Reserve Us

Come visit us at the planetarium during our scheduled hours below to watch one of our many available films! We welcome walk-in visitors, school field trips, and large group reservations.

Hours of Operation

NOTE: Last showing is 30 minutes before closing.

Pricing & Capacity

• Student Group Rate:  $4 per student (15–30 minute shows).
• Chaperones:  Teachers and additional adults are admitted for free.
• Seating Capacity:  The planetarium can accommodate up to 40 visitors per show. We highly recommend booking in advance to secure your seats.

How to Book a Show

To schedule a group appointment, please click on “Reserve the Planetarium”.

• Browse First:  You will be asked to select a film during the booking process, so please browse our Field Trip Program list before starting your reservation.
• Advance Notice:  Due to scheduling limitations, we may not be able to accept reservations made less than two weeks in advance.
• Online Forms:  You may use our online reservation form, but please note that forms will not be accepted without a selected show.
• UTRGV Faculty & Students:  For university reservations, please contact us directly at planetarium@utrgv.edu.

Teacher Checklist Before Calling:

If you are a teacher scheduling a field trip, please gather the following information before reaching out (note: parents are not permitted to schedule field trips):

• Contact Information:  School name, address, phone number, lead contact, alternate contact, and email addresses.
• Attendees:  Grade level, number of students, and number of teachers.
• Dates & Times:  Your preferred date and showtime, plus an alternate date and time in case your first choice is booked.
• Special Needs:  The planetarium has limited accommodation for visitors in wheelchairs. Please advise the scheduling coordinator when making your reservation.

Arrival & Entry

• Arrive Early:  Please arrive 10 minutes prior to your scheduled showtime.
• No Late Entry:  For safety reasons, no late entry or re-entry into the dome is allowed. There are absolutely no exceptions to this rule. Please keep this in mind when planning your arrival.

Cancellations

• Timely Notice:  Please report cancellations as early as possible.
• Penalties:  Cancellations made at least one week prior to the scheduled show date are accepted without penalty. Cancellations made less than one week prior may incur a penalty.
• Exemptions:  Cancellations due to severe weather or valid emergencies are exempt from penalties.

Chaperones & Parents

• Seating Priority:  Field trips are strictly designed for school students. While we do our best to accommodate parents, seating may become limited. Parents may be asked to wait in the planetarium lobby if the theater fills up.

Before Entering the Planetarium

Please complete these steps with your group before entry:

1. Final Headcount:  A staff member will take a final headcount of your entire group, including teachers.
2. Consolidate Payment:  Combine all admission fees into a single payment and designate one person to handle the transaction.
3. Payment Methods:  The H-E-B Planetarium accepts school checks or personal checks.