The Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium is home to the first and only public planetarium in the state. Serving 15,000 visitors annually through programs for schools and the general public, it first opened in 1961 to stimulate interest in astronomy. The pursuit of this mission continues today through the Museum's ongoing astronomy programs, including an annual Astronomy Week and Star Party held each August
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