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Field Trips

Do you want to inspire a classroom of young scientists? Are you involved in a scout troop, club, or organization looking for an adventure? Do you know some aspiring astronauts? Are you interested in motivating your staff or students to think way, way, way out of the box? If so, then UTA Planetarium can provide the perfect program to educate, entertain, and inspire! We offer grade-specific programs that meet and exceed Texas Education Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards.

As the largest university in the North Texas region, UTA is ideally positioned to offer superlative programming that benefits not just our own campus students but the community as well. As a unique visual tool to spark interest in science and engineering, especially for K-12 students, the Planetarium provides an amazing window into the solar system as well as a pathway to higher education. Students receive a unique learning experience boosted by immersive graphics and audio, and they interact with knowledgeable scientists who encourage engagement through active learning. The Planetarium employs UTA astronomers, astrophysicists, and science and engineering students who present planetarium shows daily. Young students also become familiar with a university setting, explore the university campus, and observe higher education and research first-hand, compelling them to imagine themselves as college students.

 

If your group will exceed 150 people, please fill out two separate request forms.

What's in a field trip?

Each show lasts about 1 hour.

 

Feature Program

Start off with a fun full-dome feature show. We offer a variety of shows that follow TEKS standards.

Texas Stargazing

Next, our astronomers provide a tour of the Texas nighttime sky without all the distracting city lights. Explore the solar system, other point-of-interest objects, and trending astronomy topics.

Q & A

Do you have any questions about space, astronomy, or anything you just saw in your show? Ask the questions and our astronomers will provide the answers. What's Mars made of? How hot is Venus, really?

Roller Coaster (Optional)

Finally, as surprise end to your trip in space, you may include a virtual roller coaster ride! This is completely free and a often a fun way to end the field trip.

 

 

UTA Planetarium ShowBook

View the full list the shows we offer.

Astronaut
See what it takes to become an astronaut and the effect the environment of space has on the human body.

Atlas of a Changing Earth
This is the story of how a revolution in one of the most basic of all human enterprises – the making of maps – is shedding new light on our planet’s evolution in the wake of rising global temperatures.

Back To The Moon For Good
Narrated by Tim Allen, Back To The Moon For Good immerses us in the Google Lunar XPRIZE race to the Moon and the human stories of both the competition and the collaboration it inspires.

Black Holes
Take the ultimate journey in space and time! Learn how mammoth stars make a black hole and help figure out where they might lead.

Cosmic Origins Spectrograph
Discover Hubble Space Telescope's Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (CoS) instrument, the nature of light, spectroscopy, the use of quasars as background light sources, material identification by spectrum, and the cycling of material within and surrounding galaxies.

Dynamic Earth
Explore the inner workings of Earth's climate engine with visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations.

Europe to the Stars
Europe to the Stars takes the viewer on an epic journey behind the scenes at the most productive ground-based observatory in the world, revealing the science, the history, the technology and the people.

Experience the Aurora
Over seven months in the Arctic Circle, crews captured timelapse images of the Aurora Borealis with high resolution digital SLR cameras outfitted with fisheye lenses. The results are spectacular!

From the Earth to the Universe
The night sky, both beautiful and mysterious, has been the subject of campfire stories, ancient myths and awe for as long as there have been people. A desire to comprehend the Universe may well be humanity's oldest shared intellectual experience. Yet only recently have we truly begun to grasp our place in the vast cosmos. To learn about this journey of celestial discovery, from the theories of the ancient Greek astronomers to today's grandest telescopes, we invite you to experience From Earth to the Universe.

Ice Worlds
See the effect of ice in our own ecosystem, and travel to distant worlds to see how ice shapes the landscape and natural systems there.

Magnificent Sun
Discover our Magnificent Sun in this UT Arlington original show!

Mayan Archeoastronomy
Mayan Archaeoastronomy: Observers of the Universe is unique among planetarium shows, intertwining science and mythology to take the viewer on a poetic journey through how the Mayans have viewed and understood the Universe throughout their history.

Mayan Prophecies
Visit the Classic Mayan cities of Uxmal, Chichen Itza, Tikal, and Palenque to discover how the Maya aligned their temples to watch their sky gods and used interlocking calendars to record the past and predict the future.

