All K-12 groups are welcome to enjoy astronomy at the MCC Planetarium!

Contact Dr. Kevin Healy to arrange a visit: email and phone number are available at the bottom of this page.

We have several planetarium videos that portray a range of topics in astronomy. See our show listing for more details about each video.

In addition to planetarium videos, our all-digital planetarium system is also capable of displaying the planets, moons, and stars of the night sky in many ways. For example, the Planetarium can display:

• phases and motion of the Moon
• daily rotation of the starry sky
• annual motion of the Sun
• motions of the planets
• constellations and bright stars
• Milky Way, clusters of stars, bright nebulas
• other galaxies throughout the Universe

We can customize planetarium visits to a lesson plan and give students a visual astronomy feast!

 

We also have outside space in the Astronomy Plaza in front of the Planetarium for hands-on activities and demonstrations.

Some of the hands-on activities we can provide are:

• Kitchen-Table Comets - make a "toy comet" from common household chemicals


• Star Wheels - make a star wheel to find constellations in the night sky


• Moon Wheels - make a Moon wheel to see how the Moon's appearance changes


• Impact Cratering - make impact craters in flour and compare them to photos


• Scale Solar System - see the real separations between the planets with a paper strip

The Planetarium is directly accessible from the driveway off Dobson Road. A parking circle is available for buses or vans carrying students for drop-off, parking, and pick-up from the Planetarium.

Location:

Southern & Dobson Physical Science Building / PS15   map

Contact:

Kevin Healy
Planetarium Director
Office: Southern & Dobson Physical Science Building 15, Room 239
Phone: 480-461-7027
E-mail: khealy@mesacc.edu

Kelli Santistevan
Administrative Secretary - Day
Phone: 480-461-7015
E-mail: santistevan@mesacc.edu

Jared Castro
Administrative Secretary - Evening
Phone: 480-461-7038