Frequently asked questions
What are the planetarium’s space requirements?
The Super Dome requires a clear floor space of 30’ X 30’ and is 18’ tall.
The Regular Dome requires a clear floor space of 24’ X 24’ and is 11’ tall. The Regular Dome not currently available for scheduling.
Northern Stars has two different sized domes to fit your needs.
How many students can fit in the planetarium at once?
The Super Dome can accommodate up to 50 students plus the teachers and aides. For a general public presentation we limit the total to between 45-50.
The Regular Dome can accommodate up to 25 students plus the teacher and aides. For a general public presentation we limit the total to 25.
How long are the presentations?
The presentations inside the dome last between 50-55 minutes, but we ask that you allow 1 hour and 15 minutes for each presentation. The extra time is for entrance and exit times, as well as the turn-around time needed to set up for the next show.
Can we choose different shows?
Yes! We offer more than 20 different shows on different topics. The majority of shows are astronomy and planetary science oriented, but we also have shows on oceanography, weather, volcanoes, life sciences, and story telling.
You can pick any combination of shows you want on a given day, just be sure to pick shows that match the suggested age levels.
For those who cannot crawl through the entrance tube, we can lift the dome to get inside.
Photo by Forrest G. Meader.
Is there Disability Access?
Wheelchairs are easily brought into the dome by just lifting the dome up and scooting in underneath. Visitors in wheelchairs have to be the first ones in, and the last ones out.
Backs Problems and other Common Ailments If you can't crawl or sit on the floor, please let us know. It's easy to get you in totally upright and add a chair. You just need to be the first one inside.
Hearing Impaired Individuals We do not have the ability to sign our presentations directly and we do not have closed captioning. However, the planetarium presenter will be glad to wear a radio microphone. If a student has a sign language interpreter, we will provide a red flashlight that gives enough light for the student to both see the interpreter and the sky at the same time.
Blind and Seeing Impaired Individuals Planetarium shows are audio-visual presentations. Half of audio-visual is sound, the audio alone can be educational and entertaining.
In an emergency, or sometimes just for fun, we can take the dome down fast.
Photo by Patrick Groleau.
What Happens if there’s a Fire Alarm or other Emergency?
In an emergency the dome comes down in less than 20 seconds. The presenter simply lifts up the front side of the dome and it rides the cushion of air back and lands in a pile behind everyone.
Let us bring our telescopes to your school.
Photo by Patrick Groleau.
What is the difference between a Star Party and a Night Sky Tour?
Star Parties are evening outdoor events that feature NSP’s telescopes. John has a large telescope that he keeps on interesting sky objects (planets, nebulae, clusters, galaxies, etc.) for people to see. He explains the objects seen and how to view them properly. He also brings 2 or 3 smaller telescopes that are appropriate for students and children to tryout. With just a little instruction, kids quickly find planets, the Moon, and sometimes even a few deep space objects!
Night Sky Tour.
Photo by Patrick Groleau.
Night Sky Tours are evening outdoor events that explores the stars and constellations using a laser pointer. No telescopes are involved. John will share the sky we see with the unaided eye—constellations, stars, any visible planets, and share a bit of skylore to round out the event.
If people bring binoculars along, after the tour, John will lead a “star hopping” session with binoculars to share some deep sky objects best seen with binoculars.
