Mather Planetarium

All shows start promptly at 7pm and run approximately one hour in length. Late arrivals will not be permitted to enter the planetarium so please allow adequate time for parking and walking to the planetarium. Doors open at 6:30pm. Shows are general seating. The cost of the show is $6 per person. Children under the age of 5 may sit on a parent's lap for free. 

No food or drink is allowed in the planetarium.

The planetarium is wheelchair accessible.

Directions & Parking information can be found on the Visit page.

Live Shows

Our live shows are held once a month during the regular academic year. These presentations are given by a professional astronomer and consist primarily of an overview of what is currently visible in the night sky. In addition, part of each show (approximately 10-15 minutes) focuses on a specific aspect of astronomy, the topic of which changes each presentation. The shows are appropriate for all ages, however, the content and duration of the show may be more appealing to older children and adults.

Pre-Recorded Shows

In addition to the live shows, astronomy-themed movies are shown. These are specifically formatted for the planetarium dome, providing an impressive and immersive experience. Each presentation consists of a live 25-minute overview of the current night sky followed by an educational and entertaining movie, roughly 30 minutes in length. These presentations are given by West Chester University students. Parents with young children may find that these presentations hold their child's attention better than the live shows. A short description of the movies that we show can be found here .

Observing Nights with Chester County Astronomical Society

We have partnered with the Chester County Astronomical Society (CCAS) to host observing nights after some of our planetarium shows. These events are free to attend and will be held on WCU campus immediately following the planetarium show. After the show, you are welcome to come look through the telescopes to see some of the fascinating objects we have in our night sky. If you can't make it to the planetarium show, you are still welcome to come to the observing night afterwards. The dates of these nights will be noted on our public show schedule. 

If you have questions about the public shows, please contact the planetarium director, 

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Would you like to receive information about upcoming planetarium events? Sign up to be on our mailing list and we'll keep you up-to-date on what's happening! Thank you for your interest in the Mather Planetarium! 

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