Welcome to Northern Stars Planetarium and Educational Services

We are currently booking dates 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.


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

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.


Scheduling

Scheduling is easy, call or email us at
207-453-7668
jtmeader@northernstarsplanetarium.com

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