If you can't afford the roughly $200,000 to be one of the first people to enjoy a private 30-minute space flight when it becomes available, the Shawnee State University Clark Planetarium has the perfect opportunity for the family.

The planetarium, located in the Advanced Technology Center on SSU's campus, will offer a one-hour show, “More than Meets the Eye,” to the public for only $3 for adults and $2 for children younger than 12. The shows are presented each Monday and Thursday, at 7 p.m., and concludes on June 1.

“The show is a guide to backyard astronomy,” said Timothy Hamilton, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics at SSU and planetarium director. “It explains what we can see in the skies with our naked eyes, with an ordinary pair of binoculars, and with a small telescope. It is a wonderful introduction for the amateur, explaining constellations, major stars, nebulae and galaxies.”

Seating is limited to 66 persons admitted on a first-come, first-served basis with money collected at the door. If the first show sells out, another show will be available at 8 p.m.

Each show concludes with a special treat for visitors, thanks to the state-of-the-art Digistar II Projection System.

“Each show will be followed by a set of our renowned ‘roller coaster rides' of special effects,” said Hamilton.

For more information or to schedule a private planetarium show, call (740) 351-3125.