Planetarium Scripts
The following scripts are the most recent scripts from GLPA's script bank. For more scripts, you may also choose to browse the Script Archive.
Digital Scripts: These planetarium show scripts are only available in electronic format as PDF files. If you are not familiar with pdf files, a pdf file can be read and printed by Acrobat Reader (free from Adobe), and many other applications, including web browsers.
GLPA Members: ALL of the planetarium show scripts are available HERE for FREE to GLPA members. Simply log in and click on the PDF file links below.
Non-Members: These digital scripts are available for $3 each. Make a note of the script numbers and titles for each of the scripts you want. You can pay for the scripts through the online store, then contact the tech chair with a list of the specific scripts you'd like.
GLPA members: log in to access PDF files.
Options for the List Below:
- Level: By default, ALL levels (Elementary, Secondary, College, Public) are shown. To view a subset, select a specific level by using the drop-down menu and Apply button below.
- Sorting: Click on the column headers "Title" or "Script Year" to change the way the list below is sorted.
Title |
Script Year | Script Author | Author's Institution | Script Level | Script Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adventures in Starland | 2009 | Angela Sarrazine | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Elementary |
Target audience is kindergarten through second grade. Join the super-heros of old in a program of star stories and star location. Hercules, Phaeton, Athena, and Draco; the myths are told, the constellations are pointed out, and deep sky objects are described. PDF: glpascript337.pdf |
| ArcticSaurs: Dinosaurs at the Top of the World | 2012 | April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center | Elementary, Public |
This program is for third grade and a public audience. Five students and their teacher travel back in time to the 2012 Transit of Venus to study dinosaur digs in the 21st century. |
| Autumn Stargazing | 1996 | Eric Schreur | Kalamazoo Valley Planetarium Museum | Secondary, College, Public |
The Summer Triangle, Jupiter, Saturn, Capricornus, the Pleiades, the Hyades, Cassiopeia, and Cepheus are featured in this program. The mythology of Lyra, Capricornus, Cassiopeia and Cepheus are presented, along with the Native American story of the Pleiades and the Hyades. PDF: glpascript315.pdf |
| Bozo's Blastoff | 1992 | Gary Tomlinson | Chaffee Planetarium | Elementary, Public |
This program utilizes both video and traditional planetarium multi-image techniques. Using Bozo the Clown as a narrator, the program takes a light-hearted look at characteristics of stars and planets, and the astronomical reason for day and night. PDF: glpascript309.pdf |
| Campfires in the Sky | 2001 | April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Elementary |
In this children's program, the audience joins a group of children on a camp-out where they explore the summer night sky. Many astronomy concepts are covered such as daily motion, constellations, stars, the moon, mythology, and much more. PDF: glpascript328.pdf |
| Companion to Night: The Poetry of the Universe | 2004 | Stephen Case | Olivet Nazarene University, Strickler Planetarium | Secondary, College, Public |
This is an original planetarium script that highlights the historical relationship between astronomy and poetry. The historical development of the science of astronomy is summarized with interspersed poetry readings illustrating the way astronomy's development influenced literature. PDF: glpascript330.pdf |
| Day Star | 1998 | April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Elementary |
Fred the planetarium projector and Miss Sun narrate this kindergarten/first grade program about the sun. Basic concepts about the sun are included as well as Earth rotation and the cardinal directions. PDF: glpascript323.pdf |
| Dónde Vivo? | 1990 | Eric Schreur | Kalamazoo Valley Planetarium Museum | Elementary, Public |
Title translation: “Where Do I Live?” Father and Emily discuss their address — street and number, city, state, country planet, solar system, Milky Way, universe. Script would have to be localized to be effective. Spanish translation was completed in 1998 by Andrea Schaefer. PDF: glpascript301a.pdf |
| El Misterio de La Luna Perdida | 1989 | Eric Schreur | Kalamazoo Valley Planetarium Museum | Elementary, Secondary |
Spanish translation of title: “Mystery of the Missing Moon”. This is a story of a class doing moon phase observations with unexpected results. Artwork is available from the Kalamazoo Valley Museum Planetarium. PDF: glpascript318a.pdf |
