Schreder Planetarium
Friends of the Planetarium
You don’t need a PhD in Astronomy to be a Friend of the Planetarium; just roll up your sleeves and bring your own unique talents and enthusiasm! If you would like to be a part of this exciting work and join the Friends of the Planetarium, please call (530) 225-0243 or email planetarium@shastacoe.org
- About Us
- Hours of Operation
- Public Evening Shows - Buy Tickets Here!
- Field Trips - Reserve Online Now!
- Show Descriptions
About Us
In the spring of 1979 the Schreder Planetarium was opened in Redding as a multi-media science education facility serving the students and citizens of Northern California. The planetarium provides student and community education in Astronomy and Space Science. Capturing the passion and curiosity of children, teenagers and adults, the planetarium is a beautiful, domed theater in which a realistic and scientifically accurate simulation of the night sky is created, using a highly specialized digital projector. The Digistar 3 projector uses powerful graphics hardware and software to generate immersive full-dome images on the interior surface of a dome, integrating all-dome video, real time 3D computer graphics, and complete digital astronomy.
- Approximately 1,500 square feet
- 10 meter domed theater
- 65 seats
- Built by architects Nichols & Woodward
- Contractor was Ken Gifford
- The only astronomy public education center in the north state
Now we embark on a journey of bringing the fascination of astronomy and science to a greater audience. Committed to bring scientific, educational and informative programming to northern California for every age. Our programs are diverse ranging from scientific documentaries to science fiction stories. Schreder Planetarium is open for school field trips with reservation and evening public shows at least once a month.
Hours of Operation
Schreder Planetarium is open to the public for public evening shows only. Shows are always at 7:00 p.m. on the dates listed under the tab "Public Evening Shows - Buy Tickets Here!" We also host group field trips throughout the school year during the day. Unfortunately, we are not open to the public during normal business hours for walk-throughs. If you have any questions, please call us at (530) 225-0243. Thank you!
Public Evening Shows - Buy Tickets Here!
Schreder Planetarium is pleased to open it's doors to the public for several evening shows each season. Stay tuned to our calendar to find out about upcoming shows!
Shows begin at 7:00pm. Tickets are $8 each. Children under 5 may enter for free with a paying adult if they are sitting on the adult's lap during the show. NO LATE ADMITTANCE. NO REFUNDS. You may transfer your tickets to a friend if you are unable to attend.
Please bring your photo ID with you to the show to verify your registration. No tickets will be mailed to you, and you do not need to print out your e-mail confirmation.
8/30/19 SOLD OUT! Exploring Space (Wonders of the Universe; New Horizons)
9/13/19 The Final Frontier (Universe; New Horizons)
9/27/19 Earth For Young and Old (Dynamic Earth, Zula Patrol: Down to Earth)
10/11/19 ET Night (Cosmic Safari; SETI: The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence)
Field Trips - Reserve Online Now!
Field Trip Season will run from August 20, 2019 through June 4, 2020.
Field trips are held Tuesday through Friday at 9:00a.m. and 11:00a.m.
All field trip reservations are now done online. See calendar below to find available dates and complete your registration. For questions or additional information contact us at (530) 225-0243 or planetarium@shastacoe.org.
Our gift shop offers various fun science toys, t-shirts, and the always popular astronaut ice cream (freeze dried), so students may want to bring cash.
The field trips run approximately 90 minutes.
We have space available for 64 star-gazers.
Pricing is $8.00 per person, including teachers and chaperones.
Minimum purchase of 25 tickets/$200 required. If you have a small group, we will do our best to place you with another group to avoid the minimum purchase requirement.
Payment is due the date of the show. A check or a purchase order to invoice your school are acceptable methods of payment. We do not accept cash for ticket sales.
If circumstances change and you need to cancel a field trip reservation, please notify us of the cancellation within 10 business days or as soon as possible. There is a no show fee of $100 if you fail to notify us of your cancellation.
Schreder Planetarium reserves the right to change or cancel programs without notice.
The Field Trip Experience
We do not see our field trips as "shows". We see this as a 5-less program with one of the lessons being the field trip of about 75 minutes that includes a show. Our goal is to create a complete experience that supports your classroom teaching in science, math, and ELA.
Our programs include:
- Pre-lessons and post-lessons that make the trip into a mini-unit aligned to the NGSS.
- An introduction with demonstrations and/or models that enhance the topic.
- A night sky presentation also focused on the topic.
