Scobee Planetarium & Scalan Observatory
Since 1961, two million San Antonio school children and community members have learned about stars, planets, black holes and distant galaxies at the Scobee Planetarium. With the extensive renovation completed in 2014, the Scobee Planetarium now offers a more dynamic experience to even more visitors. Planetarium renovations include 100 individual reclined seats, a new light and sound system and the most advanced digital projection system.
The Scobee Planetarium offers Friday night public presentations at 6:30 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. The 6:30 p.m. show is family-friendly, the 8:00 p.m. show is a live presentation of “The Sky Tonight,” and at 9:30 p.m. there is a movie presentation. Children must be 6 years old or older to be admitted to the 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. programs.
We sell advance ticket online the week prior to each planetarium program. Advance tickets will be full-price. Online sales will end when the Lackey Camp Casper ticket booth opens for onsite sales. Discounted tickets can only be purchased onsite sales at the Lackey Camp Casper ticket booth if there are seats available. Guests should check the online sales to ensure there are tickets available before heading to the center.
Look at Ticket Pricing for our new prices. Tickets can still be purchased at the ticket office inside the Scobee Education Center 30 minutes prior to show time, if available. Tickets may be purchased with credit card, cash or check. All members of the party should be present when tickets are purchased.Once the doors close, no one is admitted late to the presentation.
September Friday Night Public Shows
Planetarium Guest Speaker - Science Series
Planetarium Spanish Shows
This is our family show. All ages may attend. “The Little Star That Could” is a story about Little Star, an average yellow star in search for planets of his own to protect and warm. Along the way, he meets other stars, learns what makes each star special, and discovers that stars combine to form star clusters and galaxies. Eventually, Little Star finds his planets. Each planet is introduced to the audience along with basic information about our Solar System. “Little Star” features exquisite digital animation and should prove a success with our youngest audiences. Show duration: 36 minutes. Tickets go on sale at 6:00 p.m.
Children must be 6 and above to attend. This program takes the audience on a “live” tour of the wonders of the San Antonio sky. The show highlights the Moon, the evening and morning planets, plus we’ll identify several of the brightest stars and constellations visible in the current sky. The Sky Tonight is a "live" lecture. Show duration: 45-50 minutes. Tickets go on sale at 7:30 p.m.
Children must be 6 and above to attend. Distant Worlds — Alien Life? is a beautiful planetarium film exploring one of the most enduring questions of humankind — are we alone? For millennia our ancestors watched the stars, questioning the origin and nature of what they saw. Still today we ask these questions, knowing that the Universe is a vast place filled with billions and billions of stars and planets — but yet, Earth is the only planet we know for sure to be inhabited. Show duration: 52 minutes. Tickets go on sale at 9:00 p.m.
Ticket Information & Pricing
If viewing on a mobile device, click the red Ticket Information tab to toggle to Ticket Pricing.
-
The Scobee Planetarium ticket sales have been brisk. There are only 101 seats in our theatre and the shows often sell out.
We will start offering advance ticket sales online the week prior to each planetarium program. Online sales will end when the Lackey Camp Casper ticket booth opens for onsite sales. Advance tickets will be full-price. Discounted tickets will only be available through the onsite sales at the Lackey Camp Casper ticket booth. Look at Ticket Pricing for our new prices.
- Tickets can still be purchased at the ticket office inside the Scobee Education Center 30 minutes prior to show time. Tickets may be purchased with credit card, cash or check.
- Seating is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Groups should be together at the time of ticket purchase to ensure that all members of the group are present when the doors close. Shows start promptly at the designated times and due to the nature of the planetarium theatre, late entry is not permitted. Shows last 40 to 60 minutes in length.
- Birthday parties reservations are subject to availability of the Briefing Room and programming.
See show schedule for age restrictions. Age restrictions will not be waived for the 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. programs. -
We will start offering advance ticket sales online the week prior to each planetarium program.
Online sales will end when the Lackey Camp Casper ticket booth opens for onsite sales.
Advance tickets will be full-price seats $5/child and $6/adult.
Discounted tickets will only be available through the onsite sales at the Lackey Camp Casper ticket booth. Onsite discounts are as follows:
Alamo Colleges Student or Employee with Current ID $3.00
Senior 65+, Military, Teacher with ID $5.00
Child under 17 yrs of age $5.00
Adults $6.00
*Parents, please do not ask us to waive the age restrictions for the 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. shows.
Programs Offered
Public programming is available on Friday Evenings only.
School, camp and community group programs are available by reservation only during other times and dates. It is recommended that large scout and community groups prearrange their own programs instead of meeting at the public presentations in order to have everyone in their group seated. If you are coordinating a large group, please, contact our center to make special group arrangements during weekdays prior to the Friday evening public performances. Call (210) 486-0100 or email sac-ScobeeCtr@alamo.edu
*Educators may download a summary of the planetarium presentations: 2022 - 2023 Planetarium Show Listings w/TEKS
(Group presentation) Our planetarium programs are designed to be “grade-specific.” If you have questions about program content and which show to choose, ask our reservation secretary, Monica Gutierrez at (210) 486-0100. The “Sky Tonight Live” presentation is the only astronomer-led presentation offered for up to 100 students via the Zoom Web platform. Plan your next sky adventures with our Planetarium Coordinator, Michelle Risse at mrisse2@alamo.edu
Scalan Observatory
Housed atop the iconic blue Charles E. Cheever, Jr. Star Tower, the Scalan Observatory houses a 10-inch refractor telescope and features a 360-degree rotating dome and panel that opens 90-degrees, enabling stargazing in any direction. The adjacent Powell Star Deck accommodates up to 50 guests for a rooftop star gazing experience or an outdoor classroom for astronomy students.
The Scalan Observatory is only available on Friday evenings in two viewing sessions at 9:30pm and 10:30pm. Observatory availability is subject to weather conditions and availability of staffing. When available a limited number of single price $3.00 tickets are only sold at the Lackey Camp Casper ticket booth in the center. Guests attending the 9:30 presentation may purchase observatory tickets at the time of their planetarium purchase. Tickets will not be sold during evenings of extreme temperatures or cloud cover and will never be sold in advance online.
.