PEEC and Nature Center Host Astronomy in New Mexico Planetarium Show Feb. 27

The Pajarito Environmental Education Center and Los Alamos Nature Center will present a live planetarium program titled "Astronomy in New Mexico" from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 at the Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium, 2600 Canyon Rd. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., and the event is priced at $6 per child, $8 per adult, or $20 per family, according to the Los Alamos Reporter event listing.

The program is described as immersive and will be led by astrophysicist Galen Gisler. "In this immersive program, astrophysicist Galen Gisler will guide audiences on a planetarium tour of notable astronomical sites across New Mexico, sharing stories, science, and the unique character of each location," the Los Alamos Reporter reported in its event announcement and PEEC's Feb. 19 release.

PEEC and the Los Alamos Nature Center framed the show within New Mexico's statewide astronomy assets, saying the state is "blessed with dark skies, sweeping landscapes, and a long tradition of scientific discovery" and is home to "major research facilities, campus observatories, amateur astronomy clubs, and cosmic art installations," language repeated in both the Los Alamos Reporter and the Los Alamos Daily Post coverage. The Feb. 19 announcement identified families with children ages 8 and up and "anyone curious about the sky above our home state" as the target audience.

Statewide context provided in ancillary sources highlights the range of locations the planetarium tour may reference. The New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science operates a 55-foot full-dome planetarium in Albuquerque and lists shows such as Messengers of Time and Space and Enchanted Skies; the museum's address is 1801 Mountain Road NW and its phone number is (505) 841-2800, with email nmmnhs.info@state.nm.us. Travel coverage notes there are "about a dozen observatories scattered throughout New Mexico," and calls out regional sites including the University of New Mexico Campus Observatory, the Tombaugh Campus Observatory at New Mexico State University, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, the Sunspot Solar Observatory's Richard B. Dunn Solar Telescope, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's Very Large Array, and visitor attractions such as the New Mexico Museum of Space History and the International UFO Museum & Research Center.

Photographic materials accompanying local announcements use imagery of the VLA; the caption reads, "The Milky Way Galaxy seen over the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array west of Socorro, New Mexico," with photo credit to NRAO/AUI/NSF, Jeff Hellerman in the Los Alamos Reporter and Los Alamos Daily Post releases. Publishers' permissions and photo-credit language in the LaDailyPost materials note that reprinting requires proper citation of the outlet and photographer.

The PEEC/Nature Center announcement did not include a full professional biography for Galen Gisler beyond the astrophysicist designation and did not specify ticket-purchase instructions, seating capacity, or accessibility and health protocols. Interested attendees should note the address at 2600 Canyon Rd and the stated $6 child / $8 adult / $20 family pricing, and should contact PEEC or the Los Alamos Nature Center to confirm ticketing and accessibility details before attending. The Feb. 27 program presents a focused, locally hosted opportunity to connect Los Alamos audiences with New Mexico's broader network of observatories and public astronomy resources.