The evening will feature two unique shows.

The introductory program, "Summer Sky Tour," is an interactive journey into the heavens. Constellations will be identified, the mysteries of the Milky Way explored and the audience will learn about recent NASA missions. Also, some of the Hubble Telescope¹s most recent photographs will be shown.

The feature program, "The Search for Life in the Universe," examines such questions as whether humans are alone in the universe and our attempts to contact extraterrestrial civilizations. The show also examines the ingredients needed for life on Earth as well as what would be needed to sustain life on other planets.

"The planetarium represents one of the last true marriages between education and entertainment. It is a place where the content, i.e. knowledge, is the entertainment. It is a place that sparks imagination, wonder and awe," said Christopher McGowan, the planetarium¹s program coordinator. "I am hoping this show will intrigue our audience and I want them to walk away pondering the possibility of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe."

The Donald E. Bianchi Planetarium is operated by CSUN¹s Department of Physics and Astronomy. It is named after the founding dean of the university¹s College of Science and Mathematics, who was instrumental in obtaining the funds for Science Buildings III and IV and the planetarium itself. The planetarium began offering regularly scheduled shows for the first time in 2002.

At the heart of the 105-seat theater lies the Spitz-512 Star Projector, capable of recreating the night sky on a 40-foot dome with accuracy and brilliance. More than 2,000 stars, the five visible planets, and all of the apparent motions of the sky come alive overhead in a unique and relaxing environment. The Bianchi planetarium is also equipped to support large format image projection and captivating digital sound.

During the weeks ahead, planetarium presentations as well as guest speakers will focus much of their attention on Mars. In a future presentation, USC astrobiology student Derek Shannon will discuss his experience as crew geobiologist during Mars mission simulations which took place in the badlands of Southern Utah.

The introductory show begins at 7 p.m. and the feature show begins at 8 p.m. Audience members are recommended to get to the planetarium no later than 6:45 p.m.

The planetarium is located in Science Building III, near the center of campus at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge. Weekend parking is free in Lot G4 located off Zelzah Avenue.

Tickets for the show are $5 for adults and $3 for students. 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.

To ensure a seat, advance ticket purchases are recommended. For more information about this Saturday¹s show and about future presentations and guest speakers, contact Christopher McGowan at (818) 677-5601 or e-mail him at christopher.mcgowan@csun.edu., or go to http//www.csun.edu/PhysicsAndAstronomy/.

California State University, Northridge has more than 32,000 full- and part-time students and offers 59 bachelor¹s and 41 master¹s degrees. Founded in 1958, it is the only four-year university in the San Fernando Valley and the third largest in the 23-campus CSU system. The Western Association of schools and Colleges recently said CSUN "stands as a model to other public urban institutions of higher learning."