Tickets $5/person. Seating is limted; please call ahead to reserve your place. Groups of 10 or more must confirm tickets in advance.
You'll experience a personal guided tour of the cosmos with one of our astronomers. Every planetarium presentation takes you on a journey through the galaxy, and special attention is given to the stars, planets, constellations and events that you'll see from your own backyard.
Now through June: The Transit of Venus
This year on June 5th, the planet Venus will pass directly in front of the Sun, a rare event that will not happen again until 2117. Our planetarium program will highlight why this happens to rarely, the fascinating roles that past transits of Venus have played in science and history, and how you can safely witness the transit yourself.
How the stars came to St. Johnsbury
The Fairbanks Planetarium opened in 1961 to stimulate interest in astronomy. The pursuit of this mission continues today through the Museum's ongoing astronomy programs, including Eye on the Night Sky radio broadcasts on Vermont Public Radio, Star Quest astronomy outreach programs, and our annual Perseid Star Party in August. The planetarium welcomes about 15,000 visitors annually through programs for schools and the public.
The projector is the original Spitz model A-2 installed in 1961, with bench seating for 45 people under a 24-foot domed ceiling enhanced by sound and image systems. Immediately adjacent to the Planetarium is the Exhibit Hall, featuring displays on many aspects of astronomy and space travel, including the exploration of the Solar System, and a diorama of the Moon's surface and the Apollo Lunar Lander from 1969.
