Como Planetarium
Location
780 W Wheelock Pkwy
Saint Paul, MN
55117
United States
Phone:
651-293-5398
44° 58' 47.7228" N, 93° 7' 51.942" W
See map: Google Maps
The Planetarium is just northeast of the quadruple intersection of Wheelock Pkwy, Victoria St, Como Blvd and Maryland Ave.
The Planetarium occupies the northwest corner of Como Park Elementary School. It is not in Como Park which is farther to the west on the other side of Lake Como.
The planetarium comfortably seats about 60.
The planetarium has a 30 foot dome and is equipped with a Automated Spitz Model 512 star projector and a full dome immersive video system. The star projector accurately displays 3,500 stars, sun, moon and five visible planets. The immersive video system utilizes a data scaling software called Uniview. With access to data from major observatories, NASA satellites and space craft, Univeiw makes it possible to travel across the universe. The immersive video system is also capable of presenting full dome video productions.
PARKING: Free parking on site. There is limited parking available in the west parking lot immediately outside the Planetarium doors. Ample parking is available in the east parking lot on the other side of the school. The school requests that Planetarium visitors not take the shortcut through the school building but instead use the sidewalks outside to walk the 1/2 block from the east parking lot to the Planetarium doors.
GOOGLE MAP: http://bit.ly/4kZvn6
MAP: http://planetarium.spps.org/Como/Pages/Map.htm
DIRECTIONS:
From the Northeast
Take Hwy 36 west to Dale St. Go south to Wheelock Pkwy. Turn west and go 5 blocks. The planetarium is on the south side of Wheelock Pkwy.
From the Northwest
Take Hwy 36 east to Lexington Pkwy. Go south to Larpenteur Ave. Go east to Victoria St. Go south to Wheelock Pkwy (at Como Lake). Go northeast one half block. The planetarium is on the south side of Wheelock Pkwy.
From the Southwest (the easiest way)
Take Highway 94 east to Dale St. Go north to Wheelock Pkwy. Turn west and go 5 blocks. The planetarium is on the south side of Wheelock Pkwy.
From the Southeast
Take Highway 94 west to Dale St. Go north to Wheelock Pkwy. Turn west and go five blocks. The planetarium is on the south side of Wheelock Pkwy.
GENERAL BUS INFORMATION:
Metro Transit route 3 on Maryland/Como
Metro Transit route 65 on Dale
Metro Transit route 61 on Arlington
More information at http://www.metrotransit.org
website:
Public field trips at Como Planetarium
Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 10:00am - 11:00am
This lesson reviews concepts presented in the FOSS unit of the same name. Some of the concepts are: Lunar phases and motions; Seasonal changes in the path of the sun; The effects of the Earth's rotation; An introduction of constellations and how we use them to observe the rotation of the earth.
LATE ARRIVALS: Please plan to be early to avoid being late due to inadequate maps, confusing road...
Thursday, November 18, 2010 - 10:00am - 11:00am
The moon attracts the attention and inspires of the curiosity of everyone who gazes upon her. This program aims to help children notice how the moon changes its shape and place in the sky and includes a story about the adventures of a cat named Larry who follows his favorite person to her dream job on a future moonbase and learns about some of the properties of the moon, gravity and space travel...
Thursday, October 28, 2010 - 10:00am - 11:00am
This lesson deals with concepts that are included in the latest Minnesota Science Academic Standards. It starts with cell phones. Cell phones communicate with one another using radio waves. Radio waves, like light, travel at a definite speed. This speed influences how we see the universe. A look at the sky and a trip into space are included. You will actually...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 10:00am - 10:50am
Join us for a program at the Como Planetarium entitled, "Paint the Sky". Here is more information from their website on this program:
"Soon after students arrive they are busy painting the sky. The rest of the lesson keeps them active adding stuff to the sky while experiencing the sequence of sky events that complete a 24 hour day. This lesson, which is presented live, is 50 minutes of top...
