United States Air Force Academy

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To the Stars

Planetarium

Updated Base Access
Temporary Adjustment

The U.S. Air Force Academy has temporarily adjusted processes to access the installation, beginning January 4, 2025. While the installation remains closed to the public, visitors can enter the Academy installation by riding in a vehicle with a DoD ID card holder. Visitors can also request a base pass with a DoD ID card sponsor present from the Pass and Registration Office located at the South Gate.

Entrance to the U.S. Air Force Academy Planetarium and STEM Center.

We offer a diverse range of full-dome and IMAX films, live talks and educational events using our state-of-the-art 8K projection technology and immersive surround sound.

The U.S. Air Force Academy’s Planetarium enhances our Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) outreach and cadet education mission through public shows, field trips, and cadet classes.

Free Public Shows

All public shows are free and open to the public. Military or Department of Defense identification is not required to enter the North Gate with a valid driver’s license. Seating for all public shows is on a first come, first serve basis. We do not accept reservations for public shows. We recommend arriving 10 minutes prior to the show time. Parents and chaperones are responsible for children’s behavior.

The Planetarium is closed on USAFA Graduation Day and federal holidays.

See below for current public show schedule. See bottom of this page for descriptions/running times of Planetarium shows.

Shows are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

Planetarium Field Trip/Group Visit Requests being taken for 2024-25 School Year: Please complete the Online Request Form.


Schedule

All public shows are free, open to the public, and are first come, first seated. Once the planetarium’s 110 seats are filled, the Planetarium is full and additional guests will be asked to attend the next showing. All guests must exit the Planetarium after each show. Guests are welcome to re-queue for the next show, but only after exiting to allow everyone the opportunity to enjoy the Planetarium.

 

Show Schedule
All visitors to the USAFA must have a current DoD ID card or a base pass (see top of this page)
IMPORTANT: The Planetarium does NOT have passes or codes for visitors to get a base pass.
The Planetarium IS open for visitors who are able to come on base, but all visitors must come on base in accordance with current base policy as stated above. Thank you for your understanding of our current situation.
April
Tuesday, April 291:30 p.m. – Astronaut
2:00 p.m. – Humpback Whales
3:00 p.m. – Dream Big
4:00 p.m. – Superpower Dogs
May
Friday, May 2**New Film Premiere: United States Space Force’s Always Above
1:00 p.m. – Always Above & Black Holes
2:00 p.m. – Always Above & Experience the Aurora
3:00 p.m. – Always Above & Great Bear Rainforest
4:00 p.m. – Always Above & Humpback Whales
Evening Show:
5:00 p.m. – Always Above & Live Tour of the Solar System
Saturday, May 311:00 a.m. – Live Night Sky Tour
Monday, May 52:00 p.m. – Always Above & Live Night Sky and Solar System Tour
3:00 p.m. – Always Above & The Dark Matter Mystery
4:00 p.m. – Always Above & Dream Big
Tuesday, May 61:00 p.m. – D-Day: Normandy 1944
2:00 p.m. – Apollo 11: First Steps
3:00 p.m. – Galileo’s Moon: The Apollo 15 Story
4:00 p.m. – Superpower Dogs
Wednesday, May 71:30 p.m. – Double Feature: Two Small Pieces of Glass & Live Astronomy Show
2:00 p.m. – In Saturn’s Rings
3:00 p.m. – Fighter Pilot
4:00 p.m. – Always Above & Live Night Sky Tour
Friday, May 9Noon – Flight Adventures
12:30 p.m. – Eclipses & Phases of the Moon
1:00 p.m. – Volcanoes
2:00 p.m. – From Earth to the Universe
3:00 p.m. – D-Day: Normandy 1944 (limited seating)
Monday, May 121:00 p.m. – Homeschool Open House: “Astronomy All Summer Long” & Two Small Pieces of Glass  (Online RSVP Required)
Tuesday, May 131:00 p.m. – Double Feature: Black Holes & Cosmic Mashups
2:00 p.m. – Humpback Whales
3:00 p.m. – Dream Big
4:00 p.m. – Great Bear Rainforest
Wednesday, May 141:00 p.m. – Flight Adventures
1:30 p.m. – Astronaut
2:00 p.m. – Black Holes
2:30 p.m. – Cosmic Mashups
3:00 p.m. – Robot Explorers
3:30 p.m. – Oasis in Space
4:00 p.m. – Forward! To the Moon
4:30 p.m. – Always Above & Live Night Sky Tour
Thursday, May 151:00 p.m. – Eclipses & Phases of the Moon
1:30 p.m. – From Earth to the Universe
2:00 p.m. – Galileo’s Moon: The Apollo 15 Story
3:00 p.m. – Superpower Dogs
Friday, May 16Noon – Astronaut
12:30 p.m. – Oasis in Space
1:00 p.m. – Two Small Pieces of Glass
1:30 p.m. – Experience the Aurora
2:00 p.m. – Volcanoes
3:00 p.m. – Humpback Whales
4:00 p.m. – Live Night Sky & Universe Tour
Evening Show:
5:00 p.m. – Double Feature: Fighter Pilot & Always Above
Monday, May 19Noon – D-Day: Normandy 1944
1:00 p.m. – Flight Adventures
1:30 p.m. – Astronaut
2:00 p.m. – Live Night Sky & Universe Tour
3:00 p.m. – Humpback Whales
Tuesday, May 20Noon – Superpower Dogs
1:00 p.m. – Live Night Sky & Universe Tour and Always Above
2:00 p.m. – The Dark Matter Mystery
3:00 p.m. – Dream Big
4:00 p.m. – Great Bear Rainforest
Thursday, May 22Noon – Forward! To the Moon
12:30 p.m. – Astronaut
1:00 p.m. – Oasis in Space
Friday, May 23Observing Memorial Day

