UNCENSORED: Do a little stargazing at McDonnell Planetarium

St. Louis has a ton of neat attractions, so I decided to become a St. Louis tourist this summer. First on my agenda was a visit to the large, hyperboloid structure along Interstate 64 in Forest Park.

What in the world am I talking about, you ask? The James S. McDonnell Planetarium, which is part of the St. Louis Science Center and walking distance from campus.

Whenever I drive or jog by the planetarium, I am in absolute awe of the architectural design, and the experience changes at night, when spotlights cast different colors on it. Add the right weather effect, and it’s almost magical.

The planetarium is surrounded by trees and fun sculptures, and in the spring and summer, birds are singing their tunes, making it the perfect place for a peaceful picnic.

Once I explored the outside, I made my way inside. Admission to the planetarium is free. Usually, I just look at exhibits in the main section, but this time I wanted to do something different.

I purchased a ticket for one of the shows, which are projected on a 24-meter dome overhead. I chose “Live Sky: The Constellations.” The cost was $6.

When I entered the auditorium, I immediately felt a cool breeze brush against my skin, as if I were outside on a beautiful spring evening. (Actually, it was the air conditioner, but it felt good.)

You can sit in theater chairs or lie in the middle of the floor on a blue gym mat to watch shows. Naturally, I chose the mat so I could pretend that I was in a grassy field, looking up at the nighttime sky.

A woman on staff thanked the audience for visiting, pointed out emergency exits and told us the rules of etiquette. I lay there eagerly but patiently waiting for the lights to go off and the “sky” to light up.

I soon learned that the woman would also be narrating the show, and her soft-spoken voice set a mellow tone. An image of the sun gradually appeared on the screen as the house lights faded.

The woman refreshed my memory, explaining that constellations are groups of stars that form outlines or patterns on the celestial sphere. Many remind people of animals, mythical characters or objects, such as the Big Dipper.

The woman then explained why the sky changes color, sometimes even appearing pink or purple. It depends on what molecules are in the air at the time.

My overall experience at the planetarium was wonderful. I felt educated and relaxed, both at the same time. And I felt grateful that we have such a unique facility in St. Louis.

By the way, the McDonnell auditorium is also used for other purposes, such as yoga with instructors from Yoga Buzz.

After the planetarium visit, I decided to go and check out the Science Center. In the hallway that leads to it, I spent six minutes looking at exhibits, including an actual bee hive, seashell and mineral collections and a station where you can check your weight on Mars.

Then I crossed the enclosed bridge over Interstate 64, which is thrilling and beautiful, with multi-shaped windows in the floor that allow you to look down on traffic. Speedometers even tell you how fast the cars are traveling.

Admission also is free at the Science Center, although it costs extra to see special exhibits and Omnimax theater shows at the Science Center. I won’t go into detail here, but suffice it to say that the facility has something for everyone, no matter your age.

When visiting the planetarium and Science Center, I recommend arriving early in the morning and packing a lunch to eat outside. Or you can buy food and drink in the cafeteria, where the options are great, but they’re a little pricey.

College students don’t have a lot of money, and they’re always looking for affordable things to do. The planetarium and Science Center are great places to hang out with friends and family or take a date and not break the bank.