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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 are amazed to see the Universe come to them via a digital laser experience. Choose from any of our 45-minute Night Sky, Lunar, Galaxies! or Solar System Tour astronomy programs presented by Challenger staff. (Grade 5 to adult.) Custom programs available by advance arrangement.

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 movie 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.)

Requires a 20 foot by 20 foot quiet area with 12-foot ceilings and 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Shape of Things: What Makes the Strs, 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.

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.

Book a Planetarium Program