| Enchanted Lab, The | 2007 | April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Elementary, Public |
A Halloween program for families. A time-travel device sends the lab supervisor into the past to exchange places with a wizard. The wonders of a modern lab (lightning in a bottle, flames not from flint, and the World Wide Web) are fascinating to the wizard. He tells the story of Andromeda and Perseus, and shares his magic spell to allay hunger. PDF: glpascript335.pdf |
| Galileo's Universe | 2009 | Steve Bieger, April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Secondary, Public |
In celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, this program traces how we have looked at the sky from earliest times to Galileo's observations with a telescope, and emphasizes how ideas about the world around us changed as scientific thinking changed. PDF: glpascript339.pdf |
| General Sky Show | 1993 | Art Klinger | P-M-H Planetarium | Elementary |
This is an interactive totally live program that is interdisciplinary. It includes geography, geometry, and astronomy, and is suitable, with modifications for grades 3-6. Topics include relating the North Pole and equator of earth to the North Star and celestial equator, activities on the seasons, the sun, and stars. PDF: glpascript312.pdf |
| Haunted Skies | 1990 | Eric Schreur | Kalamazoo Valley Planetarium Museum | Secondary, Public |
Discusses the “ghosts” of the autumn sky: the Milky Way, the Lagoon Nebula, comets, and the Aurora Borealis. PDF: glpascript297.pdf |
| Hotter Than Blue | 2006 | April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Secondary, College, Public |
Hotter Than Blue is a high-energy astronomy planetarium program. Written by NASA scientists at Huntsville Alabama's Marshall Space Flight Center and edited by April Whitt, it traces the development of high-energy astronomy from the first x-ray detecting satellites through the launch of gamma ray burst detectors. PDF: glpascript333.pdf |
| Kindergarten/First Grade Program | 1992 | David DeRemer | Horwitz Planetarium | Elementary, Public |
This program provides an introduction to the planetarium and features a rocket blastoff to the moon plus participatory activities to “create” objects in the daytime and nighttime sky. PDF: glpascript310.pdf |
| Lion's Tales and African Stars | 1997 | April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Elementary, Public |
The night sky for the area of Atlanta, Georgia is compared to the skies of Africa. A narrator and storytellers relate the Egyptian story of Berenice’s hair, the Yoruba story of creation, the Khoisan story about Orion and Taurus, and the Tiv and Zambezi stories about the Moon and Sun. PDF: glpascript321.pdf |
| Mystery of the Missing Moon | 1989 | Eric Schreur | Kalamazoo Valley Planetarium Museum | Elementary, Secondary |
This is a story of a class doing moon phase observations with unexpected results. Artwork is available from the Kalamazoo Valley Museum Planetarium. Also available in Spanish. PDF: glpascript318.pdf |
| New Worlds | 1992 | Dale W. Smith | Bowling Green University Planetarium | Secondary, College, Public |
“New Worlds” traces the discovery of new lands by explorers from ancient times to the landing on the moon in 1969, and features the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Included are the discoveries of Pritania (Britain), Ultima Thule (the Arctic), Iceland, Greenland, and the work of Eratosthenes and Ptolemy in measuring and mapping the Earth. PDF: glpascript307.pdf |
| Night and Day | 2009 | April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Elementary |
Target audience is kindergarten and first grade. As Earth rotates, our sky changes from day to night and back again. Explore the motion of the sun, find the moon, and draw some pictures in the stars. This program was developed in alignment with the Georgia state science objectives. PDF: glpascript338.pdf |
| Night of the Falling Stars | 1996 | Eric Schreur | Kalamazoo Valley Planetarium Museum | Elementary, Secondary |
This program tells the story of a young girl visiting her grandparents’ farm to see the Perseid meteor shower. Artwork is available from the Kalamazoo Valley Museum Planetarium. PDF: glpascript319.pdf |
| Pole Star | 2007 | April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Public |
As part of the International Polar Year (March 2007 to March 2009), scientists are sharing information from both ends of the Earth. Differences between north and south poles are discussed, fall/autumn stars of northern mid-latitudes are pointed out, then the audience "travels" to the north pole to observe the effects of Earth's rotation. After a discussion of science at that pole, including a transcript of a short NSF video, the audience "travels" to the equator, and then to the south pole. More ice core data, and description of science at the south pole. PDF: glpascript336.pdf |
