Alaska

Planetarium in Fairbanks slated to open in a few months

Published

1 month ago

November 3, 2025

Planetarium in Fairbanks slated to open in a few months

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A planetarium at the University of Alaska Museum of the North in Fairbanks has been in the works for years. And it’s only a few months away from opening, according to University of Alaska Museum of the North Director Patrick Druckenmiller.

It has been an idea for decades, but construction began about a year ago on the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ campus in collaboration with the Geophysical Institute, Druckenmiller said.

“What this facility will essentially allow us to do, is welcome, when thousands of people per year that come to our museum an opportunity to see things like the Aurora in a planetarium setting. Because, of course, that’s not something they’re going to see when they’re visiting in the summer. But it’s also going to be the coolest, newest classroom on the UAF campus,” he said.

Druckenmiller said it will be Interior Alaska’s first planetarium.

“There are three others in the state, two in Anchorage, one in Juneau,” he said. “It’s also going to be the northernmost planetarium in North America, which is also kind of a cool claim to fame for our facility.”

The 65-seat planetarium is a roughly 5,700 square foot addition to the existing museum, he said.

“When you walk into the planetarium space, which you’re going to see is this big dome above your head. It’s about 11 meters, or about 36 feet, in diameter. And it’s actually sort of suspended from the ceiling. And it’s tilted at about a 17-degree angle towards the front of the room. That’s to help make people feel comfortable looking up and not having to crank their neck to look up at the sky,” he said.

The planetarium’s content will not be strictly space related.

“We intend to showcase a lot of other really cool aspects of things relating to Alaska and the Arctic. And of course, it’s indigenous peoples,” he said.

Druckenmiller is excited for the opportunity to use the planetarium to highlight University of Alaska research.

“For example, the Geophysical Institute is a major place for research into the atmosphere, other geophysical phenomena, including the aurora, solar physics, you name it,” he said. “This planetarium is now going to be a place to share some of that cool science, rather than us just simply bringing in science from elsewhere. We’re doing it here in Alaska. So, it’s a wonderful showcase for Alaskan-based research.”

The bulk of the building construction cost was paid for by two longtime Fairbanks residents.

Walt and Marita Babula’s $7.4 million donation funded much of the construction of the building, Druckenmiller said.

The planetarium will be named after them, the university said.

The Babulas want the planetarium to “enable space science education opportunities for K-12 and higher education students,” according to a statement from a university press release.

“We also envision the planetarium as a place that will spark the curiosity of Alaskans and visitors from around the globe about our Alaska culture and vast universe,” they continued.

“They, out of the incredible generosity of their heart, really wanted the museum to be a place where we could also have a planetarium to share all the wonderful things about space science and astronomy, particularly with the kids that live here in interior Alaska,” Druckenmiller said.

Other donors include the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, as well as Sarah and Cary Keller who have been longtime UAF supporters, according to the university. Michael and Lynn Rice Estate, Davis Constructors & Engineers and RESPEC also contributed to the project.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com

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Related Topics:Babula Druckenmiller Fairbanks Featured Museum of the North planetarium University of Alaska Museum of the North

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Alaska

Warnings continue for wind, snow, and extreme cold across Alaska

Published

1 hour ago

December 9, 2025

Press Room

Warnings continue for wind, snow, and extreme cold across Alaska

ANCHORAGE, AK (Alaska’s News Source) – Extreme wind has been non-stop for more than 60 hours in Wasilla in Palmer, where peak wind gusts have reached over 80 mph three days in a row.

Peak winds have been over 80 mph for the last three days in Palmer.(Melissa Frey)

Wind gusts at the Palmer Airport climbed over 50 mph Friday evening and didn’t drop below until late Monday evening.

Peak winds have been over 50 mph for more than 60 hours.(Melissa Frey)

The High Wind Warning for the Matanuska Valley will continue through 6 a.m. on Tuesday. Calmer conditions are likely on Tuesday afternoon as the winds relax across the area.

High Wind Warnings continue in the Mat-Su.(Melissa Frey)

Send us your weather photos and videos here!

The rest of Southcentral remains clear and dry, with temperatures likely dropping to the lowest levels of the season starting Tuesday morning. This pattern will continue through the end of the week.

Download the free Alaska’s News Source Weather App for the latest forecast in your area.

In Southeast, Winter Storm Warnings are still in effect near Ketchikan for up to 8″ of additional snow through Tuesday. Winter Weather Advisories are also in effect near Hyder for an additional 9-12″ of snow on Tuesday.

The snow has ended across the northern areas of Southeast, but extreme cold is setting in. Wind Chill values will reach as low as -50° near Skagway, to -25° near Haines, and to -15° near Juneau.

The Copper River Basin will also experience extreme wind chill values to -50° through Tuesday afternoon.

In the Interior, temperatures dropped to -30° for the first time Monday morning, and we’ll see several nights at that cold level this week.

24/7 Alaska Weather: Get access to live radar, satellite, weather cameras, current conditions, and the latest weather forecast here. Also available through the Alaska’s News Source streaming app available on Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.

