Star Trek writers still can't resist sneaking in winks to Christmas throughout the franchise, even if the characters themselves don't celebrate it themselves. For example, John DeLancie's Q ...

On Dec. 23, 1929, at 8:30 p.m., the “Star of Christmas” was switched on by then-Mayor Gallatin Roberts who announced the $3,500 goal was achieved. A symbol of Asheville’s resilience.

The Christmas Star! Or is it? That bright light high above the eastern horizon is, in fact, the planet Jupiter. It’s now about as bright as it ever gets, and it dominates the night sky.

But changing times, precisely, are what led many planetariums to drop their "Christmas Star" show. It was around 1975 that Swangin, then director of the Newark Museum planetarium, got the memo.

Michael Grannen, director of the Donald A. Schaefer Planetarium, talks about the 50th year of "The Christmas Star" program at Bettendorf High School on Monday, Dec. 16, in Bettendorf.