'Imiloa Astronomy Center, a part of the University of Hawai`i at Hilo, introduces a new evening planetarium program, "A 3D Hitchhikers Exploration of the Universe," which employs a new, 3-D stereoscopic projection system recently installed in the `Imiloa planetarium, according to a news release from the center.

Shawn Laatsch, `Imiloa's planetarium manager, will host the new evening presentation and he will "fly" participants out into space on a tour through the universe.

The new weekly evening program debuts on Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m and will be offered weekly on Thursday nights through the end of March. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the center's Science on a Sphere exhibit and the `Imiloa Museum Store will be open. The exhibit hall will not be open to the public but the Sky Garden Restaurant at `Imiloa will be open for dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. for these Thursday evening programs.

Laatsch will take the audience to local planets and their moon systems, land on Mars and zip through the rings of Saturn. There will be opportunities to visit other star systems with planets, and go far beyond to star clusters and other areas of the Milky Way galaxy. Traveling beyond the Milky Way, the journey will continue into inter-galactic space exploring local group of galaxies, the Virgo cluster of galaxies, and to the farthest extent that astronomical instruments are able to show us. Viewers will take a virtual 3-D flight through the cosmos and feel as if they are "jumping off the Earth" as they voyage through time and space.

"We have had such success with the 'Dawn of the Space Age' daily show and audiences have been awed by the new 3-D capability. Our new program is meant to highlight our planetarium's 3-D capability as well as entertain our audience with imagery that can be seen only in Hilo," Laatsch said.

The "3D Hitchhikers Exploration of the Universe" live planetarium program will be presented in `Imiloa Astronomy Center's 120-seat planetarium. Admission is $8 for advance sale tickets and $10 on the day of the program. Advance sale tickets are available at the `Imiloa front desk or by phone, 808-969-9704; Visa and MasterCard accepted.

'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i is located at 600 'Imiloa Place in Hilo, off Komohana and Nowelo Streets at the UH-Hilo Science and Technology Park. For more information, visit www.imiloahawaii.org or call 808-969-9700.