Winter is the ideal time to look at the night sky, and at the Staerkel Planetarium, that seasonal beauty is put on full display through its Fall Prairie Skies installation. The show recreates the rare viewing opportunity of a truly dark and unobstructed sky free from light pollution.

Prairies are some of the best environments for stargazing, and the planetarium showed the viewers how and where to look. Their wide, flat horizons and lack of tall buildings or dense tree cover allow viewers to see nearly the entire celestial dome at once. 

Historically, prairie regions offered some of the darkest skies in North America, making them ideal for observing seasonal star patterns and tracking time. According to Jeff Benter, the head planetarium presenter, those early experiences often leave a lasting impression.

“I grew up near Gibson City, (Illinois), with really nice dark skies,” Benter said. “As a kid, I was just amazed by how incredible the sky looked, and that fascination never really went away.”

During the presentation, Benter took the audience through the expanse of the night sky using state-of-the-art technology and projectors. Benter highlighted the constellations on the planetarium dome and told the audience the myth behind each major grouping, like Pegasus and Ursa Major. 

Among the most recognizable constellations featured were Orion and Andromeda. Orion, the great hunter from Greek mythology, is depicted by a striking pattern of stars that includes Orion’s Belt. According to legend, Orion was placed in the sky after his death so his bravery would be remembered forever. 

Nearby lies Andromeda, named after a princess who was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster before being rescued by the hero Perseus. Today, the Andromeda constellation is especially significant because it contains the Andromeda Galaxy, the closest major galaxy to the Milky Way and one of the most distant objects visible without a telescope.

The ability to see these constellations at different times of the year is due to Earth’s axial tilt. Because the planet is tilted about 23.5 degrees on its axis, different portions of the sky become visible as Earth orbits the sun. This tilt not only causes the seasons but also determines which constellations dominate the night sky in fall, winter, spring and summer. Stories and myths accompanied the experience that pertained specifically to the fall and winter skies.

Audience members said the storytelling element made the experience especially memorable. Shakti Rajeshkumar, freshman in Engineering, attended the show and emphasized how engaging the presentation felt. 

“I’ve always loved the stars, but the narrator was fantastic,” Rajeshkumar said. “He combined storytelling with pointing out the constellations in a way that made everything feel connected. It is so cool how different cultures interpret the stars, and I learned a lot.”

The show also highlights Polaris, commonly known as the North Star, which is a crucial feature in many Western myths and religions. Undoubtedly the brightest star in the room, Polaris was a guiding light for the duration of the event. 

Unlike other stars, Polaris appears nearly stationary in the sky because it lies almost directly above Earth’s rotational axis. For centuries, travelers and sailors leveraged it for navigation, making it one of the most familiar stars to people even today. Benter explained that recognizing Polaris often serves as a gateway for people new to astronomy.

“Once people realize that one star doesn’t move, it suddenly makes the rest of the sky make a lot more sense,” Benter said. “You can find many other constellations like the Pleiades or the Big Dipper by finding the North Star.”

In addition to constellations and myths, the experience also highlighted many astronomical features of the night sky. At one point, the planetarium roof transformed into a spaceship and flew by a recently exploded star, also known as a supernova. The projectors provided data upon flyby of the massive supernova event.

For many attendees, the experience offered more than just a learning experience. Parul Saxena, freshman in Engineering, noted the impact of the event. 

“I feel like everyone’s on their phones all the time, and we take the night sky for granted,” Saxena said. “This (event) kind of grounds you and reminds you that you’re on this planet under these stars.”

By recreating pristine prairie skies and blending astronomy with myth, science and storytelling, the Staerkel Planetarium reconnects audiences with a shared human experience that stretches back thousands of years. As gasps and quiet amazement ripple through the planetarium, the show proves that sometimes the most powerful perspective comes from simply looking up.

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