The SUNY Oneonta Planetarium
Guiding the Oneonta community around the night sky

Welcome!

The state-of-the-art planetarium at SUNY Oneonta, installed in 2008, features a digital projector system capable of bringing you sharp views of the stars, planets, and constellations visible in the night sky. Additionally, the system can also show 3-D, IMAX-style movies and animations, providing you with a complete planetarium show experience. Our system consists of two digital projectors and a full audio soundboard, controlled by the Digistar 4 software package, the world's most advanced fulldome digital theater system.


The campus of the State University of New York College at Oneonta.

The SUNY Oneonta Planetarium has comfortable seating for 28 guests.
Public Show Schedule


Below is a schedule of our upcoming public planetarium shows. All shows start at 7:00 p.m. Due to limited seating, guests are asked to register in advance and bring their ticket with them to present upon arrival.

Summer Schedule
May 30
June 27
July 18
August 8

Registration for each show may be done by clicking on the desired date above.
The planetarium is controlled by the Digistar 4 software package, the world's most advanced fulldome digital theater system.
Reservations


If you or your organization would like to make reservations for a private planetarium show, you may do so by sending an email to Dr. Jason Smolinski at Jason.Smolinski -at- oneonta.edu. Be aware that our planetarium can only seat 28, so if your group is larger than that you may wish to make arrangements for two shows. Programs in conjuction with the Science Discovery Center may be arranged. Your email should include the following:

  • Your name or group name
  • Telephone number, mailing address, and email address of group contact
  • Age level or range of guests
  • Number of persons who would attend program, including yourself (up to 28)
  • 1st and 2nd preference for date and time (NOTE: We have found that scheduling the arrival and departure of visiting groups in between the beginning and ending of classes on the hour greatly facilitates settling a group in the planetarium for a program. Therefore, please plan on a program beginning on the half-hour.)
  • Any factors that need to be considered in accommodating your group

SCHOOL GROUPS: In order to best accommodate a school group and provide any additional lessons, activities, or animations/videos that might tie in with your study unit, you will receive a form in the mail once we have received your email request. This form should be filled out and returned to us, whereupon we can act to set up the best possible show for your students.

When your request has been processed, you will receive an email response at the provided email address acknowleding your request. This response may take up to 24 hours during the week, but possibly longer if sent during a weekend or holiday.
The planetarium is attached to a lobby area, which displays beautiful images of nebulae, galaxies, and the SUNY Oneonta College Observatory.

 
Jason Smolinski (Jason.Smolinski -at- oneonta.edu)
Department of Physics & Astronomy
SUNY Oneonta