Two programs at Ritter Planetarium this month will showcase the new Spitz SciDome XD projector that covers the entire hemisphere of the 40-foot dome with more than 6.5 million pixels.

“One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” will be shown Saturdays, Jan. 14-28, at 1 p.m.

Tag along with Big Bird and Elmo and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu, as they learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the sun and the moon. (The characters will be on screen only and not physically in attendance.)

“IBEX: Search for the Edge of the Solar System” will be shown Fridays, Jan. 13 through 27, at 7:30 p.m.

Produced by the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, this program follows the creation of NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer, which scientists are using to investigate the boundary between our solar system and interstellar space.

Weather permitting, you can also catch a glimpse of the planet Jupiter at the Brooks Observatory after the Friday evening programs. The planetarium’s smaller telescope will be used to look at the sun following the Saturday afternoon shows.

Admission is $6 for adults and $5 for children 4 through 12, seniors, and UT students and employees.

For more information, call Ritter Planetarium at 419.530.2650 or its 24-hour information hotline at 419.530.4037.

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