Welcome to Northern Stars Planetarium and Educational Services
Reservations for the current spring and summer of 2024 are completely full.
You are welcome to set a date for anytime during the 2024-25 school year.
Northern Stars Planetarium and Educational Services is an educational astronomy and science outreach service for schools, libraries, and non-profits throughout central and mid-coast Maine. Our flagship offerings are presented through Northern Stars Planetarium, a fully equipped inflatable star theater, that comes directly to your school, library, or facility. John Meader is the owner-educator with over 40 years of teaching under the stars. He offers more than 20 different planetarium shows on various astronomical topics, earth and life sciences, as well as live storytelling. Shows are designed to match learning standards for grades pre-K through 8. Northern Stars Planetarium has been bringing the stars to more than 15,000 Maine students each year since 1987.
We also offer Live Online Lessons, Outdoor Astronomy Activities, Night Sky Tours, and Telescope Star Parties. For pricing scroll to the bottom of this page.
Maine’s Total Eclipse of the Sun—April 8, 2024
Northern Stars Planetarium will be offering free public viewing of the April 8 Solar Eclipse in conjunction with the Versant Power Astronomy Center & Jordan Planetarium at the Jackman Town Hall, 369 Maine Street, Jackman, Maine from 1:30-5pm. Please feel free to join us and safely witness one of nature’s most spectacular wonders.
Eclipse Map by Augustus Phillips/John Meader, under the auspices of the Penobscot Marine Museum, ©1963/2023.
Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017 taken by John Meader in Glendo, Wyoming.
First contact (partial eclipse begins) at 2:18pm EDT, Totality starts: 3:29:29pm EDT, Maximum: 3:31:13pm ED, Totality ends: 3:32:56pm EDT, Last Contact (partial eclipse ends): 4:27pm EDT. The path of the eclipse goes across Maine from west to east touching on places such as Rangeley, Eustis, Carrabassett Valley, Kingfield, Jackman, The Forks, Rockwood, Greenville, Millinocket, Patten, Houlton, Littleton, Mars Hill, and Presque Isle.
Planetarium Scheduling Information
Super Dome
The 22’ diameter Super Dome holds up to 50 students plus attending adults, ideally 2 classrooms at a time. The Super Dome has a 30’ X 30’ footprint and is 18' tall.
Pricing by the number of shows each day:
1 show-$175
2 shows-$325
3 shows-$475
4 shows-$625
Regular Dome
The 16’ diameter Regular Dome holds up to 25 students plus attending adults, ideally 1 classroom at a time. The Regular Dome has a 24’ X 24"‘ footprint and is 12’ tall.
Pricing by the number of shows each day:
1 show-$175
2 shows-$250
3 shows-$325
4 shows-$400
Mileage
Northern Stars serves schools and libraries in Central and Mid-coast Maine. Mileage Fees from Fairfield, Maine:
Free 0-40 mile radius
$40/day 40-75 mile radius
$50/day 75-120 mile radius
Call for a quote for beyond 120 miles
Live Online Lessons for Distance Learning & Outdoor Activities
Live Online Lessons Available via your connection for $75/ first 30-40 minute school session, all subsequent sessions the same day $50/session.
Hour long sessions for public presentations are $100. Email or call 207-453-7668 for details.
Flat Screen Night Sky Tours $165/first session, $120 each subsequent session that day, plus mileage.
Outdoor Astronomy Activities $165/first session, $120 for each subsequent session that day, plus mileage.
Free Resources: To aid teachers, parents, and students learn more about the night sky, astronomy, and the solar system, please feel free to use any of the materials on our Resources Page and enjoy the pre-recorded astronomy-art lessons presented in our ongoing video series, Constellation Mysteries and Constellation Charades.
Evening Outdoor Presentations
Night Sky Tours are evening outdoor events where John leads groups through a tour of that evening’s constellations, stars, visible planets, and the Milky Way. Participants will learn the wonders of what they can see with their eyes alone. We often see meteors (shooting stars), satellites, and sometimes the aurora borealis (northern lights). John routinely shares some skyline, astronomy news, a discussion of ways to fight light pollution, and will answer all your questions to be best of his ability. Night Sky Tours usually last 60-90 minutes at your location. $200 plus mileage.
Telescope Star Parties are evening outdoor events that feature NSP’s telescopes. Our largest scope is an 8” Celestron Cassegrain Telescope that focuses on interesting sky objects for all to see, while students and the public get to try their hands working the 2-3 smaller telescopes. With just a little instruction, kids quickly find planets, the Moon, and sometimes even a few deep space objects! We end with a constellation point-out in the real sky. Star parties are ideal for groups of 25-50 people and last typically around 90+ minutes at your outdoor location. $250 plus mileage.
