WCU Planetarium - Schools and Groups

The Department of Geology and Astronomy operates the University Planetarium which houses a Spitz A-5 planetarium projector. The planetarium is used for astronomy class lectures and labs as well as for school and public programs. Approximately 50 schools and other groups attend the programs each year, and annual attendance approaches 2,000.  

We offer weekly shows for educational groups (including pre-K) during the fall and spring semesters. The planetarium holds monthly evening shows for the general public. These shows are held on the second Friday of each month. Shows start promptly at 7pm and run approximately one hour in length including enough time for questions. Late arrivals will not be permitted to enter the planetarium.All shows are free of charge. The planetarium aseats 50 people.  Teachers with groups larger than this will have to split their classes into smaller sections.  Please remember to include teachers and chaperones when determining the size of your group.  We can provide two shows back-to-back to accommodate large groups or we can schedule shows on two separate dates.

A typical show for school groups consists mainly of a tour of the night sky.  This would include pointing out several of the prominent constellations visible at night and some of the mythological stories behind them, the phases of the Moon, the planets that can be seen with the unaided eye, and the motion of the Sun throughout the year.  Other topics can be included at the teacher's request.
 

(Orion Nebula; produced by the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA)