Public Shows in May
May 4, 11, 18, 25
In My Backyard - 8:00 pm
Enjoy story telling, poetry, and song as you learn about the seasons, constellations, planets, meteors and the Moon. This interactive program features the voice and songs of children's entertainer Fred Penner.
More than Meets the Eye - 9:00 pm
In this great introduction to astronomy, mysteries of outer space are revealed as naked-eye views of objects in the sky are compared with views through binoculars and telescopes. You realize that there is "More than Meets the Eye" in the night sky as you observe planets, nebulae, galaxies and stars in ways you have not seen them before.
Welcome to the DuPont Planetarium
The DuPont Planetarium exists to inspire others to explore the majesty of the heavens. Visitors age 4 and up attend public shows presented every Saturday. We encourage our visitors to reserve seats in advance. If you make a reservation, please arrive no later than 20 minutes before the show starts. All unclaimed reservations will be released 10 minutes prior to the show.
Astronomy and More
While most DuPont Planetarium programs focus on astronomy and encourage exploration of the night sky, one show takes visitors inside the living cell, and another blows them away into the wild world of weather. Most shows take advantage of the automation system in the planetarium, and all involve an enthusiastic presenter who is eager to share the majesty of the heavens with visitors. Digistar shows, such as Virtual Journey, entertain by using the power of the digital star projector to create shapes that dance across the dome to lively music.
Student Programs
Each year, thousands of K-12 school children visit the planetarium during the school day for exciting programs that meet science standards. These programs are reserved and scheduled like other student programs at the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center. We also conduct specialized programs for university classes.
RPSEC Observatory
The RPSEC Observatory (on the roof of the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center) is open after public shows on Saturday evenings, weather permitting. The Bechtel Telescope housed in the RPSEC Observatory provides views of planets, nebulae and other celestial objects.
Private Programs
Private shows are arranged for educational groups such as scouts, preschools and colleges and for fun events such as birthday parties and company celebrations. To schedule a private showing for your group, see the Plan Your Visit section.