Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to footer content

About the Cernan Earth and Space Center

 

What equipment is used in the planetarium to create the

immersive, some would say 'magical', experience?

Cernan Auditiorium
Cernan Auditorium

 

Technical Specifications

Meet the Staff

Kris Kovach McCall

Director

kristinemccall@triton.edu

Wayne C. Foster

Planetarium Educator

waynefoster@triton.edu

Jordan Jubeck

Planetarium Educator

jordanjubeck@triton.edu

Kelly Riordan

Office Accountant

kellyriordan@triton.edu

Linda Gohmann

Assistant Coordinator for Special Events

lindagohmann@triton.edu

Ramon Flores

Cashier

 

Brief History

  • March 14, 1934: Eugene A. Cernan was born at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Chicago and was raised in the suburbs of Bellwood and Maywood.
  • 1952: Gene Cernan graduated from Proviso East High School.
  • June 3 - 6, 1966: Gene Cernan was Pilot for Gemini 9A which practiced orbital maneuvers and tested how spacewalk equipment and procedures in preparation for the Apollo missions to the Moon.
  • May 18 - 26, 1969: Gene Cernan served as Lunar Module Pilot aboard Apollo 10 which was a full dress rehearsal for Apollo 11; except Apollo 10 only flew within eight miles of the lunar surface where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made the historic first landing.
  • December 14, 1972: Captain Gene Cernan was the last person to leave his footprints on the lunar surface.
  • 1973: Triton College was booming with high enrollment and lots of young people in the area.
  • May 23, 1974: Original Cernan Earth and Space Center opened on the Triton College campus, with Captain Cernan and his mother in attendance for the dedication. Captain Cernan was not involved in the planning and development of the Earth and Space Center that bears his name. Linton Pitluga was the first Director of the Space Center. Once the facility had been operational for a few years, Captain Cernan became very supportive of the Space Center because he shared the same ideals as the mission of the institution: To inspire dreams and goals for a new generation of astronauts and explorers of all kinds.
  • January 12, 1985: New Cernan Earth and Space Center building dedicated with Captain Cernan in attendance. Steve Bishop was Director of the Cernan Center at this time.
  • January 1985: Premiere of first Cinema 360 spherical projection film, Space Shuttle: an American Adventure in the new Cernan Earth and Space Center.
  • January 1986: Bart Benjamin is named Director of the Cernan Earth and Space Center.
  • February 23, 1991: Captain Cernan speaks at the Big Event for Cernan Center members and guests. Over the years, this annual speakers program featured such luminaries as astronauts Alan Bean, Bruce McCandless, Janice Voss, and Story Musgrave as well as scientific leaders in the areas of astronomy, space history, paleontology and more.
  • October 12, 1995: Captain Cernan was the distinguished guest at a Triton College Foundation event.
  • November 11-12, 1997: Captain Cernan was honored at the Annual Triton College Foundation President's Reception.
  • December 13-14, 1999: On the 27th anniversary of his last step on the Moon, Captain Cernan launched his new book Last Man on the Moon with a large book signing event. During the two day event, Captain Cernan greeted visitors and signed more than 950 books. Of special note was his generosity of time with people. He would chat and take pictures with anyone who asked.
  • November 15, 2012: While in Chicago on other business, Gene Cernan visited Triton College and participated in a VIP Breakfast followed by an assembly for school children in Triton College’s Auditorium.
  • June 8, 2014: Release of the documentary film Last Man on the Moon about the life and recollections of Astronaut Gene Cernan.
  • April 2015: The Konica-Minolta Super MediaGlobe II fulldome digital projector is installed in the Cernan Center Planetarium opening up new capabilities for programming about astronomy and space exploration along with other science, history and more.
  • April 2015: Bart Benjamin retired after 31 years at the Cernan Earth and Space Center, 29 as Director.
  • September 2015: New carpet, seats and acoustic panels were installed in the Cernan Center Planetarium.
  • September 2015: Kris McCall steps in to become Director of the Cernan Center.
  • January 2016: All planetarium programming transitioned to the fulldome digital projection system.
  • May 24, 2016: Community members come out for the relaunch ceremony of the newly renovated Cernan Center, featuring a rocket launch.
  • January 16, 2017: Captain Gene Cernan passes away in Houston, TX after a lengthy illness.
  • July 2019: New computers and software were installed to drive the digital planetarium.
  • July 2019 - April 2025: Incremental improvements to the sound system increased the available power and brought it up to S.I. surround sound.
  • November 2022: An interactive touch table was added to the exhibit hall running Colonize Mars and Stellar Playground software.
  • July 2025: A new, laser phosphor, digital projector replaced.

