Some visitors who attend John Whitmers popular Friday night stargazing sessions expect insights based on the position of celestial bodies, as in when the moon is in the SeventhHouse.

But the director of Spokane Falls Community Colleges planetarium is an astronomer, not an astrologer. Hes more interested in the age of planets than the Age ofAquarius.

Whitmer has taught at SFCC since 1998, and spearheaded the effort to include a planetarium in the colleges new science building, completed in2011.

When planetariums were conceived a century ago, heres how one scientist described public

You have viewed 20 free articles or blogs allowed within a 30-day period. FREE registration is now required for uninterrupted access.

S-R Media, The Spokesman-Review and Spokesman.com are happy to assist you. Contact Customer Service by email or call 800-338-8801

Astronomer John Whitmer, pictured in SFCCs planetarium, has been with the college since1998. (Full-size photo)

Year SFCC planetarium opened: 2011

Seating capacity: 52

Public shows: Fridays at 7 p.m. during school year; Thursday afternoons insummer

View original post here:

Front and Center: John Whitmer, SFCC astronomy instructor - Sun, 16 Mar 2014 PST