Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls... Science Dome is here.

After nine months of construction, the Science Dome will open Jan. 19 to reveal an old-school planetarium with a mini-Omnimax twist.

In late 2012, Pierce College installed a 38-foot dome-shaped screen in a classroom at its Fort Steilacoom campus in Lakewood, effectively turning said classroom into something between a planetarium and a mini-Omnimax theater. They have dubbed this screen the Science Dome. But make no mistake - the future of the Science Dome involves much more than science. The Science Dome is designed to be a community resource for educators, for the public, and of course for many classes at Pierce College.

"It is similar to an old-school planetarium with a few exceptions," says Hillary Stephens, Science Dome coordinator. "The seating is uni-directional instead of around in a circle. It is tilted by about 10 degrees, which provides a more immersive feeling. The projection equipment is also digital so you can project anything up on the dome. It isn't 3D like 3D movies, but the shape of the screen gives a 3D effect without glasses!"

Read Kristin Kendle's full feature on the Pierce College Science Dome in the Weekly Volcano's Mudroom section.

PIERCE COLLEGE FORT STEILACOOM, 11 A.M., FREE ADMISSION, 9401 FARWEST DR., LAKDWOOD, 253.964.6500

RESERVATION LINK: http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/dist/sciencedome/