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Downing Planetarium

The Downing Planetarium

The Downing Planetarium offers a 73-seat star theater with a 30-foot hemispherical dome. The planetarium features a Minolta MS-10 star projector and can fill the entire dome with a movie. We have public programs one weekend per month on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons.  The planetarium is also available for school field trips and private shows, by appointment.

Public Shows and Field Trips

Weekend Shows

Weekend Public Shows

View the calendar of our current shows that are open to the public.

Weekend Shows
Reservations

Field Trips and Private Shows

Please complete our show request form.

Show Request

About Us

The Downing Planetarium features a spacious lobby.  On the front side, you will find the donor wall, a photograph of comet Hale-Bopp, a solar system scale and an elements scale, a gravity well, and a sundial. On the other side are display cases with science toys and meteorites and entrance to the star theater.

In our gift shop, you will find posters, t-shirts, bookmarks, and science toys. Each purchase enables the Downing Planetarium to continue to open its doors year after year. 
The Downing Planetarium Museum is available for school field trips. The museum is located directly behind the Downing Planetarium, and consists of hands-on astronomy and physics exhibits. 

Contact Us

Location: 
5320 N Maple Ave
Fresno, CA 93710

(We are located at the corner of San Ramon and Maple, just south of Barstow Avenue. We are next to the Science II Building.)

Email:  danbrown@mail.fresnostate.edu

Phone: 559.278.4071

For Immediate Assistance: Physics Department: 559.278.2371

Parking

General Public
Visitors to the Downing Planetarium can find parking in lot P15. A permit is required during normal university hours.  A parking permit on the weekends is not required.  For more info on parking enforcement visit the university parking enforcement web page.

Bus Parking
Buses bringing students to the Downing Planetarium can drop students off near parking lot P15 as shown in the image below. 

Bus parking is allowed in Parking Lot P11. Lot P11 is a gravel parking lot, on the north side of Barstow Ave, east of Woodrow Ave ( east of the Animal Science Pavilion).  For more info on school bus parking click here.

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