planetarium interior

Travel through space and time in the Charles W. Brown Planetarium, Indiana’s largest and most technologically advanced digital theater.

Upcoming Shows


Thanks to support from people like you, our general public programs are free of charge!
View Online Calendar

Arrive Early to Explore More!

Challenge yourself at the planetarium’s hands-on activity stations with new experiments throughout the year. Join forces with crew members and explore scientific concepts before planetarium programs.

Depending on weather and time of day/year, you also have the opportunity to check out our solar telescope or our nighttime telescope before or after programs.

 

Plan Your Visit

General Policies

A Place for Everyone

We strive to make our facilities accessible, and work to eliminate barriers for our current and prospective employees, students, and visitors. Furthermore, we are committed to respect and embrace equity, inclusion, and diversity in people, ideas, and opinions. We pursue inclusion of all voices, backgrounds, and perspectives, especially those marginalized throughout history.

Please remember the following policies during your visit to the Charles W. Brown Planetarium:

  • General public planetarium shows are free of charge except for our annual "Astronomy SLAM!". We appreciate your support to make this possible.
  • No reservations or tickets are required except for our annual “Astronomy SLAM!”. Cash donations are accepted at the door.
  • Programs start promptly at the advertised time. Doors close 15 minutes after showtime and no late entry is permitted after that time.
  • Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. We recommend arriving early as seating is done on a first-come, first-served basis and seating is limited. We offer hands-on activities before most shows.
  • Programs run approximately 50 minutes long, and include a live sky tour.
  • No food, drinks, gum, candy are allowed in the planetarium.
  • Cellphones and any electronics that emit light must be silenced or turned off at the start of all programs. Please refrain from wearing light-up shoes to planetarium programs.
  • Children 17 years and under should be accompanied by an adult.
  • The planetarium and Ball State campus are tobacco-free spaces. 

General public planetarium programs are free of charge except for our annual "Astronomy SLAM!".

The planetarium is open to the public only during advertised showtimes and for scheduled groups. Please see our planetarium calendar for our upcoming public events.

Group Visits

Looking to schedule a school or group program? Learn more.

The Charles W. Brown Planetarium at Ball State University is on the west end of the Cooper Science Building, located along Riverside Avenue at:

2111 W. Riverside Ave.
Cooper Science Building
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306

Get Directions

For public programs on Friday and Saturday evenings, parking is allowed in the lot directly west of the planetarium (lot R11), free of charge.

Nearby Construction 

Due to construction being done on the Cooper Science Complex, select parking and pathway access to the planetarium is blocked off. Plan to arrive early to safely navigate the area and arrive on time for the program.

Daytime Parking

Daytime parking is located at:

McKinley Avenue Parking Garage
Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306
(You must pay at the beginning of your stay in the parking garage.)

Metered parking is available off Riverside Avenue, west of the planetarium. This parking is not managed by Ball State University.

Visitor Permits

You may also purchase a visitor parking permit online if you are a member of the general public or not affiliated with Ball State. A permit costs $5 per day and may be purchased online by setting up a guest account with a valid email address. Parking is permitted only in the yellow and green marked lots on campus and does not allow for parking at a meter or in the paid areas of the garages.

Buy Permit

Parking Map

The Ball State Parking Map has a complete list of parking areas and restrictions for parking on campus after 5 p.m. The Cooper Science Complex is building CL located at G4 on the print map.

View Map (PDF)

Public Transportation

The Ball State University campus shuttle buses provide free, frequent service Sunday evening through Friday evening for students, employees, and visitors. The shuttles run about every 5-10 minutes along 3 different routes. You can track BSU shuttles online.

Muncie Indiana Transit System or MITS is the city bus for Muncie, Indiana. It is free for any student with a BSU ID. MITS drivers are happy to stop at any BSU bus stop along their route. Riders can request the bus driver stop at the next bus stop by touching the yellow buttons inside the bus. To view the MITS bus schedule visit www.mitsbus.org.

Ball State students registered with the Office of Disability Services can call the Demand Response dispatch line for a ride from anywhere on campus to anywhere else on campus. Please call at least 30 minutes before you would like to be picked up. Contact Disability Services for more details.

Questions?

For additional information on parking, contact Parking Services.

The Ball State University campus shuttle buses provide free, frequent service Sunday evening through Friday evening for students, employees, and visitors. The shuttles run about every 5-10 minutes along 3 different routes. You can track BSU shuttles online.

Muncie Indiana Transit System or MITS is the city bus for Muncie, Indiana. It is free for any student with a BSU ID. MITS drivers are happy to stop at any BSU bus stop along their route. Riders can request the bus driver stop at the next bus stop by touching the yellow buttons inside the bus. To view the MITS bus schedule visit www.mitsbus.org.

Ball State students registered with the Office of Disability Services can call the Demand Response dispatch line for a ride from anywhere on campus to anywhere else on campus. Please call at least 30 minutes before you would like to be picked up. Contact Disability Services for more details.

Learn More

Can’t find what you need below? Please contact Disability Services with any questions or concerns regarding accessibility:

Disability Services
765-285-5293

Service Animal Policy

Service animals are welcome at Ball State University. Service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, are dogs trained to do work or perform specific tasks for a guest with a disability. 

Barrier Free Access

The Charles W. Brown Planetarium has barrier-free access on the south side of the building. This doorway is push-button automated.

Assistive Listening System

The Charles W. Brown Planetarium is equipped with an assistive listening system to aid visitors with hearing loss by amplifying the sound of the presentations. Visitors can borrow a receiver and earphone by requesting a set from the planetarium staff in the lobby before the show. Additionally, you may bring your own headphones to use with the receiver if the earphone we provide does not suit your needs. 

Sensory Concerns

The Charles W. Brown Planetarium strives to provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all visitors. We understand that visitors with neurological conditions and/or sensory processing issues may find large amounts of sensory stimulation especially challenging. Planetarium shows do contain changing lighting, shifting images, and loud audio. To ensure an enjoyable visit, you may consider bringing noise-cancelling headphones if you are sensitive to loud audio. 

Planetarium staff can provide assistance with pre-visit planning, including information and suggestions tailored to an individual’s needs. If a member of your group has sensory concerns and you would like more information, please contact us.

BSU ADA Statement

Ball State University strives to strengthen our community through inclusive excellence by working to eliminate barriers for our current and prospective employees, students, and visitors.

For more information specific to the planetarium, please call 765-285-8963 or email us. Please note that when calling you may have to leave a voice message. If you leave your contact information we will return your call as soon as possible.

More visitor information, including campus maps, can be found at bsu.edu/about/visit. 

Questions? Want to Learn More?

Check out the Arts and Culture events page for additional opportunities on campus. Also, learn more about the events happening here in Muncie, and sign-up for email reminders of events, at MuncieEvents.com and DestinationMuncie.org/events/.

For more information, please call or email us. 

Contact Us