One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure
Discover the night sky with Big Bird, Elmo and their new friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu.

Our Violent Planet
A fulldome show about earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, earth, geology and continental drift.

Out There: The Quest for Extrasolar Worlds
Set out on a journey to learn about other worlds much like our own oasis in the universe.

Phantom of the Universe
The title "Phantom of the Universe" reflects dark matter's invisible presence everywhere in the universe from galaxies to deep inside the earth.

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Pink Floyd is the classic rock that everyone loves. Combine that with the amazing CG visual effects and you have an absolutely amazing show that no one should miss.

Pink Floyd - The Wall
Pink Floyd is the classic rock that everyone loves. Combine that with the amazing CG visual effects and you have an absolutely amazing show that no one should miss.

Rosetta
Story of the first spacecraft landed on the comet surface. Rosetta spacecraft and "Philae" lander seek clues about the origins of the Solar System and life on Earth. Meet the challenges of a 10 year long mission.

Secret of the Cardboard Rocket
Join two children on a magical journey through the Solar System, aided by a talking astronomy book, a cardboard rocket, and a vivid imagination.

Spacepark 360: Infinity
The fastest fulldome show continues with 9 all new rides!

Stars of the Pharaohs
Travel to ancient Egypt to see how science was used to tell time, make a workable calendar, and align huge buildings.

The Hot and Energetic Universe
The planetarium documentary 'The Hot and Energetic Universe' presents with the use of Immersive Visualisations and real images the achievements of the modern astronomy, the most advanced terrestrial and orbital observatories, the basic principles electromagnetic radiation and the natural phenomena related to the High Energy Astrophysics.

The Sun, Our Living Star
The Sun, Our Living Star tells the story of our nearest star and our planet's powerhouse, the source of energy that drives Earth's winds and weather, and the ball of light that allows the very existence of life.

Two Small Pieces of Glass
Four hundred years ago, a simple adjustment to a child's spyglass revealed for the first time an infinite and perplexing universe to our eyes and imaginations. Join us today, as the world's great telescopes, born of that serendipitous moment, gaze farther into the distant past - and into our future.

Unveiling the Invisible Universe
Explore the images of the cosmos as they were revealed over the last few centuries in the most immersive way imaginable!

Violent Universe
The beauty of a starlit sky conceals the violent forces at work within our universe.

We Are Astronomers
Do you know what an astronomer does? Today's astronomer is not the lone observer of past centuries. We Are Astronomers reveals the global collaboration, technology, and dedication required to answer the unresolved questions of the Universe.

Wonders of the Universe
Peer deep into space through the eyes of the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope and travel back billions of years in time to witness the birth of the universe.

What local teachers are saying about the UTA Planetarium

I've been a teacher for 25 years and this is the best field trip we've ever been on.
Just wanted to share that our children LOVED the planetarium. Thanks a million!
We had a FANTASTIC time at the Planetarium this week! The students really enjoyed the experience.

Want to do more on campus?

Take advantage of other engaging and memorable experiences on campus. These visits are scheduled independently.

Campus Tours

UTA’s Dan Dipert University Welcome Center provides group campus tours at 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturdays. There is no charge for campus tours. Having a tour guide on campus can bring to life the rich history and vibrant campus life of the UTA campus.

Visit UTA

Science Ambassadors

Experience an exciting and interactive science show presented by the Science Ambassadors. Chemistry comes to life with live demonstrations involving dry ice, liquid nitrogen, and fire. To schedule please use their online request form.

Contact

UTA Libraries

We are currently developing activities for K-12 students in order to engage young scholars through experiential learning and regularly participate in community events focused on STEAM and making. We are also happy to give a free tour of our facility for those who are looking to start or expand their makerspace. Contact

Visiting The Planetarium

Learn more about what to expect when visiting and where to park.

Information for Visitors

What's the cost of a field trip?

One show:
Students/Chaperones - $6 each

Two shows:
Students/Chaperones - $10 each

 

Independent School District teachers and staff are free of charge.

Submit Field Trip Request