Planetarium Education

Our corner of the Milky Way galaxy is full of amazing things!

NASA image

See the night sky during the day

The Nature Center's planetarium provides visitors with the opportunity to view the motion of the stars, constellations, moon, and planets in tonight's sky. As the only planetarium in the National Park Service, it enables visitors to compare a night sky with urban light pollution to the ideal viewing conditions of the country.

Want to make a reservation?

Programs are free but must be scheduled a minimum of two weeks in advance. Teachers and school administrators can contact us via e-mail to request a program. Teachers will be sent a reservation request form via e-mail. Field trips cannot be scheduled over the phone.

Field Trips in the planetarium are only available for Thursdays.

At this time, we are only accepting reservations for Thursdays through the end of May 2024.

The Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium is closed Monday through Wednesday. Planetarium programs can not be reserved on weekends.

 

Curriculum-based programs

Curriculum based programs are conducted by a park ranger, who will guide students through an age appropriate program.

Capacity within the dome is limited to 60 individuals (students and chaperones).

The Sky Above Us - Scalable to suit any grade - (30 minutes) See the night sky from the city while never leaving your seat. Come on this journey to study the stars and the movement of the Earth and Moon. We will also identify constellations and hear their stories.

Native American Night Sky - 1st- 9th grade - (45 minutes) An exploration of the night sky with an emphasis on indigenous legends from various parts of the country.

Planetarium films

Planetarium films are high quality, informational productions created by planetariums and science centers. Due to the perspective of these films, we can only seat half the dome and limit viewing to 30 individuals (students and chaperones) at a time.

Oasis in Space - 3rd-5th grade - (30 minutes) An exploration of the planets in our solar system.

Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity - 5th-12th grade - (30 minutes) Discover the mysterious world of black holes and other space phenomena.

Faster Than Light: The Dream of Interstellar Flight - 4th-12th grade - (30 minutes) Astronomers are racing to find habitable worlds. How will we ever get there?

Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope- 3rd-12th grade -(30 minutes) Learn about the invention of the telescope and how different types of telescopes work.

Eclipse: The Sun Revealed (1st - 12th grade)- (30 minutes) Learn about the historical, cultural, and scientific views of solar eclipses.

Travel tips

• Parking for buses, vans and cars is available at the Nature Center
• Bring your lunch. There are limited uncovered picnic areas nearby. There are no food facilities in the park.
• Incorporate pre- and post-trip lessons into your visit.

Getting to the planetarium

The Nature Center is at 5200 Military Road, NW, Washington, D.C. 20015.

Stormy Weather. Are we open?

During inclement weather, particularly snowstorms and hurricanes, federal offices in the district area may be closed. To check if we are open go to www.opm.gov, click on the "operating status" along the top bar. Also check local television and radio broadcasts for announcements.

Need to contact us

Running late?

Need to change or cancel your reservation?

Call us at 202-895-6070 Thursday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.