The planetarium offers two shows every Friday night to give the public an opportunity to view different aspects of the evening skies. The planetarium will be closed on May 27 as part of finals week on campus.

The first show, each Friday in May from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., is an examination of the night sky during springtime. The second presentations, each beginning at 7:30 p.m., are as follows:

• May 6 -- "Fact and Fiction in Cosmology" -- in which UCLA physics and astronomy professor Edward L. "Ned" Wright will talk about what is known about the universe.

• May 13 -- "In Search of the Cause of the End of the Dinosaur Era: The Story of the Chicxulub Impact Crater " -- in which planetary scientist Adriana Ocampo will discuss expeditions in Belize and Mexico that explore the impact site of an ancient asteroid, believed to have hit the Earth 65 million years ago.

• May 20 -- "Special Relativity for Non-Scientists" -- JPL astronomer Skip Newhall will give a non-technical presentation of Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, which is essential for understanding how the universe works.

Student admission for planetarium shows is $3 for one show and $5 for both shows. General admission is $5 for one show and $8 for both shows.

Tickets are available at the University Student Union box office Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by calling the box office at (818) 677-2488.