School Group Reservations

Reservations

Come visit us! Reservations may be made by e-mailing [email protected] or by calling the office at 903.468.8650. School groups are scheduled based on the specific needs and travel times of the school, and shows are not required to start at the beginning of the hour. We prefer that teachers make reservations for their classes so we may provide customized service per age or class.

When reservations are made, the teacher will receive a confirmation letter via email with information to complete all travel arrangements, including payment and bus reservations. It is not our practice to invoice schools. All necessary information will be made available in the confirmation letter. Schools are asked to include the following:

• Total number in the group (maximum capacity is 81)
• Grade level
• Show preference
• School name, phone number and mailing address
• Contact name, phone number and email

Show Programs

Regular shows are approximately 50 minutes and consist of an interactive night sky presentation and a full-dome feature. Double features vary in length depending on the show selection but always begin with an interactive night sky presentation prior to the first feature. Please visit our elementary school catalog, middle school catalog, or high school catalog to view show selections and trailers specific to your class’s age group.

Ticket Prices

Ticket prices for school groups are the same for each member of the group, including students, teachers, parents and anyone who attends with the group. Tickets are $5 per person per show.

Seating Capacity

The Planetarium’s recently renovated seating has a maximum capacity of 81 seats.

Payment

Payment can be made via cash, check or credit card. We ask that the teacher collect the full sum for the entire group and have one payment ready to expedite the check-in process upon arrival.

Checks may be made payable to the “Planetarium.”

Payment is due on the day of the visit. It is against university policy to accept payment in advance.

Parents and Guests

If a teacher elects to allow parents to attend with their student, it is the responsibility of the teacher to remain within the limited seating capacity of 81 total visitors. The Planetarium is not responsible for granting permission to parents or other visitors. The Planetarium staff will not make decisions regarding who gains entrance if the teacher exceeds the seating capacity. All arrangements are made through the teacher only.

Late Admission

It is very important that groups arrive and start on time. Please note that school groups are often scheduled back to back. If the group arrives late or is delayed in starting, the duration of the program will be reduced to fit within the scheduled time slot. After the doors have closed, there is no late admission due to dark conditions.

Planetarium Parking

Parking

Parking for the planetarium is in lot 19 only for all visits other than Friday night public shows. Parking outside of lot 19 can result in vehicles receiving a parking ticket. This includes buses, and we request that buses pull through the bus drop-off zone to offload passengers, then relocate to Lot 19. Please find Planetarium parking on the campus map. Parking in Lot 35 is still allowed for Friday night shows only.

Please allow extra time for parking and to purchase tickets. For the comfort and safety of all our visitors, once the planetarium doors are closed, late admission is not permitted.

Back to menu