StarLab & Outreach
Please take advantage of Fiske's incredibly low prices for Spring 2008! We are pleased to bring Starlab to you for on-site outreach at very low cost: $125 for the 1st hour and each additional hour at $75/hour. Please see below for a list of additional outreach activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is STARLAB?
STARLAB is 25 feet across and 13 feet high. Requires electricity; Fiske staff will bring electrical cords, cord covers, etc. Please make sure that floor is reasonably clean and clear of sharp objects before set-up.
Can STARLAB be set up outside?
No, wind and sun are too damaging to the dome.
How many people fit inside?
Up to 20 kids or adults (includes Fiske staff); up to 25 small children. STARLAB is wheelchair-accessible. Please let us know how we may accommodate your students with special needs.
How much does it cost to rent?
Hour 1: $125 -- includes 2 Fiske staff, set-up and take-down (30 minutes each), and up to 60 minutes of presentation. Allow 5 minutes per group to enter/exit each presentation. For younger students, we recommend 15-30 minute shows rather than a single 45-60 minute show; we are responsive to your class period lengths and will adjust our programs accordingly.
Additional hours: $75 per hour. Surcharge for visits lasting more than 4 hours: $25/each additional hour (may be waived as necessary)
What do the students learn?
Programs are tailored to classroom needs and aligned with CO state standards for science (handout provided to teachers upon request). When possible, programs are interactive and hands-on (students may use sticky notes and/or whiteboards to predict or explain observations).
What is available for students waiting their turn to go inside?
For an additional $50/hour, 1 or 2 more Fiske staff will engage students in one of the following activities:
- Daytime astronomy with telescopes, binoculars and/or sunspotters
- Hands-on exploration of meteorites
- Infrared (IR) camera
- Other activities upon request (includes early childhood education) -- please see list below.
Are there any other costs?
If Fiske staff must travel more than 30 miles each way to provide outreach, we will charge $0.40/mile roundtrip to help pay for gas and tolls. (Note: Rate will increase to $0.50/mile in June 2008.) If Fiske staff must stay at your location for more than four hours or incur other expenses, we will negotiate an appropriate surcharge; for example, for an overnight stay we may request that you provide room and board to Fiske staff.
Are there any savings available?
For each new booking at Fiske Planetarium during the same academic semester, you may save $25/hour off the STARLAB rental price. (Discounts are not retroactive and for STARLAB rental only.)
What else is happening at Fiske?
Please visit our calendar or call our Main Office.
Early childhood and K-12 classes are encouraged to schedule daytime shows or hands-on workshops throughout the year.
How do I schedule a STARLAB or Outreach visit?
To schedule a StarLab visit please contact us via email or phone.
How do I pay for a STARLAB or Outreach visit?
Please make checks payable to University of Colorado or stop by Fiske before the visit to pay by cash or credit card.
What additional Outreach activities are available?
For Fiske staff to bring Outreach activities to you WITHOUT Starlab is $75/hour (includes cost of materials (excluding telescope kits), Fiske staff and transportation). If Fiske staff must travel more than 30 miles each way to provide outreach, we will charge $0.40/mile roundtrip to help pay for gas and tolls. (Note: Rate will increase to $0.50/mile in June 2008.) More than one activity may be chosen per hour. For example, in one hour Fiske staff can lead Body Astronomy, construct Constellation Finders, and make Solar Bead Bracelets.
Basic Astronomy Activities:
- Body Astronomy (Kinetic, Outdoor/Indoor): (1) Use your body to simulate planet orbits, tilts, moons, etc. (2) Link arms to make spiral galaxies and merge through collision.
- Comets (Kinetic, Hands-on): Make comets out of paper plates, streamers & peppercorns. After glue dries, fly your comets around the Sun (teacher).
- Constellation Finders (Hands-on): Students build and keep “fortune tellers” with constellations (better for ages 9+).
- Meteorites (Hands-on): Use magnets & magnifying lenses to examine real meteorites. (Note: Also known as Rocks from Space activity. Related videos & materials available for weekly rental.)
- Pinhole Cameras (Hands-on, Outdoor): Students assemble and take home functional pinhole cameras. ($1/camera for groups larger than 20.)
- Pop Rockets (Hands-on): Students build and take home a small rocket (requires film canisters, which are becoming increasingly scarce; Fiske staff will provide until supplies run out.)
- Sun & Space Weather (Hands-on, Outdoor): (1) Trace outline of Sun through Sunspotter (requires sunny day). (2) Make Solar Bead bracelets.
- Telescope Kits (Hands-on): Build & decorate your own refracting telescope. (No extra cost for empty tube; $6/student for functional telescope from kit.)
- Telescopes (Hands-on): Fiske staff bring and set-up actual telescopes (usually 4-inch reflectors) and/or binoculars.
Planetary/Earth Science:
- CD Saturns (Hands-on): Make Saturn from old CD, Styrofoam ball halves & glitter glue or markers.
- Cratering Activity (Hands-on): Students drop marbles into prepared tubs of flour & cocoa to make impact craters (very messy!). Students do not keep anything but can make observations on craters they make, take data, confirm/disprove hypotheses, etc. (better for ages 9+)
- Icy Environments (Hands-on): Assemble & eat an icy moon environment with crushed ice, flavored syrup, pop rocks & gummi worms (need permission frpm parents regarding allergies & sugar intake). For students 9+, PowerPoint presentation about comets and icy moons is available.
- Playdough Planets (Hands-on): Students build solar systems to scale (by size; do not get to keep anything). As an add-on they can use playdough to estimate relative sizes and distances of Earth and the Moon (better for ages 9+).
- Playdough Topographic Maps (Hands-on): Students make asteroids, then slice them to trace out topographic maps (better for ages 9+).
- Toilet Paper Solar System (Hands-on, Kinetic): Using a toilet paper roll, children determine scale distances of solar system objects (do not get to keep anything; better for ages 9+).
Other:
- Infrared Camera (Hands-on): Students examine objects and themselves while viewing an image of infrared light (heat). (Requires access to electricity.)
- LEGO Orrery (Hands-on): Students work in teams to assemble "solar system" and take data regarding "planet" size and distance from "Sun". (Requires access to electricity; better for ages 9+.)
