By Lookout Staff

February 13, 2012 -- Prepare to land on the Red Planet and explore the winter sky this month at the Santa Monica College John Drescher Planetarium.

On February 17, "Special Observing Event: Orion and the Winter Hexagon," will explore the winter sky and the bounty of bright stars surrounding its signature constellation Orion the Hunter. Embedded in the Sword of Orion, the mighty Orion Nebula offers the closest large area of star formation to the solar system. The show begins in the Planetarium and then moves outside for telescope viewing unless weather interferes.

On February 24, the feature show "2012: Space Exploration Preview" views the exciting space missions slated to unfold this year, including the landing of the most capable surface science package ever on the Red Planet and the first flights of two American-built robotic cargo ships to the International Space Station.

"Other missions this year include the Dawn spacecraft finishing its mission at asteroid Vesta on its way to the largest asteroid of all, Ceres," according to planetarium officials.

"The completion of MESSENGER's primary science mission at Mercury; the Juno voyage to Jupiter; and the continued long, lonely trek of New Horizons to Pluto, are among the other missions, officials said..

The feature shows are at 8 p.m. and are preceded by "The Night Sky Show" at 7 p.m., which re-creates the night sky and provides the latest information on space exploration.

The John Drescher Planetarium, which features the Digistar projection system, is located on the second floor of Drescher Hall, 1900 Pico Blvd.

Tickets are $6 each or $11 for the "double bill," with discounts for children and senior citizens. For information and tickets, call (310) 434-3000 or go to www.smc.edu/eventsinfo or www.smc.edu/planetarium.