United States Air Force Academy

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To the Stars

Planetarium

Request Base Access

The Air Force Academy remains open for field trips and free public planetarium shows. Anyone 18 and over without a DoD ID card must request and obtain a visitor pass to enter the base using the dated Planetarium Base Access links below (children under 18 do NOT need to request a base pass, they must accompany an adult who has one).
Once your request is received, the 10th Security Forces Squadron’s Pass and Registration Office will conduct a background check, and you will receive a decision via text within 72 hours. (if you do not receive an approval message, you can contact the PRO at 719-333-0441. (Do not contact the Planetarium with questions about the base access system.) When you have an approved pass, proceed to either the North or the South Gate on the day of your approved visit and present a Real ID for base access.

Base Access Links

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

Public shows are free and open to all. Seating for public shows is on a first come, first serve basis. We do not accept reservations for public shows and the Planetarium does not use tickets. We recommend arriving 10 minutes prior to the show time. Parents and chaperones are responsible for children’s behavior.

The Planetarium is closed on Graduation Day and federal holidays.

Show descriptions and run times are located at the bottom of this page.

Planetarium Field Trip/Group Visit Requests for 2026-27 School Year: Please complete this Online Request Form.


Schedule

All public shows are free, open to all, 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. You do not need to be military to visit the planetarium for shows.

Google times for the USAFA Planetarium are NOT accurate – below is the ONLY accurate USAFA Planetarium schedule.

Note: Shows and schedule are subject to change without notice.

Planetarium Show Schedule

Visitors wanting to see a planetarium show must follow the process
of entering the Academy described at the top of this page

