FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF/KTUU) - As construction continues on the upcoming planetarium on the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) campus, Omega Smith has been named director for the facility, starting work on October 1.
Smith was born and raised in Alaska, developing an interest in astronomy at an early age and going on to work at two planetariums in Anchorage over 12 years before coming to the Interior for her new position at the farthest north planetarium in the western hemisphere.
"Fairbanks is a really unique location, and the fact that we're here on the campus of UAF, we have amazing research already done, especially about the Aurora, so having this campus and having the planetarium here, it gives me a really great opportunity to share the stories of the research and the stories being born right here in Fairbanks, in the Interior," Smith explained.
In her position, the Planetarium Director hopes to tell stories from the Interior.
"May it be the indigenous stories, how the ways of knowing about our night sky from this perspective in this unique area on the world and the stories of the research being done here on this campus and around Fairbanks."
Much of the building's exterior has been completed, with an architectural scheme matching the existing museum. Crews are busy at work on the inside with the new addition planned to open in late February.
Meanwhile, Smith said she is busy preparing content for the facility's opening.
"There's a lot to think about when opening a planetarium, so there's a lot of little details about how the planetarium is working with the other visitors who come to the museum," she said.
The dome for the planetarium's indoor display is expected in a couple of days, and once that's installed, technicians will set up projectors and a sound system.
When completed, the planetarium will feature on its outer wall the names of Walt and Marita Babula, who donated $7.4 million to its construction effort, constituting the largest donation from living individuals in the university's history.
Administrators also want to hear from the public about what they would like to see at the planetarium, with an option for submitting online comments expected on the planetarium's website in the future.