Curt Spivey, Youngstown State University Planetarium engineer, introduces the media to the repaired planetarium while standing next to the Chronos star projector.

YOUNGSTOWN — The devastating fire that spread inside Youngstown State University’s Ward Beecher Planetarium left a gap in college students’ education as well as preventing entry to the public who were treated to numerous events displayed on its distinctive dome structure.

On Jan. 9, 2022, the flame from a torch used to seal a leak on the flat portion of the Ward Beecher roof got behind the metal section and ignited the plywood underneath. The fire moved toward the planetarium and filled hallways with smoke.

Despite firefighters using tarps to lessen water damage as they hosed down the building, damage occurred to a long list of items, including the roof, the original copper dome, carpeting, LED cove lighting, classroom video projector, lens masks on the fulldome video projectors, all of the speakers for the sound system, seats, a display case, telescopes and the Chronos star projector (aka the “Star Ball”).

After 20 months, a renovated and updated planetarium will celebrate its grand reopening Friday and Saturday with events open to the public in conjunction with YSU Homecoming festivities.

“We are extremely excited to finally get back to showing people the wonders of the universe again,” said Dr. Patrick Durrell, Planetarium Director / Professor of Astronomy, “whether it be showing the stars and constellations with the Chronos star projector or the latest astronomical discoveries using the 4K fulldome video system.

“It has been a long time coming, but I hope people will see that it was worth the wait once they walk in the doors. A lot of people — YSU people, contractors, electricians, planetarium suppliers and installers — worked very hard to get this very complex facility completed.”

Classes for YSU students started in August.

“Our planetarium was, in 1967, the first in the USA to be designed as a ‘teaching planetarium,’ where students take classes inside the planetarium all semester,” Durrell explained. “This renovation is extremely important for YSU students and our ability to teach our astronomy classes in a way that is not possible at many other universities. We have one of the largest seating capacities of college / university planetariums in the entire country.”

Among the improvements, primary equipment such as projectors, lighting and roof remained either the same or changed to similar substitutes. The seat layout, electrical system, carpeting and additional lighting were updated.

“Most notably, the old dome had to be replaced,” Durrell said. “This is not a small thing, as planetarium domes are custom made. We could not simply put in the same style dome we had before, which was installed in 1967. The new dome is also painted in such a way to optimally show video, which the original dome did not.”

This weekend’s programs will offer previews of shows and events on the planetarium dome that will be hosted over the next nine months.

“We want to showcase — and, in some cases, show people for the first time — what we can do at the Ward Beecher Planetarium,” Durrell said.

The remaining weekends in October will feature the 50th anniversary of its popular, and updated, Halloween program, “Nightlights.” Fulldome shows that were unable to be displayed last year are on the 2025 schedule. Also, a weekend of laser light shows set to popular music takes place in January.

“While many — but certainly not all — universities do have a planetarium on campus, most are smaller than ours either in seating capacity and / or dome size. The Ward Beecher Planetarium is one of the largest university planetariums in the entire region that also has digital fulldome projection to greatly expand our programming options.

“We have a rather unique facility here in Youngstown, and the continued, enthusiastic support we receive both from within YSU and the broader community is nothing short of amazing. We are back after a damaging fire because of that support.”

Durrell added, “We were — and we will continue to be — presenting free shows about astronomy and space science to people of all ages. We will continue to be a valuable educational resource for people in the Mahoning Valley and beyond.”

All shows are free and open to the public. Reservations are not needed. Admission is on a first-come, first-seated basis. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the show. Call the information line at 330-941-1370 or go to www.wbplanetarium.org for more information and a schedule of events.