THE FERNBANK SCIENCE CENTER AT-HOME PLANETARIUM: A CASE STUDY IN BRINGING ASTROGEOLOGY TO A GLOBAL AUDIENCE (DURING AND AFTER THE PANDEMIC)

In response to the 2020-21 COVID-19 pandemic, the Fernbank Science Center and Jim Cherry Memorial Planetarium in Atlanta, Georgia (one of the largest planetarium facilities in the United States) moved our operations into an online virtual format that currently broadcasts twice-weekly shows on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons through Facebook Live @fernbankcenter. We also carry special events and simulcast launches and solar system mission milestones with our partners at many NASA centers. Although a variety of science topics have been addressed, the primary focus has been on planetary science and astrogeology. The unique planetarium environment was replaced by unique, even unprecedented, access to engagement with active planetary geologists from around the world. The Saturday programming includes a weekly tour of the solar system using the OpenSpace platform that renders exceptionally high-resolution views of all the major planets, asteroids, and moons. In over 15 months of programming, we have attracted a total audience exceeding 300,000 viewers on at least six continents. The success of the program has insured that it will remain a part of standard operations moving into the future, and we invite all members of the community to contribute as featured guests.