The Valdosta State University Planetarium will present By Jove! at 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20. This presentation is free of charge and open to the public.
 
VSU’s Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences provided the following synopsis: “Our program will begin with a look at the September sky, two days before the start of autumn. Beside the gibbous moon four bright planets blaze in the night — Venus, Mars, ringed Saturn, and mighty Jupiter.
 
“Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, has long intrigued humans, but only recently have we started to unravel its many mysteries. In this presentation we will explore some of the new data NASA’s Juno probe has provided as it orbits the planet. We’ll learn about the hidden structure of the planet, the curious lightening near the poles, and why the planet has red and white stripes. We will also explore some of the unexpected and strange data that has come out of the mission.”
 
Seating for each of the three presentations is limited to 47 guests. Free admission tickets will be distributed beginning at 6 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis at the VSU Planetarium.
 
The VSU Observatory will be open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., weather permitting, allowing guests the opportunity to view the stars and planets.   
 
Located on the third floor of Nevins Hall, the VSU Planetarium features a Digitarium Kappa digital projector, which can reproduce the night sky as seen from anywhere on Earth or from the surface of any object in the solar system, at any time in history, past or future.
 
Limited parking will be available in front of Nevins Hall and across Patterson Street.
 
Planetarium public outreach shows are appropriate for children over the age of 4 and adults.
 
Contact VSU’s Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences at (229) 333-5752 for more information.