Astronaut Memorial Planetarium and Observatory

Operated by the Brevard Community College, the Astronaut Memorial Planetarium and Observatory has a number of attractions for space enthusiasts, all under one roof. Chief among them is Planetarium, which has seating for 210 visitors beneath its 70-foot dome projection screen. This was the first planetarium to feature a dual projection system to show a realistic sky with some 28,000 points of light representing stars.

Also used in creating shows in the dome are 3D computer effects, five video projectors that display moving images, 32 slide projectors, a six-channel surround-sound system capable of concert-level audio performance, and two 3.5-watt lasers. Meanwhile, the 170-seat Iwerks Motion Picture Theater provides a separate venue for showing nature and science films within the same building.

The site's rooftop observatory is also very popular. Seating up to 35 students, it houses the largest public telescope in Florida, measuring 24 inches in diameter and using a 134-pound glass mirror to gather light from distant objects, such as planets, double stars, star clusters, galaxies, and fuzzy nebula. The magnification ranges from 150X to over 400X.

The Astronaut Memorial Planetarium and Observatory is located at 1519 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, Florida 32922. Planetarium, movie and laser shows are scheduled on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The cost for each is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for children. Entry to the observatory and exhibits is free of charge. All facilities, including the gift shop, are closed on Christmas and New Year's Day.