The FSU Planetarium provides programs for school groups (1st grade through 14th). These programs are normally scheduled for weekday mornings during the school year. There is a fee of $3 per student and $5 per accompanying parent. There is no fee for teachers and teacher's aids. We normally require a minimum of 20 students to schedule a program. For students in grades 7-12, we normally show a video in the Planetarium which provides an introduction to FSU.
The Planetarium has 58 permanent chairs. It is possible to set up approximately 10 additional chairs.
Our programs normally includes an orientation to the night sky as it will appear in the evening following the visit, with emphasis on the brighter constellations and the visible planets. A question and answer session normally ends each program.
The material presented is appropriate to the grade level of the class, and we attempt to convey the material in the North Carolina Science Curriculum Standards for each grade level. Please contact Professor John Mattox about coordinating your classroom work before and after the visit with the planetarium presentation.
To request a reservation for a program, call the planetarium at (910) 672-1785; or send Professor Mattox an e-mail (Jmattox@uncfsu.edu). Once your program is scheduled, you are requested to complete and return our information form for school groups. You should call or write as early as possible since our calendar fills up rapidly.
Also, please help us to improve our programs by completing the the FSU Planetarium Feedback Form after your visit, and mailing it to us.