The Old Dominion University Mary D. Pretlow Planetarium is located adjacent to the Chemical Sciences building, Alfriend Hall, on the main campus.
The 40-foot domed, Digitalis planetarium is used by the introductory astronomy classes and has public presentations. Planetarium shows include full dome, educational movies as well as live showings of the night sky. Monthly, the Bad Movie Night series shows old sci-fi movies on the dome.
The planetarium was named for Miss Mary Denson Pretlow at the request of the anonymous donor who presented the university with the funds to build the planetarium.
The University's Board of Visitors was receptive to naming the building after Miss Pretlow due to her thirty years of service (1917-1947) as head of the Norfolk Public Library as well as her career as a distinguished historian and librarian.
We have full-dome movies on Mondays and live shows on Thursdays. All shows are free and open to the public, and families are always welcome. You do not need tickets or to make any reservations. Shows begin at 6:30 and typically last 45 minutes to an hour.
The first Friday of every month, we show old sci-fi films on the dome of the planetarium. The night will start with a pub-style trivia contest at 6:30 followed by an old sci-fi film at 7:00. All showings are free!
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