planetarium interior

Travel through space and time in the Charles W. Brown Planetarium, Indiana’s largest and most technologically advanced digital theater. 

Thanks to support from people like you, our general public programs are free of charge unless otherwise noted! Paid experiences include the annual Astronomy Slam and select private group visits.

Upcoming Events
"One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure" 5:00pm Planetarium Show

Fridays, May 22 and June 12, 26 at 5:00 p.m.; Saturdays, May 23 and June 13, 27 at 3:30 p.m.; Take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon, find shapes in the sky and find the North Star in this cross-cultural adventure with Big Bird, Elmo, and their friend Hu Hu Zhu from China. Perfect for families and groups with pre-K through 1st grade learners; all ages are welcome.

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"Quasars & Black Holes: Kurzgesagt on the Dome" 6:30pm Planetarium Show

Fridays, May 22 and June 12, 26 at 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays, May 23 and June 13, 27 at 6:30 p.m.; In this fast-paced program, explore the most massive objects in the universe with new planetarium shorts from “Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell,” the award-winning YouTube creators who make complex science accessible, accompanied by a live discussion on the latest discoveries. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

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"One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure" 3:30pm Planetarium Show

Fridays, May 22 and June 12, 26 at 5:00 p.m.; Saturdays, May 23 and June 13, 27 at 3:30 p.m.; Take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon, find shapes in the sky and find the North Star in this cross-cultural adventure with Big Bird, Elmo, and their friend Hu Hu Zhu from China. Perfect for families and groups with pre-K through 1st grade learners; all ages are welcome.

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"SEEING: A Look Inside the Eye" 5pm Planetarium Show

Saturdays, May 23 and June 13, 27 at 5:00 p.m.; Narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson, follow a photon’s creation and journey across the galaxy to a stargazer’s eye where we learn about the eye, taking a ride on the optic nerve. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

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Arrive Early to Explore More!

Challenge yourself at the planetarium’s hands-on activity stations with new experiments throughout the year, with limitations over campus breaks and summer months. Join forces with crew members and explore scientific concepts before planetarium programs.

Depending on weather and time of day/year, you also have the opportunity to check out our solar telescope or our nighttime telescope before or after programs. 


 

Plan Your Visit

General Policies

A Place for Everyone

At Ball State, we pride ourselves on maintaining a highly accessible and inclusive University, both on our physical campus, online, and through the broader culture around it.

Please remember the following policies during your visit to general public programs:

  • General public planetarium shows are free of charge unless otherwise noted. We appreciate your support in making this possible.
  • No reservations or tickets are required unless otherwise noted. Cash donations are accepted at the door.
  • Programs start promptly at the advertised time. Doors close once full or five (5) minutes after showtime, and no entry is permitted after that time. The room gets dark after the start time, and we strongly recommend arriving early.
  • Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. We recommend arriving early as seating is done on a first-come, first-served basis and seating is limited. We offer hands-on activities before most shows.
  • Programs run approximately 50 minutes long and include a live sky tour.
  • We ask that no food, drinks, gum, or candy be brought inside the planetarium.
  • Please silence or turn off all cellphones and electronics that emit light and keep them put away during programs. We also ask that light-up shoes not be worn in the planetarium.
  • Children should be accompanied by an adult. If you’re unsure whether a program is age-appropriate, please contact the planetarium.
  • The planetarium, along with the entire Ball State campus, is a tobacco-free environment.

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Can’t find what you need below? Please contact Disability Services with any questions or concerns regarding accessibility:

Disability Services
765-285-5293

Service Animal Policy

Service animals are welcome at Ball State University. Service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, are dogs trained to do work or perform specific tasks for a guest with a disability. 

Barrier Free Access

The Charles W. Brown Planetarium has barrier-free access on the south side of the building. This doorway is push-button automated.

Assistive Listening System

The Charles W. Brown Planetarium is equipped with an assistive listening system to aid visitors with hearing loss by amplifying the sound of the presentations. Visitors can borrow a receiver and earphone by requesting a set from the planetarium staff in the lobby before the show. Additionally, you may bring your own headphones to use with the receiver if the earphone we provide does not suit your needs. 

Closed Captions, Subtitles, and Language Options

A number of the planetarium's pre-recorded programs have closed captions available by prior request. Additionally, various language options are available for select pre-recorded programs. More information is available on the Show Library page. Please contact us with specific requests.

Sensory Concerns

The Charles W. Brown Planetarium strives to provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all visitors. We understand that visitors with neurological conditions and/or sensory processing issues may find large amounts of sensory stimulation especially challenging. Planetarium shows do contain changing lighting, shifting images, and loud audio. To ensure an enjoyable visit, you may consider bringing noise-cancelling headphones if you are sensitive to loud audio. 

Planetarium staff can provide assistance with pre-visit planning, including information and suggestions tailored to an individual’s needs. If a member of your group has sensory concerns and you would like more information, please contact us.

BSU ADA Statement

At Ball State, we pride ourselves on maintaining a highly accessible and inclusive University, both on our physical campus, online, and through the broader culture around it. This is accomplished, in part, because of policies and procedures we have in place to ensure that all of our students have access to the services and resources they need for a safe and successful academic experience.

For more information specific to the planetarium, please call 765-285-8963 or email us. Please note that when calling you may have to leave a voice message. If you leave your contact information we will return your call as soon as possible.

More visitor information, including campus maps, can be found at bsu.edu/about/visit. 

Questions? Want to Learn More?

Check out the Arts and Culture events page or the Cultural Corridor page for additional opportunities on campus. Also, learn more about the events happening here in Muncie, and sign-up for email reminders of events, at MuncieEvents.com and DestinationMuncie.org/events/.

For more information, please call or email us. 

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