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Planetarium Programs

The new Mikkelson Planetarium offers live educator-led planetarium shows at our amazing new Challenger Learning Center in northeast Colorado Springs. Seating up to 40 students in comfort, we provide custom-tailored shows to your requirements. As part of the full-day field trip experience, students will see the Universe come to them via a digital laser experience. Choose from any of our 45-minute Journey to Mars, Moon Magic, Galaxies in Motion, or Solar System Tour astronomy programs presented by Challenger staff. (Grade 5 to adult.) Custom programs available by advance arrangement.

Length: 45 minutes

Group Size: up to 32

Single-Show Price: $150

Alternatively, we can bring our inflatable, portable planetarium to you. Donated by the Bruni Foundation, this portable time machine allows students to experience the night sky and the solar system no matter what the season, weather or time of day. Choose from any of our 30-minute educator-driven programs below, including Elmo and Big Bird in the One World, One Sky (K-2) and/or supplement with grade-level appropriate Night Sky and Solar System Tour programs presented by Challenger staff. Students will be inspired to look at the night sky and be able to identify celestial objects. (Kindergarten and older, seating up to 36 elementary or 30 middle school students per show.)

Length: 30 minutes

Group Size: up to 32

Half-Day Price: $525

Full-Day Price: $825

Requires a 20 foot by 20 foot quiet area with 12-foot ceilings and a minimum of two 110V power plugs.

One World, One Sky

Recommended for: Kindergarten

Students explore the night sky with Big Bird, Elmo, and Hu Hu Zhu, a new friend from China. This full-dome video from Sesame Street and the National Science Foundation shows students how to find the Big Dipper and North Star, as well as taking them on an imagination-fueled trip to the moon.

ESS K.3.1 Patterns are observed when measuring the local weather, including how humans and other organisms impact their environment.

Patterns in the Night Sky: The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars

Recommended for: 1st Grade

Students learn the relationship between the sun, the Earth, and the moon and why day and night, the seasons, and the phases of the moon follow the patterns they do, as well as exploring prominent constellations and star patterns in the night sky.

ESS 1.3.1 Patterns of movement of the sun, moon and stars as seen from Earth can be observed, described, and predicted.

The Changing Shape of the Earth, Moon, and Planets

Recommended for: 2nd Grade

After a brief look at the night sky, this Earth-focused program explores prominent features and landforms around the globe and introduces students to the forces that shape them over time. Students also venture to the moon and Mars to see similarities and differences in the landforms of some of Earth’s closest celestial neighbors.

ESS 2.3.1 Some events on Earth occur quickly, others can occur very slowly.

Weather & Climate: Going to Space To Learn About Earth and its Neighbor

Recommended For: 3rd Grade

Students learn how satellites help scientists study and predict the weather, the relationship between weather and climate and the factors that influence them, and how Earth’s weather and climate compare to other planets.

ESS 3.3.1 Climate describes patterns of typical weather conditions over different scales and variations; historical weather patterns can be analyzed.ESS 3.3.2 2. A variety of weather hazards result from natural process; humans cannot eliminate weather-related hazards but can reduce their impacts.

Light & Motion: The Moon, Stars, and Planets

Recommended for: 4th Grade

While exploring the night sky, the moon, and planets in our solar system, students learn about light-creating and light-reflecting bodies; why some objects are brighter than others; how the moon, planets, and other celestial bodies move in relation to each other; and what happens when objects collide.

ESS 4.3.1 Earth has changed over time. ESS 4.3.3. Earth's physical features occur in patterns.

The Shape of Things: What Makes the Stars, Moon, and Planets Look the Way They Do?

Recommended for: 5th grade

Certain stars consistently appear brighter than others, while the moon seems to be constantly changing. Students explore the reasons the celestial objects we see from Earth appear as they do, then launch into the solar system to explore how gravity and other forces shape objects including asteroids, moons, and planets.

ESS 5.3.1 Stars range greatly in size and distance from Earth, and this can explain their relative brightness. ESS 5.3.2 Earth’s orbit and rotation and the orbit of the moon around earth cause observable patterns.

The Physics of Our Planet and Solar System

Recommended for: Middle School

From motion and gravity to weather and climate, students learn about a range of Earth and space science concepts while exploring the night sky, viewing Earth from space, and venturing out into the solar system.

ESS MS.3.1 Motion is predictable in both solar systems and galaxies. ESS MS.3.2 The solar system contains many varied objects held together by gravity. Solar system models explain and predict eclipses, lunar phases, and seasons.

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