Standing between Rickey Science Center and Fayerweather Hall, .Marietta College officials say the teaching value that the new Planetarium will hold is invaluable.

"When you can illustrate things in a more realistic fashion then that gives you a much more powerful way to teach science, so I expect that to be the number one impact on the students at Marietta College," says Dr. Dennis Kuhl, Chair of the MC Physics Department.

The new structure will feature a digital video projector, which gives a full dome video experience. Once its built, the college will allow area schools to visit the planetarium on field trips and other educational events.

It will even provide job training for students.

"If someone wants to got to graduate school for Astronomy, it would be a wonderful work study job to come and work int he Planetarium and give shows to elementary school students, and those opportunities are there," says Dr. Kuhl.

Marietta College is hoping to give their students the opportunity for achievement, the kind of education they provided for astronaut Dr. Story Musgrave.

"I just love this college, people ask me if I still recognize it, if it's changed and it hasn't changed for me. The trees, the brick streets, the basic ambiance, even though you have a new science center, a new library, a new planetarium, the basic feeling and the spirit of the place hasn't changed. So, it's the best of both worlds. It's new, it's tech, it's change, yet has all the old traditions as well," says Dr. Musgrave.

They're keeping the tradition alive while still allowing change with new buildings and new technology.