The Public is Always Welcome

Admission
Admission to all  programs at the Ward Beecher Planetarium is FREE and open to the public. The only exception is First Night Under the Stars, presented in conjunction with First Night Youngstown. A First Night badge, for which there is a charge, is required for entry.

Reservations are not required.

More information is available by calling the Planetarium's InfoLine at (330) 941-1370 or the Department of Physics & Astronomy at (330) 941-3616 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. For information about field trips, call (330) 941-3619.

NOTE: Because it is dark in the Planetarium (and it's not safe to negotiate the steps in the dark), latecomers cannot be admitted.

All public programs are open to children in the first grade and older, although the subject matter and the darkness in the Planetarium may be better suited for an older child.

The Kids Explore series is designed especially for our younger astronomers (ages 4 through approximately 8 or 9 and older). Most Saturday afternoons are family matinee times. The programs at 1 and 2:30 p.m. normally are specifically geared for families with children and may be either from our Kids Explore series or other appropriate programs from our public schedule. See the schedule for more information.

Field Trips
The Planetarium offers field trips during the day during the school week from September until the first week of June. Kids Exploreprograms are available for pre-school groups and kindergarten classes, and appropriate adult-level programs are available for clubs, senior centers, and other organized groups. Admission to all field trip programs is free. Teachers are invited to call the Planetarium for more information or check the Teacher's Guide at http://www.cc.ysu.edu/physics-astro/Teach.htm.

Summer programs for camps and other groups are available through the end of July.

August is traditionally our maintenance month and no shows are available.



CAMPUS MAP - The Planetarium is in Ward Beecher Science Hall - Building #14

Note: Parking for public programs on Friday and Saturday evenings and on Saturday afternoons normally is available at the meters on Lincoln Avenue. The meters are not checked in the evenings or on Saturdays. If no street parking is available, then the second best place to park is the Wick Avenue parking deck, M-1 on the campus map.