UTA Planetarium celebrates 20 years with a free show
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, The University of Texas at Arlington’s Planetarium is offering free admission to a show on Saturday, April 18. The public can secure their spot to a 3 p.m. viewing of “Invaders of Mars” by registering at https://webapp.uta.edu/planetarium-tickets/purchase/75.
“We couldn’t be more excited to invite our valued community members to a complimentary show,” said McKenna Dowd, UTA Planetarium’s coordinator. “There is nothing better than speaking with the public about space exploration and the night sky that we all share. We’ve had a great first 20 years and can’t wait to see what the next 20 years brings us.”
UTA’s Planetarium, opened in 2006, features a 60-foot dome projection surface, a fully digital projection system, advanced digital software, and seating for 150 people. It’s established itself as one of the most family-friendly entertainment venues in the Metroplex since.
Every Saturday, the Planetarium hosts multiple shows for audiences of all ages, from a Sesame Street-themed adventure in the afternoon to a Pink Floyd concert in the evening. During the week, the Planetarium is a popular destination for field trips, with 30,000 K-12 students visiting each year.
The Planetarium also hosts concerts and special events such as a Romancing the Stars show on Valentine’s Day. Recently, the Planetarium put on a watch party for NASA’s Artemis II launch that garnered significant media attention. It also served as an opportunity to highlight the Planetarium’s “moon tree” that was born from a seed aboard the unmanned Artemis I mission in 2022.
To learn more about UTA’s Planetarium, please visit www.uta.edu/planetarium.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.