TYLER — Tyler Junior College drew quite the crowd Saturday as it opened the doors to the new Center for Earth and Space Science Education.

TJC estimates more than 1,000 people came out to the opening.

East Texans got to see all the new center has to offer for free.

The new facility, which is 18 months in the making, is quite the upgrade from the old planetarium.

"The planetarium we had before was a 1963 version, and we used this star projector ... you could project dots of light on a ceiling and that's pretty much it," said Dr. Tom Hooten, the center's director. "Now we have a full dome immersive experience ... tilted dome, videos filling the dome, and we can not just do dots of light on a ceiling, but we can fly to the stars now."

With an exhibit area, a classroom, an outside courtyard for star watching parties, and a sun dial, too, the center is twice as big as the old facility.

"There's lots of different learning opportunities here in this one facility, which is hopefully going to bring up the level of science literacy here in east texas," Hooten said.

For hours, public showtimes and more information on the center, visit tjc.edu/CESSE/.