Help your students discover the wonders of the universe with a field trip to the Planetarium!
Educators may reserve K-12 school programs in a variety of astronomy, science and social-studies related disciplines on weekday mornings during the school year.
We now offer a variety of outreach programs that can be scheduled at your school. Learn more...
Please help us determine how to expand our programming for schools by completing our teacher survey.
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1. PLAN YOUR TRIP
- School programs are offered Monday through Thursday on the half-hour starting at 9:30, 10:30, 11:30 a.m. and 12: 30 p.m.; Friday from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Other times may be available for large groups upon special request.
- Admission is $4.00 per person (per program). One teacher or chaperone is free with each 10 paid children.
- During regular school program hours, a minimum of 20 seats ($80.00) must be purchased to schedule a school program. A minimum of 50 seats must be purchased during non-regular school program hours. The Planetarium reserves the right to schedule more than one group per show.
- Smaller groups may attend programs already on our schedule.
- A variety of shows are available with varied content and grade level. Browse our School & Group available shows, or simply specify grade level and request our assistance in selecting a show for your group.
- Take advantage of teacher’s guides available on our web site.
- Schools should designate a single "group leader" who will coordinate all aspects of the field trip. The group leader supervises and coordinates all other participating teachers and adult chaperones.
2. REQUEST A RESERVATION
- A reservation request form is available on this site to allow you to make the reservation at your convenience. You will receive a reservation confirmation within 72 hours from our ticket office.
- Reservations may be made or altered only by the group leader, who must be a school employee.
- Reservations should be finalized at least two weeks prior to the visit.
- Changes & Cancellations. We need advance notice of at least two school days to cancel or make changes to your reservation. You may call, fax or email changes and cancellations. We bill "no shows." If you miss your show and fail to cancel, we will bill you for the total cost of your reservations
- Check your reservation confirmation letter to verify dates, times and shows are correct and notify us of any errors as soon as possible. To help prevent any reservation errors call us one week prior to show time and re-comfirm your show, show time and number of attendees.
3. FINALIZE YOUR PLANNING
- There is no dining area in the Planetarium. If the weather is nice, we recommend taking your students to the duck pond area on campus if you would like to have a picnic lunch.
- The Planetarium seating is 180 and is wheelchair accessible. The temperature in the Planetarium is maintained at approximately 70 degrees, so please dress accordingly.
- An exhibit space is available in the lobby and can be opened upon request to allow students to learn about or purchase astronomy related items.
- Payment. We accept all major credit cards, debit/check cards, cash, business or bank checks for payment.
- Payment by check or credit card is preferable as it will speed up your transaction. Fees are due at show time unless other arrangements have been approved in advance.
- The group leader should collect the total payment amount due for the entire group prior to viewing the scheduled show. All funds should be collected and a final head count conducted before departing the school.
- Make checks payable to "Central Texas College."
- Occasionally, checks issued early may be for more than the cost of your reservations. When this happens, our changes and cancellations policy, noted earlier, applies and we will not refund check overpayments. You must pay for the total amount of reservations unless changes are made at least two school days prior to the show.
- Purchase orders are not accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with the director of Planetarium & Outreach Services at (254) 526-1671.
- Coupons or free passes are NOT accepted for school reservations.
- Large groups and groups traveling greater distances should arrive earlier to allow time for restroom use before the program.
- If you encounter travel delays on the way to the Planetarium, please call (254)526-1768 to update us on your present location and estimated time of arrival.
- For check-in, the group leader should have sale print-out form along with reservation number.
4. ENJOY YOUR VISIT!
- Buses should arrive at the Planetarium at least 20 minutes before the start of program.
- Bus parking is available on Bell Tower Drive for the loading and unloading of passengers. Please do not attempt to park buses in the Planetarium lot due to heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
- After unloading, buses may park in the large lot across the street from the Planetarium.
- Since the Planetarium shares a lot with classrooms and offices, many spaces are reserved. Do not park in any space marked as reserved even during weekend public shows. If there are no spaces available in the lot adjacent to the Planetarium, additional parking is available across the street in a large overflow lot.
- The group leader should proceed immediately to the visitor services office to complete payment and pick up any handout materials after the show.
- Students should be quieted before entering the building as CTC classes may be in session.
- Teachers and chaperones should line up students in the Planetarium lobby as quietly as possible and should space themselves evenly among the students before entering the theater. Teachers and chaperones are responsible for the behavior of their group at all times. Undisciplined groups will be asked to leave and may forfeit their right to return. Organizations will be billed for intentional damage known to have been caused by an individual in a specific group.
- Electronics such as radios, cellular telephones and PDAs should be turned off prior to the start of the show.
- Backpacks may not be brought into the Planetarium unless approved by the director of Planetarium and Outreach Services.
- Our director and/or Planetarium program assistant will give a brief introduction to your show in the lobby.