The Planetarium at UT-Arlington is the only one in Texas with a Digistar 4 DLP Projection system. The 60 foot dome and sophisticated technology has revolutionized the audience experience. Open to the public, there are family movies for $2 on Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays during the summer.
The Planetarium at UT-Arlington
Chemistry-Physics Building on UTA campus
700 Planetarium Place
(817) 272-0123
https://www.uta.edu/planetarium/
The Planetarium at UT-Arlington is a one-of-a-kind teaching, learning and special occasion facility. In addition to charting the skies and traveling the galaxy, the Planetarium shows kid-friendly (and educational) shows as well as movies.
Open to the public, the family movies take place on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the summer and cost only $2. Inside the cool air conditioned auditorium which seats nearly 150, there are comfortable reclining seats, wheelchair friendly access, and radio headsets for the hearing impaired.
Ticket prices (excluding the $2 feature films) for planetarium shows are: $6 adults, $4 seniors (65+), $4 children (18 & under); $3 UTA students w/ID; $4 non-UTA students; $4 UTA alumni/faculty/staff w/ID. Groups of 15-or-more should make a reservation 24 hours in advance to receive a discount ($4 per person). The phone number for Group Reservations is (817) 272-1183.
Here is the summer schedule through August 22nd: (confirm dates/show times by calling the pre-recorded show line number at (817) 272-0123.
SUNDAYS:
*1:30pm “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” (discover the night sky with Big Bird, Elmo and their new friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu).
*2:30pm “Secret of the Cardboard Rocket” (join two children on a magical journey through the solar system, aided by a talking astronomy book, a cardboard rocket & vivid imagination)
*3:30pm “Two Small Pieces of Glass” (follow two students as they interact with an astronomer at a local star party; the students learn how telescopes work, the history of telescopes and major discoveries made by telescopes).
(closed Mondays)
TUESDAYS:
*2:00pm “Texas Stargazing” (find out what’s visible in the night sky tonight)
*6:00pm “Astronaut” (see what it takes to became an astronaut and the effect space has on the human body)
WEDNESDAYS:
*5:30pm $2 Movie (August 18th: “Where the Wild Things Are”)
(August 25th: “Alice in Wonderland”)
THURSDAYS:
*2:00pm “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure”
*6:00pm “Unseen Universe: The Vision of SOFIA” (take a flight on the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy – SOFIA – and discover secrets of our unseen universe).
FRIDAYS:
*5:30pm $2 movie (August 20th: “Where the Wild Things Are”)
(August 27th: “Alice in Wonderland”)
SATURDAYS:
*1:00pm “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure”
*2:30pm $2 Movie (August 21st: “Where the Wild Things Are”)
(5:30pm on August 28th: “Alice in Wonderland”)
*5:30pm (August 21st): “Astronaut”
*7:00pm on August 21st “Two Small Pieces of Glass”
The Planetarium is an awesome idea for field trips for your school or organization. What a cool birthday party! They’ve even hosted corporate events, family reunions and sweet 16 birthday parties. Yes, they
even offer catering (click here for catering menu: https://www.uta.edu/planetarium/_content/pdf/general/catering-menu.pdf)
The Planetarium Dome Theatre seats 148 people, but there is also an atrium area (comfortable seating for 50 or standing area comfortable for 75-100 guests)as well as an executive conference room (3rd floor of Chemistry-Physics Building, planetarium is at ground level entrance). So this is a venue to consider to presentations, ceremonies, corporate gatherings, and parties.
If you’re thinking of having a children’s birthday party here, rental of the dome theatre is $225 which includes one show (you can choose from a long list of shows) and one hour in the atrium for cake/presents. For an extra $50 you can get a customized show that would include some visual effects (e.g. snow falling, slideshows, etc.).
When you book a private show, you may choose from the following options: “Astronaut”, “Bad Astronomy”, “Black Holes”, “Cosmic CSI”, “IBEX: Search for the Edge of the Solar System”, “Ice Worlds”, “Microcosm”, “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure”, “Rock n Roll Hall of Fame 1”, “Secret of the Cardboard Rocket”, “Star of the Pharoahs”, “Texas Star Gazing”, “Time Space”, “Two Small Pieces of Glass”, “Unseen Universe, the Vision of SOFIA”, and “Violent Universe”.
The Planetarium staff will work with you to choose a show that is age appropriate. They’ll also answer questions about event planning. Call them at (817) 272-1183.
To help arrange a Field Trip for your organization, click here: https://www.uta.edu/planetarium/parties/. For school groups, click here: https://www.uta.edu/planetarium/schools/.
The Planetarium is located inside the Chemistry-Physics building in the heart of the UT-Arlington campus. Parking (especially on weekdays when school is in-session) is not available immediately in front of the building but there is a drop-off circle drive in front of the building’s entrance. There is a covered parking garage a short distance away (one-half block south of Planetarium) at $1.25 per hour with validated parking ticket (get it validated at Planetarium box office).
Free parking on Sunday (you still need to have it validated). If you don’t want to pay for covered parking, you may park in “Student Surface Lots” which are free from 5pm Friday to 5am Monday (Friday evenings through Sunday nights, only).
As for directions/maps (For the purpose of Google maps, the address is listed as 700 College Street), from South Cooper Street, turn east on S. Nedderman Drive, go one block to Planetarium Place (turn left on Planetarium Place). For the parking garage, go past Planetarium Place and turn left on S. West St (garage is located at corner of S. Nedderman and S. West St.).
Click here for directions and parking: https://www.uta.edu/planetarium/about/directions-and-parking.php