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Alaska

Oregon State women pull away late to avoid upset against Alaska Anchorage

Published

14 hours ago

December 8, 2025

Press Room

Oregon State women pull away late to avoid upset against Alaska Anchorage

That was close. At least for a while.

Oregon State women’s basketball avoided an upset loss to Division II Alaska Anchorage on Sunday at Gill Coliseum, going on a 15-3 run to end the game and beat the visiting Seawolves, 69-53.

The Beavers (6-4) started slow but took control in the second half, surviving a barrage of three-pointers (11 of 37) from Alaska Anchorage (7-2) to pull out a win.

OSU was led by Tiara Bolden with 23 points, six rebounds and five assists. Katelyn Field poured in 11 as well for the Beavers on 3 of 6 three-point shooting.

10 different players scored as OSU coach Scott Rueck relied on his bench to get the team out of a funk.

The Beavers got off to a sluggish start. Alaska Anchorage came out firing, and took a 10-8 lead at the midpoint in the first quarter on a three by Kimberly Carrada.

After one, with the Seawolves shooting 56%, the Beavers trailed 24-18.

In the second quarter, Rueck emptied his bench and put typical reserves in the game, seemingly to send a message after a lackluster effort by his starters.

Alaska Anchorage extended its lead to 34-27 at one point, but OSU rattled off a 7-0 run to end the half and tie things up. The Beavers had 10 turnovers at half, with the Seawolves hitting six of an eye-popping 20 three-point attempts.

Rueck kept reserves in the game to start the second half, but when he re-inserted his starters, the Beavers opened up a 44-36 lead thanks in large part to Bolden’s scoring.

Jenna Villa hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the third, her first basket of the game after a cold start, which gave OSU a 52-42 lead through three.

Alaska Anchorage kept chucking from downtown as the fourth quarter began, and a pair of makes cut the OSU lead down to 54-48.

Despite going cold from the field, the Beavers tightened up their defense to keep it a six-point lead for an extended period. It got as close as four.

But Field nailed a three to get it to 59-50 with under four minutes remaining, and Bolden hit a pair of jumpers to extend the run to 10-0 and lead to 64-50 with 1:35 to go. The Beavers didn’t look back.

Next game: Oregon State (6-4) vs. Arizona State (10-0)

When: Sunday, Dec. 14
Time: 1:00 pm PT
Where: Gill Coliseum, Corvallis
Stream: ESPN+

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Alaska

World WatchThe Shillong Times

Published

1 day ago

December 8, 2025

Press Room

7.0 quake hits Alaska-Canada border, no casualties so far

JUNEAU, Dec 7: A powerful, magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck in a remote area near the border between Alaska and the Canadian territory of Yukon on Saturday. There was no tsunami warning, and officials said there were no immediate reports of damage or injury. The U.S. Geological Survey said it struck about 230 miles (370 km) northwest of Juneau, Alaska, and 155 miles (250 km) west of Whitehorse, Yukon. In Whitehorse, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sgt. Calista MacLeod said the detachment received two 911 calls about the earthquake. “It definitely was felt,” MacLeod said. “There are a lot of people on social media, people felt it.” Alison Bird, a seismologist with Natural Resources Canada, said the part of Yukon most affected by the temblor is mountainous and has few people. “Mostly people have reported things falling off shelves and walls,” Bird said. “It doesn’t seem like we’ve seen anything in terms of structural damage.” (AP)

Three killed as unexploded device goes off in Afghanistan

Kabul, Dec 7: Three workers were killed when an unexploded device left over from past wars went off in eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, provincial police spokesman Sayed Tayeb Hamad said on Sunday. The incident occurred in a scrap shop in Kama district when workers were busy at the site on Saturday afternoon, the spokesman said, adding that three workers died on the spot due to the blast. Police have urged residents to inform security authorities if they see or come across any suspicious objects. Earlier in November, a similar incident claimed one life in the Rodat district of Nangarhar province. Post-war Afghanistan has been regarded as one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world, and the unexploded ordnances, which were left over from more than four decades of wars and civil unrest, often kill or maim people, mostly children, in the country. (IANS)

Man held after pepper spray incident at UK’s Heathrow Airport

London, Dec 7: A man was arrested on suspicion of assault at the Heathrow Airport on Sunday after police were called to reports of a number of people being attacked with pepper spray, with the incident causing major travel disruptions. The Metropolitan Police said the morning incident was not terrorism related and that the injuries to the victims were not thought to be “life-threatening or life changing”. The force believes the incident involved an argument between a group of people known to each other. “A number of people were sprayed with what is believed to be a form of pepper spray by a group of men who then left the scene,” the Met Police said in a statement. “Armed response officers attended and arrested one man on suspicion of assault. He remains in custody and enquiries continue to trace further suspects,” the statement said. The incident caused major disruption to flights, with the airport advising passengers to allow extra time for their journeys. (PTI)

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