Brazosport Planetarium

    Launch your imagination into outer space at the BASF Planetarium!

    • Take a tour of the planets and moons of our solar system.
    • Learn to identify constellations in the same planetarium as NASA astronauts.
    • Journey to the edge of the universe with your entire family.
    • Affordable ticket prices and new shows every month make the BASF Planetarium a perfect destination again and again.

    BP Schedule of Events

    Memberships are ON SALE NOW! Purchase your membership to get season passes to all 2024-2025 planetarium shows.

    Purchase BP memberships!
    See all 2024-2025 season ticket & membership options!
    Summer Triangle - Agile BIG

    September Planetarium Show:
    Trip Around the Summer Triangle

    September 3, 10, 17, 24 & 27 – (Tuesdays and the 4th Friday)

    7:00 PM

    Look up in the September sky and you will find the Summer Triangle! Learn about the constellations that make up the triangle as well as the beautiful deep sky objects within this area of space.

    Tickets are $5/person for non-members and FREE for members

    ***NEW HOURS***

    BASF Planetarium is NOW OPEN to the public from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Tuesday through Friday! Come check out our planetarium lobby, computers, displays and dome area.

    facts planetarium image

    Saturday Planetarium Events

    Star & Space Story Time:

    RSVP HERE for Star & Space Story Time!

    Saturdays at 12:30 PM in the planetarium lobby; this event is free, but an RSVP is requested at the link above! Book selections change weekly.

    Planetarium Shows:

    Family-friendly shows are at 1:00 PM on Saturdays in our fulldome planetarium. Click the date below to purchase tickets for that specific show!

    Tickets are $5/person for non-members and FREE for members.

    September 7: Perfect Little Planet

    September 14: We Are Astronomers

    September 21: Accidental Astronauts

    September 28: Max Goes to the Moon

    astroday planetarium

    2024 - 2025 Special Events

    UPCOMING EVENTS:  

    Public Stargazing Night: September 10, 8:15 PM – 10:00 PM (FREE) – RSVP NOW!
     
    International Observe the Moon Night: September 14, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (FREE) – RSVP NOW!
     
    Fall Astronomy Night: October 12, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
     
    Fall Astronomy Day: November 9, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
     
    Scholastic Bowl: February 20, 7:00 PM
     
    Spring Astronomy Day: March 8, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
     
    Spring Astronomy Night: April 5, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
    ScienceCafe_Square-StackedLogo

    UPCOMING EVENTS:

    Stay tuned for our next Science Café event!

    Our Programs

    Events Calendar

    Calendar of Events

    S Sun

    M Mon

    T Tue

    W Wed

    T Thu

    F Fri

    S Sat

    1 event,

    2 events,

    4 events,

    3 events,

    1 event,

    1 event,

    3 events,

    1 event,

    2 events,

    7 events,

    + 2 More

    2 events,

    3 events,

    2 events,

    6 events,

    + 1 More

    3 events,

    3 events,

    7 events,

    + 2 More

    4 events,

    3 events,

    3 events,

    4 events,

    2 events,

    2 events,

    6 events,

    + 1 More

    3 events,

    3 events,

    2 events,

    4 events,

    1 event,

    2 events,

    3 events,

    4 events,

    3 events,

    1 event,

    1 event,

    + 2 More
    + 1 More
    + 2 More
    + 1 More
    View Calendar

    About Brazosport Planetarium

    Brazosport Planetarium advances its mission to connect our community with the scope, working and beauty of the physical universe and seeks to develop a more scientifically literate community by serving families, diverse populations, students, young professionals and community leaders in Brazoria and adjacent counties through accessible weekly planetarium shows, special outreach, workshops, mission based social events and lectures and emphasizing our competitive advantage of proximity, affordability, family friendliness and educational entertainment. We are sustainable by the support of The Center for the Arts & Sciences, fees & membership dues, ticket sales, local grants, mission-based fundraisers and the generosity of our donors.