June Planetarium Events
Friday, June 26
* – shows added
Daytime Shows
9:30 a.m. – Superpower Dogs
10:45 a.m. – Mars 1001
Noon – Mars 1001
Saturday, June 27 Daytime Shows
11 a.m. – Superpower Dogs
Noon – Worlds Beyond Earth
12:30 p.m. – Dark Universe
1 p.m. – Mars 1001
Tuesday, June 30
* – shows added
Daytime Shows
2 p.m. – Cities of the Future
3 p.m. – Black Holes
3:30 p.m. – Forward! To the Moon
Noon – Extreme Weather
July Planetarium Events
Wednesday, July 1 Daytime Shows
Noon – Live Night Sky Tour
12:30 p.m. – Two Small Pieces of Glass
1 p.m. – T.REX
2 p.m. – Shackleton: the Greatest Story of Survival
3 p.m. – Experience the Aurora
3:30 p.m. – Live Journey through the universe
4 p.m. – Mars 1001
Evening Shows
5 p.m. – Extreme Weather
Thursday, July 2 Daytime Shows
9:30 a.m. – T.REX
10:45 a.m. – Volcanoes
Noon – Worlds Beyond Earth & Live Night Sky Tour
1 p.m. – Live Night Sky & Universe Tour
2 p.m. – Black Holes
2:30 p.m. – Cosmic Mashups
3 p.m. – Live Exoplanets Show (Is there life anywhere else?)
3:30 p.m. – Oasis in Space
4 p.m. – Fighter Pilot
Evening Shows
5 p.m. – Live Night Sky Tour
5:30 p.m. – Forward! To the Moon
6 p.m. – T.REX
Friday, July 3 CLOSED for the Independence Day holiday
Tuesday, July 7 Daytime Shows
11 a.m. – Live Night Sky & Summer Stargazing Show
Noon – Worlds Beyond Earth
12:30 p.m. – Dark Universe
1 p.m. – Apollo 11: First Steps
2 p.m. – Extreme Weather
Wednesday, July 8*
*schedule adjusted
Daytime Shows
Noon – T.REX
1 p.m. – Apollo 11: First Steps
2 p.m. – Eclipses & Phases of the Moon
2:30 p.m. – Forward! To the Moon
3 p.m. – Live Night Sky Tour
3:30 p.m. – Worlds Beyond Earth
4 p.m. – Volcanoes
Thursday, July 9 Daytime Shows
10:45 a.m. – Superpower Dogs
Noon – Back from the Brink & Always Above
1 p.m. – Forward! To the Moon
1:30 p.m. – Live Night Sky Tour
2 p.m. – Astronaut
2:30 p.m. – Black Holes
3 p.m. – Shackleton: The Greatest Story of Survival
4 p.m. – T.REX
Evening Shows
5 p.m. – Live Night Sky & Solar System Tour
6 p.m. – Dark Universe
Friday, July 10 Daytime Shows
Noon – Superpower Dogs
1 p.m. – Volcanoes
2 p.m. – Live Night Sky Tour
2:30 p.m. – Flight Adventures
3 p.m. – Cities of the Future
Monday, July 13 Daytime Shows
Noon – D-Day: Normandy 1944
1 p.m. – Apollo 11: First Steps
2 p.m. – Astronaut
2:30 p.m. – Black Holes
3 p.m. – Shackleton: The Greatest Story of Survival
4 p.m. – Mars 1001
Evening Shows
5 p.m. – T.REX
6 p.m. – From Apollo 11 to Artemis IV: Our fascination with the Moon
(A special “Year among the stars” Live show)
Wednesday, July 15 Daytime Shows
Noon – Cosmic Mashups & Black Holes
1 p.m. – Forward! To the Moon
2 p.m. – Flight Adventures
2:30 p.m. – Two Small Pieces of Glass
3 p.m. – Live Solar System Tour
3:30 p.m. – Dark Universe
Friday, July 17 Daytime Shows
10:45 a.m. – Cities of the Future
Noon – Superpower Dogs
1 p.m. – Fighter Pilot
2 p.m. – Live Night Sky Tour
2:30 p.m. – Experience the Aurora
3 p.m. – Extreme Weather
Special Movie Event at 6 p.m.
6 p.m. – Spaceballs (online RSVP required – coming soon)
Tuesday, July 21 Daytime Shows
Noon – Cities of the Future
1 p.m. – Live Night Sky & Solar System Tour (limited seating)
2 p.m. – Black Holes
2:30 p.m. – Worlds Beyond Earth
3 p.m. – Dark Universe
Wednesday, July 22 Daytime Shows
9:30 a.m. – Experience the Aurora
10:30 a.m. – Astronaut
11 a.m. – Fighter Pilot
Noon – Back from the Brink
1 p.m. – Live Night Sky & Solar System Tour (limited seating)
Thursday, July 23 Daytime Shows
10:45 a.m. – Cosmic Mashups
Noon – D-Day: Normandy 1944
1 p.m. – Live Night Sky & Solar System Tour (limited seating)
2 p.m. – Extreme Weather
Friday, July 24 Daytime Shows
9:30 a.m. – T.REX
10:45 a.m. – Back from the Brink
Noon – Superpower Dogs
1 p.m. – T.REX
2 p.m. – Dark Universe
School Field Trips and Group Shows

Academic classes and groups of all types (pre-school, elementary, middle, high school, homeschool, college, etc.) may request planetarium field trips at no cost.

When requesting a school visit, teachers may select a specific program from the list of programs on the Online Request Form, which include live, narrated astronomy shows tailored to science standards.

Homeschool families and groups are also welcome to join one of our Homeschool Program shows, listed in our Public Show Schedule. To reserve seats at our free Homeschool Program shows, 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. 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.

Field Trips or Groups requesting a group 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.


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:
Visitors can enter through either gate, North or South.
If you use the South Gate, take exit 150 off Interstate 25 (if you take the North Gate use Exit 156 off I-25) to enter the U.S. Air Force Academy.
All visitors currently need either an active DoD ID card or an installation visitor 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 Academy 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 South Gate Blvd as it continues straight and turns into Stadium Dr. Turn left onto Academy Dr and continue all the way up the hill to the mountains, following the road around until you pass the Visitor Center. Take the next right onto Cadet Dr and park in the lot near the Planetarium.

The Planetarium is ramp accessible by taking the sidewalk to the left when you approach the Planetarium from the parking lot.

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.