Make plans to view the constellations and stars in the Rotunda Dome Room on Friday, November 28, from 6–8:30 p.m. This free community event will feature special performances by the Youth Orchestras of Central Virginia and a visit from historical actor-interpreter Bill Barker as Thomas Jefferson.
The idea for a Rotunda Planetarium dates back to the summer of 1818, when Jefferson envisioned the Dome’s ceiling painted “sky-blue and spangled with gilt stars in their position and magnitude copied exactly.” That vision was brought to life in 2019, when three UVA doctoral students—supported by a Jefferson Trust grant—purchased the equipment needed to “open the ceiling to the stars” and hosted an exhibition on the Rotunda Library’s early history.
Don’t miss this opportunity to step into Jefferson’s vision and experience the night sky from inside the Rotunda. We hope to see you on November 28!