    In the Planetarium Lobby:

    • Interactive computer stations and displays

    • ViewSpace: Images from Hubble, Spitzer & Chandra telescopes with the latest news about our solar system, updated daily by astronomers at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland.

    • Lobby is open to the public at no charge from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Tuesday through Friday, and before Planetarium Shows. Planetarium shows are recommended for ages 5 – adult.

     

    For more information, please call The Center’s main office at 979-265-7661.

     

     

    BASF Planetarium Shows 

    Every Tuesday and 4th Friday – 7:00 PM

    Saturdays at 1:00 PM

     

    Planetarium show tickets:

    Members: FREE

    Non-members: $5

    Purchase Your BP Membership!
    Buy Tickets Now!

    Volunteer with Brazosport Planetarium

    Brazosport Planetarium offers many opportunities to volunteer to help us fulfill our mission of connecting our community with the scope, working and beauty of the physical universe.

    Volunteers are needed to help welcome guests to planetarium shows, organize and present special events, such as our Spring and Fall Astronomy Days, serve in leadership positions and to host special outreach and “star parties” to local schools and civic organizations.

    Volunteer positions:   These positions are for shows on Tuesday and Friday nights as well as Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

    Docent – Hospitality Person–   You would greet guests when they come in and help them feel welcome to explore the exhibits and displays in the lobby and in the dome.  Sometimes the dome will be closed while preparing for the show so the guests need to discover the lobby computers and displays. 

    Presenters or “Edutainers”  – This person needs to have some acting skills  to entertain our guests as well as educate them.  The scripts will be written already so delivery of the content is all this person needs to do.  A love of Astronomy and Space will help.

    Tech person –  This person will run the computers.  They will bring the stars and space to the guests in the Dome.  If you loved playing video games at some time in your life you will be the perfect person for this volunteer position. 

    If you are interested in volunteering and would like more information, please give us a call at (979) 265-7661.

    You may also email us at [email protected] or complete the Volunteer Interest Form online.

    Membership

    Full Circle Sampler

    Membership Benefits (beginning September 2023)

    Enjoy an exciting season at The Center (and beyond) with memberships to each Partner Group with this “sampler” package! 

    • Brazosport Fine Arts Council membership (voting level membership) + $50 donation to Center Operations
    • Brazosport Art League Single Artist membership (valid through Sept. 30, 2024)
    • 5 adult Flex Tickets to Brazosport Center Stages*  (to be used in any combination to 2023/2024 regular season shows)
    • Brazosport Museum of Natural Science Individual membership (valid Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2024)
    • BASF Planetarium individual membership
    • 4 adult Flex Tickets to Brazosport Symphony Orchestra* (to be used in any combination to 2023/2024 regular season concerts)

    *Reservations required to redeem BCS & BSO Flex Tickets

    Full Circle Membership
    facts planetarium image

    BASF Planetarium Membership

    2023/2024 Season Membership Benefits

    Individual single admission to all shows
    Family & Friends 4 admissions to all shows
    Patron 6 admissions to all shows, recognition in the BASF Planetarium lobby & discount on Spectacular Science workshops (Summer at The Center)
    Sponsor Patron benefits plus guest pass
    Show Sponsor Sponsor benefits plus recognition for 1 show
    Lifetime free admission for a lifetime
    Annual Underwriter Show Sponsor benefits plus recognition for all shows on website, eblast & LED marquee (as available)

    Memberships tickets must be redeemed by reserving seats (general admission) prior to each BASF Planetarium show. Reservations may be made online, in person or by calling (979) 265-7661 during The Center’s regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM). Membership tickets may also be redeemed at the planetarium 30 minutes prior to each show, pending availability.

    BP Membership

    History of Brazosport Planetarium

    Brazosport Planetarium is a resident program of The Center for the Arts & Sciences and is based in the BASF Planetarium, a special addition to The Center that opened in 1984.

