances the viewing experience.

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.