In collaboration with the Challenger Learning Center, we will be hosting a special screening of the film “Dark Universe” on November 9th in preparation for Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson’s speaker event in January. “Dark Universe” is a full-dome planetarium show narrated by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. At its core, “Dark Universe” is an exploration of the enigmatic forces that shape the cosmos. Through state-of-the-art computer-generated imagery (CGI) and breathtaking visuals, the film delves into the realms of dark matter and dark energy, two of the most perplexing and least understood phenomena in modern astrophysics.

This exclusive screening will act as a fundraiser for the local college students. All proceeds will underwrite tickets for FSU and FAMU students to attend the live Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson speaking event at Ruby Diamond on January 24, 2024. Light refreshments will be served before the show, and the screening will end with a Q&A session with Dr. Massimo Marengo, a professor at the FSU Physics Department with a passion for astrophysics.

“Modern telescopes, like Hubble and now the James Webb space telescope, are an endless source of breathtaking views of the universe: the first galaxies, newborn stars immersed in colorful nebulae, alien worlds orbiting other stars. All these beautiful vistas, however, reveal to us less than 5% of what makes up the universe,” said Dr. Massimo. “The rest, indeed most, of the universe itself is invisible to us. It has cryptic names like “dark matter” and “dark energy” that underscore how little we know about it, since we can only detect its presence through the feeble gravitational pull and push that this dark universe exerts on the matter we see. Yet, it is this dark component that has shaped the universe as we know it, and that will determine its fate in the eons to come.” Tickets to this exclusive screening can be purchased at one.fsu.edu/foundation/event-registration/2023/dark-universe-student-ticket-fundraiser. This event is 21+.

If you are interested in seeing Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson live, visit openingnights.fsu.edu/events/dr-neil-degrasse-tyson/ for tickets and more information.