With the spring semester coming to a close, students’ stress levels are higher than ever. What better way to unwind than through a calming experience under the stars?
NKU’s Haile Planetarium, located on the fourth floor of the Natural Science Center, offers weekly sessions alternating between guided meditation and astronomy-focused planetarium shows.
Earlier this month, they offered a guided meditation event for students and faculty on campus to de-stress. Upon entering the dome, viewers took their seats, leaned back and looked up. The starry night sky surrounded them, pulling the audience into a mesmerizing, immersive visual show. The narrator’s voice, guiding the meditation, echoed through the space, creating a calming atmosphere.
Hannah Wayne, a senior entrepreneurship major, attended her first show at the planetarium.
Wayne has followed guided meditation sessions at home, but had never meditated in a public setting. This experience gave her a better understanding of her preferences and what she enjoys most when meditating.
“I like the fact that there were other people here. I do this myself at home and stuff, but it was nice being with other people,” Wayne said.
Jenna Enzweilera, a junior entrepreneurship major, had also never attended a planetarium show at NKU before. She expressed how coming to events like this is important for students’ mental health.
“I think it’s important because everybody’s got other things going on. Everybody’s working. Everybody’s in school. Everybody’s doing different things and has different lives,” Enzweilera said. “I think it’s important to take time to try new things and do things that help you feel good.”
Enzweilera said the experience helped her wind down before finals week.
“I felt good. I think it was relaxing. It was different. I’ve never been in here before, so it was really cool just to look at the stars,” she said.
Professor Christa Speights, director of the Haile Planetarium, hosts the weekly planetarium shows for students, faculty and the public.
Speights, who has directed the planetarium since 2015, is passionate about organizing immersive events. She has partnered with NKU’s health and wellness program to offer shows specifically tailored to improve mental health.
“With how stressful everything is– a time when, at the beginning of the week, you can kind of reset,” said Speights. “Yeah, things are crazy, but pause and breathe.”
Speights also shared about a special upcoming event.
On May 7, the planetarium will host an astronomy show honoring the 100-year anniversary of the world’s first planetarium showing ever.The centennial celebration will cover the history of looking at the sky and modeling it. This event will offer a bit of stress relief for students as they navigate through finals week.
Visit the NKU Haile Planetarium’s website to learn more about upcoming events and how to secure your seats.