Reclining in comfortable seats, with air conditioning blasting, DVC astronomy students gaze up at the stars and planets inside the campus’ new and improved planetarium.

The facility opened its doors in the spring of this year, but the instructors are just beginning to take advantage of all the new technology and use the computer systems to their full capacity.

Thanks to the new renovations, students will be too mesmerized by their in-class trips far out into the Milky Way galaxy to be daydreaming through lectures.

However, despite the wonder of the show, students shouldn’t forget to put on their thinking caps while inside.

They will definitely be needed when taking the information learned in the planetarium back to the classroom.

The new renovations include an enormous amount of new space; a larger projector; a floor and entrance that are wheelchair accessible; and an exit that students can use in case of an emergency.

Looking up at the planetarium’s massive viewing area – which is two feet larger than the old one – students will see the hunter Orion or run into a big bear, the constellation Ursa Major, which contains the stars of the Big Dipper.

From Mars to Uranus, students have the opportunity to watch all eight planets move in retrograde motion.

They can also see all of the moon’s phases at once, answering the burning question: “What is the difference between a waxing and waning gibbous?” T

here is a new sound system that lets students rock to music while the planetarium presents a luminous, jaw-dropping show that even NASA would be proud of.

“I think it is very intriguing to look at,” said Paolo Mandile, an Astronomy 110 student. “I have been to many planetariums before and never seen it like this.”

A bond was taken out in 2001 to fund the renovations, but work didn’t begin until 2004.

Following a debate on how much money could be allotted to the project, it was determined that the state would spend about $600,000. The renovations took four years to finish.

Both Paul Sasse and Karen Castle, DVC astronomy instructors, look forward to hosting public shows in the planetarium in the future.

“I used to have shows for third- and fourth-graders, and I hope to get that started again soon,” said Sasse, with enthusiasm.

While the public and curious children will be treated to a fantastic galactic show, DVC students will have the rare opportunity to stare up at the night sky and get academic credit to boot.

The planetarium is located at the top of “Cardiac Hill.”