Reservations and General Information

Planetarium shows are FREE with museum admission.

Purchase Museum Tickets in Advance.

Groups can visit the Planetarium for a special rate.

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Children’s Museum of Virginia Beazley Planetarium

Reservations and General Information

September 3, 2024 - Chesapeake Public Schools (CPS) is announcing a temporary pause in its planetarium evening shows as the district works to develop a plan for future programming. With the recent retirement of our long-time Planetarium Director, Dr. Robert Hitt, who stepped down on September 1, 2024, after more than five decades of service, it is an ideal time for CPS to rethink our current model. This decision comes as part of the district’s ongoing commitment to enhancing educational experiences and ensuring that our available resources are used to their fullest potential. The planetarium, an important part of our educational outreach, has been a valuable resource for our students and the community for many years. However, to continue to provide high-quality programming that aligns with our educational goals, CPS is exploring creative ways the planetarium can serve our students and community well into the future. “We understand how much the planetarium means to our students, families, and the broader community,” said Dr. Jared Cotton, Superintendent of Chesapeake Public Schools. “Our priority is to ensure that the planetarium continues to offer valuable and enriching learning experiences. This temporary pause will allow us to develop a thoughtful plan for its future that aligns with our educational goals and community needs.” The district is currently collaborating with city officials and educational partners to create a plan for the future of the planetarium. Chesapeake Public Schools is committed to moving forward as quickly as possible and will provide updates as soon as a plan is in place. It is important to note that there are no plans to close the planetarium as it continues to be an asset to our community.

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Chesapeake Public School Planetarium

Reservations and General Information

All shows are free, but pre-registration is required. Register TODAY at ecsuplanetarium.eventbrite.com or by calling (252) 335-3SKY.

Hours of Operation - With the exception of University closings, the ECSU Khan Planetarium is open year-round to the public. The Planetarium operates during regular business hours, Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. A limited number of evening and shows are offered during special occasions (e.g, Feature Presentations, University Open House, etc.).

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Elizabeth City State University Planetarium

General Information

The presentation will be followed by a short tour of the night sky "stars" inside the planetarium where you will learn a variety of star constellations. The total presentation will last about one hour. 60 seats available – first come – first seated.

Those attendees that are under age 13 MUST be accompanied by parents, or by older friends and siblings.

There will be a free raffle for all students in attendance. FREE - no admission charge. Inside activity held in any weather.

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Jones Planetarium

General Information

Regular shows are every Tuesday at 1PM and Wednesday at 12PM and 5:30PM (30 minutes shows)

The planetarium shows are offered during the academic year and are FREE and open to the general public. The Planetarium is also open to civic organizations and local schools.

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Norfolk State University Planetarium

General Information

The planetarium is open. They start off with a full-dome, educational movie. They follow this by showing off what's currently in the night sky, talk about constellations, planets, nebula, galaxies, and more. See the calendar. As a side note the former facility for this university was called the Pretlow Planetarium.

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Michael and Kimthanh Lê Planetarium

Reservations and General Information

The TCC Planetarium has a state of the art Digistar 5 Laser Projector housed in a 40 foot dome with 87 permanent seats. It produces an all-sky image.

Admission is FREE and open to the public, but reservations are required for each show. Reserve online or call 757-822-1122. You must arrive at least 15 minutes prior to showtime to guarantee your reservation. A very limited number of standby tickets will be available.

Important information

Parking
• Park in the lot closest to the Advanced Technology Center (Building H).

Accessibility
• TCC’s Planetarium is wheelchair accessible. Please contact the TCC Information Center at 757-822-1122 to arrange accommodations.

Restrictions
• Age limits: 4 years and older. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Food, drink, and chewing gum are not allowed in the planetarium.
• Latecomers will not be admitted; exit and re-entry are not permitted.

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Tidewater Community College Planetarium

Reservations and General Information

Virginia Beach Public Schools students are attending the planetarium at the TCC Virginia Beach campus.

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Virginia Beach City Public Schools Planetarium

General Information

The planetarium is open Wednesday through Sunday, and Monday holidays from September through Memorial Day. During the summer, the planetarium is open daily. All day-time programs $4 plus museum admission. VLM members are admitted free to day-time shows.

Star Party/Laser Nights are held on the second Saturday evening of every month. These include free stargazing and several shows: a planetarium show, family, hard rock and Pink Floyd laser shows. All shows are $3 for VLM members and $6 for non-members. See the calendar.

Special evening shows are presented for holidays, including Valentine’s Day, Fourth of July, Halloween and Christmas. All shows are $3 for VLM members and $6 for non-members. See the calendar.

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Abbitt Planetarium & Observatory