Free Shows
We offer free IN-HOUSE Public Planetarium shows on special occasions. Watch the Events Calendar for them.
NOTE: We can also bring a planetarium to your school - see the Traveling Outreach Planetarium page.
RECENT FREE SHOWS
NASA's Journey to Mars (along with Live Star Show during month of August, 2024)
Sounds of the Ocean (one-week ONLY during World Oceans Week, June 3-10, 2024)
Losing the Dark (in conjunction with Earth Day All Around Natick, April 27, 2024)
Totality (ended after the April 8 solar eclipse, but can be requested)
Group Rentals
Scout groups, after-school programs, and libraries, are welcome to request IN-HOUSE planetarium shows at New England Sci-Tech. We have a variety of multimedia shows and can do a live Stellarium star show as well.
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 multimedia shows about planets, asteroids, eclipses, NASA missions, telescopes, etc. (See complete list of shows here.) We also have several "short" shows, one on light pollution and its effects on wildlife and human health, one on NASA's missions to Mars, and one about the Milky Way galaxy and black holes. Most shows are geared toward grades 4 and up. We can also combine it with a “live show” about constellations and the night sky using a star planetarium software 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. This could round out your visit to a full hour and add extra interest to your visit.
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. 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.