    Brazosport Planetarium started its life as the Brazosport Nature Center & Planetarium. Its first director was Bryan Adams, who also served as the Astronomy teacher for Brazosport ISD. After Mr. Adams’ retirement, the planetarium director position was assumed by his teaching successor, Judi James, who provided expert leadership as planetarium director for two decades.

    Currently, the BASF Planetarium is under the leadership of the board and continues to develop high-quality and enriching planetarium shows and special events.

    Brazosport Planetarium Affiliations

    Brazosport Astronomy Club is a group of people interested in the study, enjoyment and sharing of astronomy. No dues. No telescope needed. Astronomy Club member outreach includes school star gazes and other events to encourage education and enjoyment of astronomy!

    The club meets every second Saturday of the month at 2:00 PM in the BASF Planetarium dome after the Saturday afternoon planetarium show. Check the schedule page for updates and planned events such as public stargazing nights and semi-annual Astronomy Days and Nights.

    Brazosport Planetarium Tours

    The BASF Planetarium’s 30-foot dome theater seats about 60 visitors. Groups visit the BASF Planetarium and either the Brazosport Museum of Natural Science or the Art Gallery rotating between the two venues.

    School field trips are scheduled Tuesday – Thursdays. Approximately two hours is needed plus travel time for your visit. To request a school field trip, please complete this form.

    IF you are NOT a school requesting a field trip, please complete the form here to request a tour. A Center representative will contact you soon.

    BASF Planetarium Special Events

    Public Stargazing Nights

    Join us for monthly Public Stargazing Nights from 8:15 PM – 10:00 PM in the east parking lot! See the 7:00 PM Tuesday night planetarium shows and then stick around to see if YOU can find the constellations you learned about in our night sky.

    Scholastic Bowl

    As one of the most anticipated events of the year, BASF Planetarium’s Scholastic Bowl welcomes adult and high school teams to The Center for the Arts & Sciences for an evening of trivia and fun. Over three rounds, teams answer a litany of questions concerning, art, science, pop culture and local interests.

    Scholastic Bowl is the main fundraising event for BASF Planetarium and relies on the entry fees, individual and corporate sponsorships for this event to help fund its educational activities throughout the year.

    Join us February 20, 2025 for Scholastic Bowl:
    • Adult and high school student teams are welcome!
    • Four members per team
    • Registration is $100 per team

    Astronomy Day & Astronomy Night

    Each fall and spring, BASF Planetarium hosts an Astronomy Day and Astronomy Night. Our local advocational astronomers set up their telescopes and hands-on astronomy activities in the parking lot of The Center for the Arts & Sciences. When the skies are clear, participants are encouraged to view celestial objects in our night sky.

    In addition to the telescopes and related activities, the planetarium will present short shows periodically throughout the events. These events take place “rain or shine” and are FREE to the public! 

    2024-2025 Dates:

    Fall Astronomy Night: October 12, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

    Fall Astronomy Day: November 9: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

    Spring Astronomy Day: March 8, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

    Spring Astronomy Night: April 5, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM 

    Science Café

    Stay tuned for information on our next event!

    Brazosport Planetarium Leadership 2023-2024
    Chair
    Amy Smolen
    Activities
    Kristina Denoncourt
    Secretary
    Lauri Cherian
    Budget Manager
    Mark Busbice
    Policies
    Diane Hill
    Facilities
    Steve Elbert
    Publicity
    Mary Fuchs
    At Large
    David Babb
    Ex Officio Members
    Planetarium Director
    Vacant

    Our Programs

    Events Calendar

    Calendar of Events

    S Sun

    M Mon

    T Tue

    W Wed

    T Thu

    F Fri

    S Sat

    1 event,

    2 events,

    4 events,

    3 events,

    1 event,

    1 event,

    3 events,

    1 event,

    2 events,

    7 events,

    + 2 More

    2 events,