| Seabird Show, The | 1993 | Dale W. Smith | Bowling Green University Planetarium | Secondary, College, Public |
Told in a first-person narrative, this program begins with a journey to Perroquet Island in eastern Quebec to observer seabirds. It also includes vignettes about seabirds entitled “An Alphabet of Seabirds,” “Wings of the Morning,” and “Little Brother of the Sea.” PDF: glpascript311.pdf |
| Serpents of the Sun | 1996 | Richard Pirko & Warren Young | Ward Beecher Planetarium, Youngstown State University | Secondary, College, Public |
This 39 minute program discusses alignments of the mounds and effigies of the Native Americans to the rising of the sun. The program is also filled with information about prehistoric sites in the northeastern United States. PDF: glpascript320.pdf |
| Skies Down Under | 2000 | Richard Williamon | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Public |
A public planetarium program about the voyages of Captain Cook, the constellations of the southern hemisphere, and several legends from the Australian Aboriginal peoples, Polynesians from Tahiti, Hawaii, and the Maori of New Zealand. PDF: glpascript326.pdf |
| Sky Phenomena | 1990 | Robert Allen | University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse | Secondary, College, Public |
Beginning with a discussion of the transmission of light through different media, this program continues with such phenomena as rainbows, solar halos, sun pillars, aurorae, meteors, and lightning. PDF: glpascript300.pdf |
| Sky Stones | 1990 | Dale W. Smith | Bowling Green University Planetarium | Secondary, College, Public |
This is a program about ancient astronomical monuments, told in a unique first-person format. Monuments that are discussed include lunar (Newgrange, Ireland; Berrybrae, Scotland; and Stonehenge England); solar (Medicine Wheels, Anasazi Indians, Macchu Pichu); and stellar (Teotihuacan [Aztec], Karnak [Egyptian]). PDF: glpascript299a.pdf |
| Snowflake Puzzle, The | 2006 | April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Elementary, Public |
The Snowflake Puzzle is a program about the seasons for younger audiences. During the program, three children explore Earth's orbit around the sun, noting seasonal changes in the night sky as well as colors and geometric shapes. PDF: glpascript332.pdf |
| Solar System Adventure | 1998 | April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Elementary |
A school planetarium program for 4th and 5th graders: An interactive program in which the audience uses red-gel decoder glasses to solve clues and travel through the solar system (not in order from the sun!). There is a place for a live constellation segment to point out the current night sky planet positions. Included is a post-visit crossword puzzle for distribution to teachers. PDF: glpascript325.pdf |
| Space Birds | 1991 | Rob Landis | Abrams Planetarium, Michigan State University | Secondary, College, Public |
“Space Birds” are artificial satellites orbiting 200 to 2000 kilometers above the Earth. Information is given on observing these satellites, especially the Mir Space Station and the Hubble Space Telescope. PDF: glpascript305.pdf |
| Space Chase | 2007 | Angela Sarrazine & Rick Spears | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Elementary |
Join our two characters, Furg and Wox, and their robot, as they travel through the solar system exploring each of the planets. They are looking for a suitable place to hide from their nemesis, Kangor. Will they be caught? Will they escape? Will they be home in time for dinner? This is a solar system tour program, with facts about the planets' surfaces, atmospheres, and temperatures. PDF: glpascript334.pdf |
| Stars That Never Set | 1998 | April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Elementary, Public |
Ursula and the Storyteller narrate this program about the Big Dipper as they guide the participants through the four seasons using a Big Dipper “clock.” The Storyteller relates the legend of Arcas and Callisto as well as the Native American story of the bear being hunted by three brothers. PDF: glpascript324.pdf |
| Summer Stargazing: The Treasures of the Milky Way | 1996 | Eric Schreur | Kalamazoo Valley Planetarium Museum | Secondary, College, Public |
This program takes a “journey” through the summer sky as interpreted by a Pirate. Special emphasis is given to Messier objects and the Milky Way. PDF: glpascript316.pdf |