We Are Americans is a moving, 27-minute film created by the
US Air Force Academy as a Special Tribute to Memorial Day
Special Morning Shows:
7:00 a.m. – We Are Americans
7:30 a.m. – We Are Americans
8:00 a.m. – We Are Americans
8:30 a.m. – We Are Americans
Afternoon Shows:
Noon – We Are Americans
12:30 p.m. – Black Holes
1:00 p.m. – We Are Americans
1:30 p.m. – Oasis in Space
Monday, May 26CLOSED – Memorial Day
Tuesday & Wednesday
May 26 & 27
CLOSED to the public for USAFA Graduation Week Events
Thursday, May 28CLOSED – USAFA Graduation Day
Friday, May 2911:00 a.m. – Superpower Dogs
Noon – Live Night Sky & Solar System Tour
1:00 p.m. – Oasis in Space
1:30 p.m. – Black Holes
2:00 p.m. – Volcanoes & Always Above
3:00 p.m. – Fighter Pilot
4:00 p.m. – Humpback Whales & Always Above

 

School Field Trips and Group Shows

Elementary, Middle, and High Schools may reserve planetarium field trips at no cost. When requesting a school visit, teachers may select from the list of programs found just below our schedule. We also offer live, interactive astronomy shows tailored to your grade’s science standards.

Homeschool groups and classes with fewer than 20 students can join one of our Homeschool Open House Days, listed in our Public Show Schedule. To reserve seats at our Homeschool Open House, register using the link provided next to the show date and time. If your plans change and you cannot attend, please email planetarium@afacademy.af.edu in order for your seats to be opened for other guests.

Educators interested in additional STEM resources and opportunities can find STEM Outreach information here.

Planetarium Field Trip/Group Visit Request
If you would like to schedule a school field trip or a group showing in the planetarium, please click the button below and complete the online request form.

Field Trips or Groups requesting a private show need to be a minimum of 20 people. If you have a special request for less than 20 people, please send a direct email to planetarium@afacademy.af.edu for consideration.

STEM Activity add-on is NOT yet available for 2024-25 school year.
We are currently NOT BOOKING STEM Activity add-ons, only field trips to the Planetarium.

Our Planetarium school field trips and group showings are free of charge as a service to the community provided by the U.S. Air Force Academy.


Cadet Shows

The Planetarium creates an immersive learning environment for cadets that can’t be replicated in a traditional classroom or online environment, leading to greater comprehension of complex topics. Although its primarily used as a source of astronomy and astrophysics education, the capabilities and content have expanded to encompass a variety of disciplines such as biology, chemistry, geology, engineering and history. To discuss how we can support curriculum or schedule a visit Monday through Friday, faculty and staff should email planetarium@afacademy.af.edu.


Contact Us

Email is the best way to communicate with the Planetarium: planetarium@afacademy.af.edu

While there is a phone number, the phone does not ring in the Planetarium and is best for inquiring if something was left in our lost and found.

Directions

Directions to the Planetarium, use the North Gate, exit 156 off Interstate 25 to enter the U.S. Air Force Academy. All visitors currently need either an active DoD ID card or a base pass and all adult visitors are subject to request to see your driver’s license and proof of vehicle insurance to enter the base. Please be prepared for potential security measures such as vehicle inspections.
Foreign national visitors with a passport will need to go to the Pass & Registration Center, just outside the South Gate at exit 150, to obtain a pass.

Learn more about base access and check out the campus map. Please do not follow GPS directions to the Planetarium as those will take you to an incorrect location.

Once on base, drive straight on North Gate Blvd as it continues straight and turns into Academy Drive for 4 miles and then turn left to park in the visitor lot for Arnold Hall. There are large blue and white signs with direction arrows to follow to the Planetarium as well.
To the north of the visitor parking, there is a building with a white dome – that’s the Planetarium! Please follow the steps to the front door or use the winding path to the left of the steps for ramp access.

U.S. Air Force Academy Planetarium and STEM Center.

History

The Planetarium was originally built in 1959 and is one of the oldest structures at the U.S. Air Force Academy. With seats surrounding the perimeter and a large projector in the center, the Planetarium was initially used to teach celestial navigation classes to cadets. Due to rapidly advancing computing technology, cadets no longer had a need to navigate by the stars and this resulted in its closure in 2004.

After 15 years of sitting vacant, a passionate group of Academy leaders with the support of private donors spearheaded an effort to not only refurbish the structure, but advance the technology and capabilities inside to serve a new generation of cadets leading the way in space. Although the exterior remains virtually identical to its previous incarnation due to its historical status, the interior now features reclining theater seats and a series of 8K projectors built into the walls that offer a 360-degree near-hemispheric screen to deliver a visually immersive field-of-view to audiences.

On March 4, 2019, the Planetarium officially reopened to the public, welcoming over 45,000 visitors in its first year of operation, including 4,000 K-12 students. With a new mission to enhance STEM outreach to the local community, it quickly became a top-rated attraction and tourist destination in Colorado Springs.