UTA Planetarium – Arlington, Texas
For centuries, humankind has looked to the sky for inspiration, connection, and a better understanding of our place in the universe. In today’s increasingly urbanized world, where the lights of big cities can drown out even our closest constellations, it’s more important than ever to find a way to access that innate sense of wonder we all feel when taking in the moon and the stars. Uncover all that, and so much more, at UTA Planetarium.
UTA Planetarium is one of the three largest planetariums in Texas, located on the campus of The University of Texas at Arlington. With its 60-foot dome projection surface, fully digital projection system, and advanced software, UTA Planetarium provides unparalleled views of the night sky, the solar system, stars, and distant galaxies – complemented with Dolby® surround sound.
UTA Planetarium is available for field trips 7-days a week and some days for the public.
The Planetarium offers live stargazing and pre-recorded programs to the public, school groups, and UT Arlington students all year round. Using state-of-the-art technology and a 60-ft. dome screen; the Planetarium is an immersive space theater facility with endless capabilities. Our shows are one-hour long and consist of ~30-minutes of stargazing of tonight’s night sky presented by a space scientist, and another ~30-minutes pre-recorded program.
During a planetarium show, an Astronomer will provide a night sky tour, present the Solar System and other Point-Of-Interest objects, and cover trending Astronomy topics. The session will be followed by Q&A and a pre-recorded program. Live presentations are customized for K-12 field trips to meet the current curriculum standards, TEKS, and teachers’ specific goals. The typical length of planetarium shows is 1-hour for K-12 field trips, 45-minutes for public shows.
It all started in 1975 when physics Professor Ulrich Herrmann suggested that a quirky little round building close to the Library should be converted into the first Planetarium at the University of Texas at Arlington. Today, with its 60-foot diameter dome and the latest Digistar 5 DLP Projection system, The Planetarium is one of the biggest and the most advanced in Texas.
The Digistar 5 system projects stars, galaxies, planets, and virtually anything else you can see in the sky onto the dome. The facility uses a powerful surround-sound system, turning your trip to see black holes and distant galaxies into the adventure of a lifetime. The Planetarium is a unique space for teaching and learning, and it is a space open to the public for shows, field trips, stargazing, and all sorts of interesting private functions. The Dome auditorium can seat about 150 people.
A one-of-a-kind teaching, learning, and special-occasion space, UTA Planetarium hosts public shows and events, private field trips, private parties, and yes, the opportunity to look up at the sky in awe again. Come visit UTA Planetarium and Discover the Universe!