Welcome to Tarleton’s Planetarium

About the Planetarium

Lamar Johanson Science Building surrounded by trees.

Located under the iconic copper dome of the Lamar Johanson Science Building on the Stephenville campus, the 86-seat, College of Science & Mathematics planetarium provides a spectacular full-dome immersive experience. The Digistar projection system, combined with 5.1 Dolby surround sound, brings the wonders of astronomy down to earth for our visitors. 

Additional technology allows the 86-seat facility to serve as a lecture hall for film studies, a performance venue for guest speakers and musicians, as well as a cool, comfortable theater for current students to watch classic and contemporary motion pictures.

The planetarium hosts special digital presentations for the public throughout the year, including children’s matinees and special holiday presentations for the entire family.

Supporting our community’s school-aged children through science outreach and enrichment is a key part of the planetariums mission within the College of Science & Mathematics. We encourage public, private and home-school teachers to contact the planetarium office to check on opportunities to visit and learn in this wonderful facility.

 Join us soon at the Tarleton Planetarium.

Silhouettes of three camels under a starry sky, with "Mystery of the Christmas Star" text.

Mystery Of The Christmas Star

This free full-dome feature investigates the possible dates for the birth of Christ by examining recorded sightings of significant astronomical events around that timeframe two-thousand years ago.

During The Mystery of the Christmas Star, visitors to the Tarleton Planetarium will see how signs in the sky could have been remarkable enough to cause the wise men to travel across the desert from Babylon to see the newborn king. 

Schedule

Monday, December 9 @ 7 PM

Tuesday, December 10 @ 7 PM

Wednesday, December 11 @ 4 PM and 7 PM

Thursday, December 12 @ 4 PM and 7 PM

Friday, December 13 @ 1 PM and 4 PM

Saturday, December 14 @ 11 AM and 2 PM

Monday, December 16 @ 4 PM and 7 PM

Tuesday, December 17 @ 1 PM and 7 PM

Wednesday, December 18 @ 1 PM and 7 PM

Thursday, December 19 @ 4:30 PM and 7 PM

Friday, December 20 @ 1 PM, 4 PM and 7 PM

Ticketing Information

Admission is free, but seating is limited to 86 guests per show and tickets are required.  The planetarium box office will open one hour before each show.  Preferred parking is in lot P-6, P-34 or P-15. To schedule school groups, clubs or other gatherings at the planetarium, call 254-968-0523 or email planetarium@tarleton.edu  Advance notice is required for private screenings.

The Planetarium does also provides private and specials showings for organizations within Tarleton or groups outside of the university. Contact us for any inquiries so we can set up a date or fill out the Planetarium Private Showing Application.

The Planetarium doors will promptly close 5 minutes before showtime for best quality performance. Please arrive 10-15 minutes early to ensure entrance

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for Planetarium News

Tarleton Staff and Students can join discord for additional information on Planetarium events.

DigiStar Library

Poster for "Dream Big: Engineering Our World 3D" with a silhouette of a child and landmarks.

Dream Big

An epic , fun, tour of inspiration through the visionary advances made by yesterday’s today – and most thrillingly of all, tomorrow’s – engineers. From the Great Wall of China and the world’s tallest buildings, to underwater robots, solar cars and smart, sustainable cities, Dream Big celebrates the human ingenuity behind engineering marvels big and small, and reveals the heart that drives engineers to create better lives for people around the world.

  • Running Time: 42 min
  • General Audience 
Poster for "Lamps of Atlantis" with a ship and ancient ruins.

Lamps of Atlantis

Our search for the lost continent of Atlantis takes us on a journey through the astronomical knowledge and understanding of the ancient Greeks. How did the constellations get their names? What different patterns did ancient cultures see in the sky? Was Atlantis a real place? Did it really sink into the sea? We will uncover clues to help us solve this age-old mystery.

  • Running Time: 40 min
  • General Audience
Ship on turbulent sea under orange sky, titled "Natural Selection."

Natural Selection

Natural Selection celebrates the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species and the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth. In Natural Selection we will join Darwin on his voyage with the HMS Beagle to the Galapagos Islands where he was inspired to develop his later theory of transmutation by natural selection. From the comfort of Down House in Kent, Darwin himself will explain the mechanism of natural selection to the audience, and support it by showing many beautiful examples in nature.

  • Running Time: 41 min
  • General Audience
Big Bird, Elmo, and a blue character pointing at the night sky.

One World One Sky

Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Elmo explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a Muppet from Zhima Jie, the Chinese co-production of Sesame Street. Together, they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon, where they discover how different it is from Earth.

  • Running Time: 27min
  • Family Audiences
Poster for "Origins of Life" with an asteroid approaching Earth.

Origins of Life

Origins of Life deals with some of the most profound questions of life science: the origins of life and the human search for life beyond Earth. Starting with the Big Bang, in chronological order, the show deals with the prebiotic chemistry in the universe, the formation of stars, formation of solar systems, and the first life on Earth. Furthermore, Origins of Life covers the great extinctions as well as our search for primitive life beyond planet Earth.

  • Running Time: 23 min
  • General Audience
Poster of "Seven Wonders" with a statue and ancient architecture.

Seven Wonders

Turn back the pages of time and witness the ancient wonders of the world as they appeared thousands of years ago. Explore the Great Pyramid, stand in the shadow of the towering Colossus and experience the rest of the world’s Seven Wonders. We will investigate the theories of how these wonders were created, and get a glimpse of some of the universe’s greatest wonders.

  • Running Time: 33 min
  • General Audience
Ancient Egyptian temple with statues and hieroglyphs under a starry sky. Text: "Stars of the Pharaohs".

Stars of the Pharaohs

Travel to ancient Egypt to see how science was used to tell time, make a workable calendar, and align huge buildings. You’ll learn about the connection the ancient Egyptians felt with the stars and various astronomical phenomena, and experience some of the most spectacular temples and tombs of the ancient world recreated in all of their original splendor.

  • Running Time: 36 min
  • General Audience
Poster for "Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope" with a bearded man and a telescope.

Two Small Pieces of Glass

While attending a local star party, two teenagers learn how the telescope has helped us understand our place in space and how telescopes continue to expand our understanding of the Universe. Their conversation with a local female astronomer enlightens them on the history of the telescope and the discoveries these wonderful tools have made. The students see how telescopes work and how the largest observatories in the world use these instruments to explore the mysteries of the universe.

  • Running Time: 22.45 min
  • General Audience 

Planetarium Shows

No events at this time. Please check back periodically for updates!

Location

Contact Us

Tarleton Science Planetarium is always looking for students whose interests and skills complement our mission. If you are a TSU student interested in astronomy, writing, public speaking, or science education and would like to help get kids excited about science, contact Jason Jacks.