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MOBILE PLANETARIUM PROGRAM

The Mobile Planetarium Program is a unique experience provided by the CMSE that begins in the classroom and ends with a visit from our mobile planetarium.

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Bringing the Solar System to Your Classroom

The program begins with fun learning activities which are aligned with the standards and provided to teachers to complete with their students in the comfort of their classroom and ends with the mobile planetarium coming to your school for sessions of stargazing.

  • The Mobile Planetarium Program lessons are applicable to students ranging from elementary through high school.
  • Students as young as kindergarten are able to grasp concepts shown in the planetarium shows.

The planetarium will hold approximately 25-30 students, and sessions range from 20-45 minutes, according to the teacher’s schedule. A maximum of 350 students can be accommodated in one day.

Click here to see how the Mobile Planetarium works.

How much does the Mobile Planetarium Program cost?

The associated costs for each Mobile Planetarium visit are:

Showing Fees

Showing fees are based on the following types of showings:
  • One Day School Showing — $350.00 (max 350 students*)
  • Two Day School Showing — $475.00

Mileage considerations

Round-trip mileage between the location of showing and the Center for Mathematics and Science Education (1111 Jackson Ave. W., University MS 38677) will be charged at the prevailing federal rate.

Lodging expenses

If one-way travel is greater than 70 miles, a lodging expense of $200 per night (per facilitator) will also be included. 

Interested in a reservation?

The Mobile Planetarium is an amazing experience for both you and your students. Don't miss out on this great opportunity!

Frequently Asked Questions

Need some more information on the Mobile Planetarium? Find our FAQ below. 

Sample schedules of school day planetarium showings can be provided upon request. It is the responsibility of the requesting teacher/administrator to generate the schedule for their school.

We arrive 30 minutes prior to the first session. This gives us time to set up the planetarium and address any technical issues that may arise. We stay until the last bell. The requesting teacher/administrator should supply the schedule for the day. Remember to include time in your schedule for facilitators to eat lunch!

The planetarium is 16 feet high with a diameter of 16 feet. It will not fit inside a classroom. It cannot be set up outside. The best location is in a gym (without PE classes in session) or on an auditorium stage (must be clear enough for students to enter/exit safely. The planetarium is housed in a large trunk and duffle bag. Please ensure CMSE employees have an entrance with handicap access to the set-up location. 

This really depends on the age/size of your students. For elementary students, 25-30 students can fit comfortably; for middle school students, 20-25 students can fit comfortably. If you have students with special needs (wheelchair, claustrophobia, autism, etc), please inform the facilitators so they can provide the appropriate accommodations.

We offer shows from 20 to 30 minutes long. You can choose the length that best fits your schedule. Students need at least 5 minutes between shows to enter/exit.

You can invite students with special needs to enjoy the planetarium. Invite the school administration or workers from the district office or around your school building to show off what you are doing for your students. People of all ages enjoy this experience!

Legally, there must be a faculty member in each session with facilitators to manage student behavior. You may not drop your students off or leave the dome during a presentation. You may rotate with other teachers to attend the sessions; however, they must be able to manage your students’ behavior. If student behavior cannot be managed by a faculty member, we reserve the right to end that session.

We have pulled Earth and Space related lessons from various resources for you to use with your students in the days leading up to the planetarium visit. Teachers receive a link to choose which lessons he/she would like to use in the classroom. Lessons include Learn from Images, Retrograde Motion, Telescopes Help Us See, The Solar System: Changing Perspectives, Alaska Satellite Image Comparison, GLOBE Earth System Satellite Image Sets, and Solar System Walk.

The lessons can be used at any level but correlate to specific grade-level standards. You may choose to use the resource materials differently than the lessons suggest in order to accommodate the needs of your students.

You may pick up the resource materials from the nearest University of Mississippi campus (Oxford, Desoto, Tupelo, Booneville, Grenada).  If you are not within driving distance of a regional campus, other arrangements may can be explored.

You are not required to use the resource materials. They are available as a supplemental resource if you choose to use them.

If you need to cancel your confirmed planetarium showing reservations, please do so at least fifteen calendar days before you scheduled event. It is the goal of the STEM Experiences division of the Center for Mathematics and Science Education (CMSE) at the University of Mississippi to provide high-quality STEM experiences for K-12 students. In order to fulfill the many teacher requests that we receive, it is respectful to allow teachers on the waitlist adequate time to prepare for a large-scale event such as this at their school. Therefore, registrants who need to cancel their registration must do so no later than fifteen calendar days prior to the event.

Registrants who cancel before the fifteen days prior to the event will receive a full refund of all fees paid in advance. However, registrants who cancel less than fifteen days prior to the event will be charged a cancellation fee of $100. Likewise, if a purchase order is submitted as payment for registration and a registrant cancels less than fifteen days prior to the event, an invoice will be sent to the originator of the purchase order in the amount of the cancellation fee. 

It is the responsibility of the registrant to notify the CMSE of an inability to host the planetarium. 

Center for Mathematics and Science Education

The Center for Mathematics and Science works to improve mathematics and science education in Mississippi by fostering interaction between academic and K-12 communities, support the implementation of research-based methods in the classroom, and promote interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).