Free Shows
We offer free IN-HOUSE planetarium shows for the public on special occasions. Watch this page and our Events Calendar for them.
NOTE: We can bring the planetarium to your school - see the Planetarium Outreach page.
Group Rentals
Scout groups, after-school programs, and libraries, are welcome to request IN-HOUSE planetarium shows at New England Sci-Tech. Bookings depend on staff availability, planetarium availability, your audience size and ages, and show availability. We have a variety of multimedia shows and can do a live Stellarium show as well. We can add other program options to your planetarium visit.
Student Preparation
The 4-meter diameter inflatable dome is in a room with many astronomy and space science artifacts, meteorites, and NASA memorabilia. Students will sit on the floor on small yoga mats, and one or two small beach chairs can be added for adults. Students must be at least 8 years old and not afraid of the dark or enclosed spaces. Students must have good balance to step through the vestibule doorways and be well behaved and quiet when inside.
Dome Capacity
Assuming a class with 1 teacher, there is room for approximately 12 elementary school children, 10 middle school children, or 8 high-schoolers or adults. The dome has a double door vestibule for easy access while standing up.
Dome Equipment
The dome is kept inflated by a large box fan, so fresh air is always flowing through. An HD video projector, amplified speakers, and a computer, make up the projection equipment. The dome is made of a fire retardant material and easily flipped up and over the group for emergency exit.
Shows
We have a variety of 25-minute multimedia shows about planets, asteroids, Galileo, eclipses, NASA missions, telescopes, etc. (See complete list of shows here.) We also have two 7-minute shows, one on light pollution and effects on wildlife and human health, and one about the Milky Way galaxy and black holes. All shows are geared toward grades 4 and up. We can also do a “live show” about constellations and the night sky using a star planetarium software. A 15-minute live show can be combined with a 6-minute multimedia show to fill a typical half-hour experience. However, please plan on a 35 to 45-minute block per “show” to allow time for a group to enter and get settled, for show orientation, and to exit at the end.
Additional Options
When you visit our planetarium, we often also show other educational items if time allows, such as meteorites, a dinosaur egg, pieces of NASA space gear, or something pertinent to the topic you request.
Show Pricing
The show price for a group is generally $20 for up to 4 people and $4 each additional person, unless a show is included at no charge as part of a larger program. Shows run anywhere between 20 to 30 minutes each, depending on which one you pick. For any show in the national catalog that we would need to rent, add a one-time $40 fee. Email us to discuss what topic(s) or show(s) you would like. Note, we sometimes offer free shows as a public service.
In warmer spring, summer, fall seasons we also offer free public telescope nights for the public. See the Public Telescope Nights page for more information.