At its height in the early 1990s, attendance at the Cernan Earth and Space Center at Triton College was approximately 60,000 people per year. Visiting school groups, Triton College classes, and the general public were inspired and educated through planetarium programs and Cinema 360 hemispheric films. Programs covered a variety of topics from exploring the planets in our solar system and what’s visible in the current night sky to The Space Shuttle: an American Adventure and The Great Barrier Reef.

By 2015, attendance had declined to just 10,000 people per year, but with the installation of fulldome digital projection technology in April 2015 and the increased capabilities and flexibility of the software, attendance jumped to 11,000 in 2016. Dramatic new programs, comparable to those offered in larger planetariums, and an increase in the number of public programs offered provide more opportunities for residents of the Western Suburbs and across the Chicagoland area to develop a greater awareness, understanding, and appreciation for the world and the universe that surrounds us.

Here are the seven Gene Cernan visits to CESC/Triton College that were tabulated a while back:

  • May 23, 1974: Original Cernan Earth and Space Center dedication/speaker
  • January 12, 1985: New (current) Cernan Earth and Space Center dedication/speaker
  • February 23, 1991: Big Event speaker
  • October 12, 1995: TC Foundation corporate event
  • November 11-12, 1997: President's Reception
  • December 13-14, 1999: Book signing event
  • November 15, 2012: VIP Breakfast/School Event

Cernan Earth & Space Center Exhibits

The Cernan Earth and Space Center has a number of Earth and Space exhibits in its main lobby.

Photo Apollo 10 Space Suit in a display case

APOLLO 10 SPACE SUIT

This was the spacesuit worn by astronaut Gene Cernan on the Apollo 10 mission. This spacesuit was never worn on the moon, since the Apollo 10 mission was not designed to land astronauts on the surface. Instead, this mission served as the final "dress rehearsal" before the first lunar landing mission of Apollo 11 two months later.

 

Photo of Apollo Artifacts in a display case

OTHER APOLLO ARTIFACTS

This case contains a variety of Apollo artifacts, including a coverall garment worn by Gene Cernan en route to the moon and several pieces of Apollo spacecraft navigation equipment.

 

Photo of Fossils in a display case

FOSSILS

 

Photo of a scale sized Space Shuttle Model

SPACECRAFT MODEL

This 1/15th scale model of the Space Shuttle Challenger is suspended over the heads of visitors in the lobby.

 

Photo of replica space capsule and rocket outside of Space Center

OUTDOOR EXHIBITS

The Nike Tomahawk missile was used to collect weather information in the Earth's upper atmosphere. The Apollo Practice Capsule never flew in space, but was used by the U.S. Navy to practice ocean recoveries.

 

TELESCOPE EXHIBIT

This exhibit shows cutaway models of the major types of telescopes and describes a few of the many celestial objects that can be seen with small telescopes.

 

Captain Eugene Cernan Tribute

 Photo of Captain Cernan addressing an audience

 

The Cernan Earth and Space Center was named for astronaut Eugene A. Cernan (CAPT, USN, Retired) who was born on March 14, 1934, and raised in suburban Bellwood, not far from the Triton College campus where the Cernan Earth and Space Center is located.

Before becoming an astronaut, Gene Cernan was an American naval officer, naval aviator, electrical engineer, aeronautical engineer and fighter pilot. He flew aboard the Gemini 9, Apollo 10 and Apollo 17 missions. In December 1972, Captain Cernan was the last astronaut to leave his footprints on the lunar surface.

The entire Triton College community is saddened by the passing of Capt. Eugene Cernan, the last man to set foot on the moon and namesake of Triton’s Cernan Earth and Space Center. He is a true American hero and forever a friend of Triton. Former Cernan Center Director Bart Benjamin shared his memories of Captain Cernan with WGN News, CBS Chicago, NBC Chicago and ABC Chicago. Click the links below to learn more about the life and legacy of Capt. Cernan.