| Sun and Moon | 2005 | April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Elementary |
What makes day and night? Why does the Moon change shape? Why are days short in the winter, but long in summer? Students will explore the positions of the sun and moon through the day and night, through the month, and through the year. This script is for a second grade program for school groups. PDF: glpascript331.pdf |
| Sun Days and Moon Months | 1997 | April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Elementary |
The audience gets to vote on several occasions during this program about time measurement and calendars. Basic concepts about daily motion, annual motion, moon phases and seasonal changes are woven into this program for fourth and fifth grade. PDF: glpascript322.pdf |
| The Missing Universe | 2011 | Ronald Kaitchuck | Ball State University | Secondary, College, Public |
Over 90% of the universe is missing! We know the stars and galaxies we see around us are but a very small part of a much larger invisible universe. The unseen universe is all around us -- not just in deep space. This program reveals a universe filled with dark matter and dark energy that is expanding with ever accelerating speed. |
| Through the Eyes of Hubble | 2002 | Angela Sarrazine and April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Secondary, Public |
This script includes a biographical introduction to astronomer Edwin Hubble and his accomplishments; an introduction to telescopes; information about how the human eye works; the benefits of long exposure photographs; advantages of orbiting telescopes; and extensive information about the Hubble Space Telescope, how it works, and some of its targets. PDF: glpascript329.pdf |
| To Shine Almost Forever: The Incredible Lives of Stars | 1995 | Dale W. Smith | Bowling Green University Planetarium | Secondary, College, Public |
Told in an imaginative format, this script details stellar evolution from birth to death. Major sections are titled: “Prologue,” “In Darkness Born,” “Living by Light,” “A Sky Full of Giants,””Alchemist’s Dream,” “Twilight of the Gods,” and “Eternal Sunset.” PDF: glpascript314.pdf |
| Unworldly Weather | 1994 | Dale W. Smith | Bowling Green University Planetarium | Secondary, College, Public |
Beginning with a Martian weather forecast, this program details weather conditions for each of the planets. First person narration is given for clouds, rain and snow, hurricanes, tornados, and thunderstorms. Included are Earth weather records and a weather quiz. PDF: glpascript313.pdf |
| Voyage of Christopher Columbus, The | 1991 | Carl J. Wenning | Illinois State University Physics Dept. Planetarium | Secondary, College, Public |
Written to commemorate the quincentennial of Columbus’ discovery of the New World, this program provides a very detailed background of the voyage. Also included are discussions of the celestial navigation of Columbus’ time. A teacher’s guide is also available. PDF: glpascript306.pdf |
| Water World | 1992 | Dale W. Smith | Bowling Green University Planetarium | Secondary, College, Public |
Discusses the formation and history of the Earth in a unique, first-person narrative. The greenhouse effect is discussed and the need to care for our planet is emphasized as the narrative projects ahead 5 billion years to a time when life on Earth will be destroyed by the red giant sun. PDF: glpascript308.pdf |
| Where Do I Live? | 1990 | Eric Schreur | Kalamazoo Valley Planetarium Museum | Elementary, Public |
Father and Emily discuss their address — street and number, city, state, country planet, solar system, Milky Way, universe. Script would have to be localized to be effective. Also available in Spanish (301A). PDF: glpascript301.pdf |
| Winter Star | 2000 | April Whitt | Fernbank Science Center Planetarium | Elementary, Public |
A public program for families with small children: In this interactive program, the audience answers questions, points out constellations and the path of the sun at different seasons, uses a paper plate to “eclipse” the projector, and sings “Rudolph”. The seasonal/holiday/Christmas portion of the program focuses on lights in different winter festivals (Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukah, Buddhist sculpture): Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a narrator. PDF: glpascript327.pdf |
| Winter Stargazing | 1996 | Eric Schreur | Kalamazoo Valley Planetarium Museum | Secondary, College, Public |
The Winter Hexagon is especially featured in the program about the winter sky. There is a discussion of the mythology of Orion and Taurus, as well as stellar evolution. PDF: glpascript317.pdf |