Last modified on January 22, 2022, at 23:42

Donald W. Reynolds Science Center Planetarium

Donald W. Reynolds Science Center Planetarium, located in the Reynolds Science Building on the south lawn of Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, is considered by the school to be Arkansas' finest planetarium. [1]

With seating capacity for 45 people, it contains a state-of-the-art Digitarium Gamma digital planetarium projector. It replicates the night sky using a fisheye lens. [2] The Digitarium replaced a Carl Zeiss ZKP-3 planetarium projector in 2009.

The planetarium says it has the best multi-media capabilities of any planetarium within a five-state region.

The newest planetarium productions available are shown every middle of the month on weekends, with special shows as advertised.

It offers Cub Scout and Boy Scout badge workshops on astronomy, rocketry and earth science. [1]

School groups should call Denise Cordova (870-230-5162) or planetarium manager Jim Duke (870-230-5006) to schedule show dates and times;$3 per person if not enrolled at HSU. [3]

History

The planetarium was built as part of $7.6 million renovation funded in 1997 by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. McElhannon Hall was renovated and enlarged into the Donald W. Reynolds Science Center. The foundation challenged Henderson to raise $1.6 million to assure that the center and its equipment will be perpetually properly maintained. [4]

References

[1] Arkadelphia Area Chamber of Commerce, http://www.arkadelphia.org/Recreation/Planetarium.php [2] Arkansas Online, http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/sep/17/better-equipped-henderson-state-planetari-20090917/ [3] Donald W. Reynolds Science Center Planetarium, http://www.hsu.edu/content.aspx?id=2041 [4] http://www.hsu.edu/content.aspx?id=4432