Links:

Click here to watch a video of the funeral services for Gene Cernan, held Jan. 24, 2017 in Houston, TX.  

Big Event

Our the years, the annual "Big Event" has welcomed an astronaut or scientist for a special presentation and reception. Since the Cernan Earth and Space Center inaugurated its membership program in early 1985, we have welcomed the following speakers.

Date of "Big Event" & Guest Speaker

  1.  Sat., Jan. 12, 1985 - Eugene Cernan, Gemini and Apollo Astronaut
  2.  Sat., Feb. 15, 1986 - James Lovell, Gemini and Apollo Astronaut
  3.  Sat., Feb. 21, 1987 - Lee Sentell, U.S. Space Camp and Academy
  4.  Sat., Feb. 6, 1988 - Alan Bean, Apollo & Skylab Astronaut/Space Artist
  5.  Fri., Feb. 17, 1989 - Edward Rocky Kolb - Astronomer from Fermilab
  6.  Sat., Jan. 27, 1990 - Byron Lichtenberg, Space Shuttle Astronaut
  7.  Sat., Feb. 23, 1991 - Eugene Cernan, Gemini and Apollo Astronaut
  8.  Sat., Feb. 8, 1992 - Janice Voss, Astronaut Candidate
  9.  Fri., June 11, 1993 - James Kaler, Astronomer/Author
  10.  Fri., April 15, 1994 - Richard Berry, Astronomer/Former Chief Editor of Astronomy
  11.  Sun., April 2, 1995 - Bruce McCandless, Space Shuttle Astronaut
  12.  Fri., March 22, 1996 - David Levy, Astronomer/Comet Expert
  13.  Sat., March 1, 1997 - Alan Hale, Comet Expert (Co-Discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp)
  14.  Sat., April 18, 1998 - Edward Rocky Kolb, Astronomer from Fermilab
  15.  Sat., March 13, 1999 - Paul Sereno, Dinosaur Expert
  16.  Sat., April 1, 2000 - Fred Espenak, Solar Eclipse Expert
  17.  Sat., March 3, 2001- Story Musgrave, Space Shuttle Astronaut
  18.  Sat., April 13, 2002 -  James Oberg, Expert on the Soviet and Russian Space Program
  19.  Sat., March 1, 2003 - Rob Landis, NASA-JPL (Cassini and Mars Exploration Rover Projects)
  20.  Sat., March 27, 2004 - Story Musgrave, Space Shuttle Astronaut
  21.  Sat., April 9, 2005 - Paul Sereno, Dinosaur Expert
  22.  Sat., Aug. 26, 2006 - Paul Sirvatka, Severe Weather Expert/Storm Chaser
  23.  Sat., Nov. 3, 2007 - Stanley Ambrose, Anthropologist/Archeologist
  24.  Fri., Aug. 22, 2008 - Story Musgrave, Space Shuttle Astronaut
  25.  Sat., Aug. 22, 2009 - Galileo Galilei, 17th century Italian scientist, as portrayed by Mark Thompson
  26.  Sat., Aug. 14, 2010 - Dr. Margaret A. Weitekamp, Author, Space Historian.
  27.  Sat., Sep. 17, 2011 - Dr. Paul Sipiera, Antarctic Meteorite researcher.
  28.  Sat., Sep. 8, 2012 - Brother Guy Consolmagno, Astronomer and planetary scientist at the Vatican Observatory
  29.  Sat., Sep. 28, 2013 - Paul Sirvatka, Severe Weather Expert/Storm Chaser
  30.  Sat., Oct. 11, 2014 - Scott Williams, Dinosaur Expert
  31.  Sat., Sep. 12, 2015 - Dr. Dan Hooper, Revealing The Nature of Dark Matter
  32.  Sat., Apr. 22, 2017 - Fred Espenak, Solar Eclipse Expert
  33.  Sat., Apr. 28, 2018 - Nagin Cox, NASA/JPL Spacecraft Operations Engineer
  34.  Sat, Sep. 15, 2018 - Rob Owen, Physics and Astronomy Professor