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About Planetarium

History of Chesapeake Planetarium

The Planetarium was constructed in 1962 using funds provided by the Chesapeake School Board and the National Defense Education Act (NDEA). The facility has been in operation for over sixty years. It was one of the first planetariums in Virginia built by a public school system. The planetarium was designed as a teaching aid for students, but has been available to the general public as well. Each year more than 50,000 students and Tidewater residents visit the facility to view educational programs. The projection system was recently updated including HD digital dome projection and computer controlled lighting. Full dome movies are now included in all programs. Planetarium programs change each month and are educational in nature. They are designed to give the individual a general overview of astronomy and space science. On clear nights a large telescope may be available for viewing. Reservations are required. (757-547-0153) It is recommended that children below the first grade level not be admitted to the planetarium chamber; however, all quiet children are welcome..

Contact

Chesapeake Planetarium
Chesapeake Municipal Center
312 Cedar Road
Chesapeake VA, 23322

Director
Dr. Robert Hitt
Email Robert Hitt

The Chesapeake Planetarium offers free public programs on Thursday evenings.

To make reservations for school programs call the Chesapeake Public Schools main line.  

   (757) 547-0153

Chesapeake Planetarium Sky Theater

The planetarium’s sky theater consists of a hemispherical dome ceiling and a Spitz SciDome HD digital planetarium projection system. A set of complex computers generates a highly detailed picture of the heavens. Images appear to move across the sky in a way that accurately reproduces the natural changes that occur in the sky. The daily and annual motions of the Earth, as well as the latitudinal change of the observer are controlled by the projectors, thus allowing the planetarium to act as a “time machine” capable of taking the viewer to see celestial events of the past or the future. In addition, a number of auxiliary special effects projectors are available to demonstrate such phenomena as auroras, comets, lightning, and the solar system as viewed from space. Special panoramas can also be projected to add additional realism to the programs.  The planetarium’s multi-channel audio system envelops the audience in state of the art sound.  Classical symphonic and popular music are used to enhance the planetarium experience.

Chesapeake Planetarium Interior

The Telescope

The Celestron 14 telescope has been used by thousands of visitors to view the night sky. Seeing the moons of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn or the craters on the Moon for the first time, is a exciting moment. Local astronomy club members often participate in helping viewers enjoy their time at the scope.

Chesapeake Planetarium telescope being used by patrons outisde

Future of Planetarium

Director Dr. Robert Hitt

Literally being star struck launched the career of Dr. Robert Hitt Jr., director of the Chesapeake Planetarium.

“During an undergraduate biology field trip we camped out on a moonless night in the Blue Ridge Mountains,” recalls Hitt. “I saw the most incredible stars you could ever imagine and thought right there that this was something I had to know about.”

During his junior year at ODU, the school completed its planetarium, which Hitt regularly visited along with Chesapeake’s planetarium, the first in the area and the first in the state to be operated by a public school system. Hitt went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology/education, a masters in science/education and a Doctorate from VPI. He was the director of a planetarium in Weirton, West Virginia, and then to Chesapeake, Virginia, where he has served as the Chesapeake Planetarium director for over 50 years.

Dr. Robert Hitt, Chesapeake Planetarium Director

Dr. Hitt in front of an Egyptian pyramid.