Mercury: America’s First Men in Space

Friday, April 8, 15, 22, 29
Saturday, April 23, 30

Back to Public Shows

The Merrillville Community Planetarium presents Mercury: America’s First Men in Space, a public program beginning on April 9 and continuing through May 1. The show will be presented on Friday, April 8, 15, 22, and 29, and Saturday, April 23 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. Additional showings may be added if needed. The planetarium opens for seating 30 minutes before the show begins. No one will be admitted after the program starts. The planetarium’s Gift Shop is open before and after each show. Weather permitting, an outdoor observing session is offered following each program.

This spring marks the 50th anniversary of mankind’s first steps into space. On April 12, 1961, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space. One month later, Alan Shepard became the first American in space. “Mercury” traces the space race from Sputnik through the flights of John Glenn and Gordon Cooper. The planetarium’s Gift Shop will be open and, weather permitting, an outdoor observing session will be offered following the program.

There are only 64 seats available for each showing. Seats should be reserved by calling (219) 650-5486 or here on the web site. Admission to public programs is $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for children. Large groups can arrange for a private show by calling the planetarium at (219) 650-5486.

This is the third of four public programs for the 2010-2011 school year. Our next public show, The Endless Horizon, will be in July, 2011. The planetarium is located in Clifford Pierce Middle School at 199 East 70th Avenue in Merrillville, Indiana. Please park and enter on the west side of the building.