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A Note From The Planetarium Director On Why There Are Not More Shows

The one complaint I hear about the Planetarium shows is why cannot there be MORE of them? To answer that please consider these facts about the Planetarium:

1. The evening shows are done by me on a volunteer (unpaid) basis.
2. I am the sole staff member of the Planetarium. Most of my job duties are teaching astronomy classes with 20% of the job duties devoted to the school fieldtrips during the mornings. Bakersfield College has zero funds for any additional staff or training of staff.
3. Money raised from ticket sales and planetarium rentals goes into the college's general fund that is used for any purpose the college sees fit. The money does NOT go into a fund strictly for the planetarium or the science department---no such fund exists (though people can donate to the BC Foundation with an earmark for the Planetarium).

The entire schedule of shows for the coming semester are posted on the William M Thomas Planetarium's website at least one week before the semester begins. I also advertise the shows in my newspaper column. Tickets for shows will be available for purchase from the BC Ticket Office up to four weeks before a given show but after the previous show. The fall semester at Bakersfield College begins the fourth week of August and the spring semester begins the Tuesday after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Do not delay in making your purchases! Shows sell out quickly with the entire Fall 2011 semester selling out during the first week of the semester. In order to decrease the number of no-shows for the shows, tickets will now be sold up to four weeks before a given show date but after the previous show instead of the whole slate of shows at once.

-- Nick Strobel, William M Thomas Planetarium Director

last updated: January 17, 2012

Webpage contact: Nick Strobel