- The show itself. Most shows are primarily about the topic but some are more tangential (like 2nd and 4th, with uses shows about extraterrestrials to teach engineering and adaptations.)
- Exhibit and gift shop time.
Below are the programs and associated shows. You can see descriptions and trailers of most shows in our show catalog
Kindergarten - Forces (Larry, Cat in Space)
1st Grade - Patterns of the Sky (One World, One Sky)
2nd Grade - Engineering (SETI)
3rd Grade - Adaptions (Cosmic Safari)
4th Grade - Light Waves (Two Small Pieces of Glass)
5th Grade - Stars, especially the Sun (Secrets of the Sun)
Middle School - Gravity - 8th Integrated: 6th Discipline-Specific (Black Holes)
Middle School - Climate Change - 6th Integrated or Discipline-Specific (Dynamic Earth)
Mixed grade level groups have their choice of show, but we recommend that you choose a show with curriculum matching the youngest students in your group.
Calendar
Show Descriptions
Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity
This stunning presentation of the latest science about black holes visualized using super computing technology. This show is narrated by Liam Neeson.
Cosmic Safari
The search for life in the universe begins as we travel to yet undiscovered planets in the far reaches of space. In differing environmental conditions, you'll discover what living creatures might look like on worlds very different from our own.
Cowboy Astronomer
A skillfully woven tapestry of star tales and Native American legends, combined with constellation identification, star-hopping, and astronomy tidbits — all told from the unique viewpoint of a cowboy astronomer who has traveled the world plying his trade and learning the sky along the way.
Dynamic Earth uses visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations. This cutting-edge production follows a trail of energy that flows from the Sun into the interlocking systems that shape our climate: the atmosphere, oceans, and the biosphere. Audiences will ride along on swirling ocean and wind currents, dive into the heart of a monster hurricane, come face-to-face with sharks and gigantic whales, and fly into roiling volcanoes.
Future Is Wild
Based on a wildly successful international television series that has been broadcast in over 60 countries around the world, The Future is Wild gives audiences a glimpse at what might be the future of the animal kingdom on planet Earth.
Larry Cat In Space
A playful, imaginative cartoon presentation about an inquisitive cat who takes a trip to the Moon.
Molecularium
Riding Snowflakes is a magical, musical adventure into the world of ATOMS and MOLECULES!
New Horizons
From breathtaking landscapes, to violent volcanic eruptions, to the sheer beauty of Saturn's rings, explore the planets and moons of the solar system in a majestic journey through our celestial neighborhood.
One World, One Sky - Sesame Street
Explore the night sky with your favorite friends from Sesame Street in One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure. Follow along with Big Bird, Elmo and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu, as they take you on a journey of discovery to learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the Sun and the Moon.
Season of Light
Light up your evening as we bring you the burning of the Yule log, sparkling Christmas trees, candles in the windows, luminaries and the traditional ritual of lighting the Menorah.
Secret of the Cardboard Rocket
Embark on an outstanding adventure as two children spend a night touring the solar system alongside their ships navigator...an astronomy book. Created by George Lucas.
Secrets of the Sun
We will trace the life cycle of the sun itself, going back to its beginnings and moving forward in time to its eventual death.
SETI: The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence
This stunning immersive show guides you through the myriad of ideas of Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence to a surprising conclusion. This is narrated by Hugh Laurie.
Seven Wonders
Ever wondered about the Seven Wonders?! What were they? How did they come to be? More importantly, why were they, and why do they remain wonders?
Stars of the Pharaohs
See some of the most spectacular temples and tombs of the ancient world recreated in all of their original splendor.
Two Small Pieces of Glass
Two teenage students learn how the telescope has helped us understand our place in space and how they continue to expand our understanding of the Universe.
Universe
An historical look at how we have envisioned the universe through the ages.
Wonders of the Universe
Peer deep into space through the eyes of the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope and travel back billions of years in time to witness the birth of the universe.
Zula Patrol: Down to Earth
In their latest animated full-dome adventure, The Zula Patrol takes a rollicking ride into Earth's past to save our planet from almost certain disaster: While fossil-hunting on Earth, the Zula Patrol discovers, buried in the ancient rock strata, a pile of fossilized trash - with Deliria's logo on it! The ZP must time-travel back to the very beginnings of planet Earth to catch her. In the process, our heroes learn about the formation and development of Planet Earth, and of the life forms who call it home.