A planetarium is set to open soon in Chickamauga.

James A. Smith is an educator at former teacher at Rossville High School. He opened the Smith Planetarium in Rock Spring, Georgia in 1967. It closed in 1998, but due to SPLOST funding of nearly $600,000 a new one will open soon in Chickamauga and it will again bear his name. Smith wants to continue teaching youngsters about their home–the universe.

A state of the art digital projector will replace the old one. The domed ceiling will show a 3-D image of the universe. The images could only been seen from Earth in the past, but will now feature much more stellar views from other vantage points like the surface of Mars or other planets.

Smith also says he hopes to add iPads and other 21st century devices to the experience.

There is also a telescope on the property, thanks to two of Smith's former students who are astronomers at NASA. The telescope is operated remotely from Huntsville, Alabama, and points to the sky during just the right phases of the moon to catch shots of meteorites shooting across the sky.

The school board approved the new facility in 2005 it was dedicated in May, 2011. The plan was to begin hosting school groups in September of 2011, but a severe storm in June damaged the adjacent building. As the stars align, everything should be in place for the planetarium to be back in business this coming September.

The planetarium  which is on Pond Springs Road, will be open to groups not only from Walker County schools but from neighboring counties as well. Two schools have already expressed interest in taking the field trip this September.

For more information regarding the facility and reserving your spot call 706-638-7958.