What age groups is the Planetarium Party suitable for?

The show is designed for participants aged 5 and older, making it family-friendly and accessible for adults as well.

How many people can attend a Planetarium Party?

Groups can book sessions for up to 20 people to ensure a high-quality, interactive experience.

Is food or drink provided during the event?

Food, drink, and decorations are not included. Guests may bring their own refreshments to enjoy before or after the show.

Are shows customizable for different age groups or interests?

Yes, presentations can be tailored to accommodate various ages and interests, from young children to adults.

Is the facility wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the Challenger Learning Center is wheelchair accessible and welcomes guests of all mobility levels.

How long does the Planetarium Party last?

Each party lasts approximately two hours, allowing time for an engaging journey through the cosmos.

Planetarium Party at Challenger Learning Center Lockport | Events | Attraction

Located in Lockport, New York, the Challenger Learning Center of Orleans, Niagara & Erie Counties offers a unique indoor adventure that transports visitors beyond earthly bounds. The Planetarium Party invites groups of up to 20 to gather beneath the immersive Digitarium Delta 4 dome for a two-hour journey through our solar system and beyond. This isn’t your average stargazing—state-of-the-art digital projection animates planets, moons, dwarf planets, and constellations with stunning clarity and depth, weaving in rich stories from Greek mythology to anchor the celestial sights in human history.

Lockport itself, known for its historic Erie Canal locks, sits amid the varied landscapes of western New York. The region’s natural features range from gorge-filled parks and rivers to expansive lake shorelines. Yet inside the Challenger Learning Center, the emphasis flips from geographical terrain to cosmic terrain. This focus on space science makes the center a standout educational hub, especially for families and learners aged 5 and up, blending hands-on interaction with dynamic visuals tailored to different age groups and interests.

The Planetarium Party is an ideal group experience for birthday celebrations, school outings, or community gatherings looking for an engaging, educational twist on recreation. Unlike traditional outdoor adventures, it requires no hiking or weather considerations, allowing visitors to dive into astronomy year-round.

Featuring the advanced Digitarium Delta 4 system, the center provides a robust digital canvas that brings the night sky into vivid view, even during daylight hours or overcast days. The show’s blend of myth and science makes an impactful introduction to space that goes beyond star charts, tapping into stories that have guided humanity’s view of the heavens for millennia.

This blend of technology, storytelling, and space science education establishes the Challenger Learning Center as a distinctive part of the local adventure ecosystem, delivering a stellar experience that complements the region’s outdoor pursuits with intellectual and visual wonder.

About Challenger Learning Center of Orleans, Niagara & Erie Counties

Challenger Learning Center of Orleans, Niagara & Erie Counties is a science education nonprofit located in Lockport, New York. The center operates a hands-on Space Station Simulator and a professional planetarium, offering immersive STEM programs for birthday parties, school field trips, team-building events, and community gatherings.

Programs include timed Space Mission experiences—ranging from 1.5-hour missions to extended 2.5- and 3-hour party formats—that place participants in simulated roles working with Mission Control on scenarios such as Expedition Mars. The facility also offers a Planetarium Party using a Digitarium Delta 4 system, private planetarium shows, and a Mobile Planetarium Rental that fits up to 20 adults or 25 children for on-site events. Younger learners can join seasonal programs such as the Robotics Club FLL Fall 2025, designed for ages 9 to 14, with flexible scheduling from August through November and a culminating competition in Buffalo. The center emphasizes hands-on problem solving, teamwork, and real-world science skills through guided simulations and interactive presentations. Staff and instructors facilitate missions and planetarium shows, and events can include space-themed celebrations with cake and pizza in designated party spaces. Facility offerings are suitable for a wide range of group sizes and ages, and equipment details like dome capacity and simulator timeframes are provided for planning. The Challenger Learning Center of Orleans, Niagara & Erie Counties supports educational outcomes by combining experiential STEM programming with community access to space science resources. Programs accommodate schools, birthday groups, scouts, and corporate teams seeking unique science-focused experiences in Western New York.