StarLab
Traveling Planetarium
Explore the stars with StarLab, the Virginia Discovery Museum's inflatable traveling planetarium for children 5 and older! Crawl through the tunnel into the dome, and let the 360-degree projector transport you through the cosmos as one of our trained education staff guide your group into an endless starfield, introduce you to the different constellations in the night sky, bring the stories and mythologies surrounding the stars to life right before your eyes, and so much more. Bring this unique teaching tool to your school, organization, or event, and discover the stars with us!
Before You Book | Book StarLab | FAQs | Contact
Requisites
Space:
25’ x 25’ Flat Indoor Area
(Ceiling: 11’ Minimum)
Noise:
Requires Quiet Location
Capacity
StarLab Holds:
15 Children/Presentation
(Must Have 2 Adults)
Presentations:
20-30 Minutes Each
Pricing
Program Time:
$100 Per Hour
(Up to 6 Hours)
1-Hour Setup/Breakdown:
Required - $100
Book StarLab
StarLab must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance with Education Manager Amy Griffith. When making a booking request, please have the following information ready: Contact Person, Address and Contact Information, School/Organization, Number & Age of Children, Desired Date & Time, and Alternate Date & Time. A deposit is not required to book StarLab, but availability is limited on a first-come, first-served basis.
1) Select a Date/Time
StarLab is available Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., for up to 6 hours of program time. Please have an alternate date and time ready.
2) Contact the Museum
Requests must be submitted at least two weeks in advance. Email amy@vadm.org, call (434) 977-1025 x106, or complete the online form.
3) Review Confirmation
Submitting a request does NOT reserve StarLab. A VDM staff member must confirm your date, time, and location by email or phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Space Requirements
Can StarLab be set up outdoors?
Unfortunately, StarLab is not designed to be set up outdoors because the dome and projection equipment are not weatherproof.
Group Size
What if we have more than 15 children in our group?
Although StarLab can only accommodate 15 children at a time, we would be happy to split your group among multiple presentations. Each presentation is 20-30 minutes, depending on your group’s needs.
Program Time
How long does it take to set up and break down StarLab?
Setup and breakdown each take about 30 minutes, which is separate from the amount of program time you’ve requested.
How long can we book StarLab?
StarLab is available for up to 6 hours of program time for $100 per hour, with presentations lasting 20-30 minutes each, depending on your groups needs.
Can we book StarLab for multiple days?
Please give us a call at (434) 977-1025 x106 or email amy@vadm.org to discuss booking multiple visitation dates and/or times.
Contact Us
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? For more information about StarLab, please contact Education Manager Amy Griffith at amy@vadm.org or (434) 977-1025 x106.