Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium

About

Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium is the public outreach and education facility of the University of Arizona in Tucson, offering the broader community access to the world-class scientific resources of one of the country's top research universities. Located on the UA main campus near the center of Tucson, Flandrau combines a digital planetarium, science exhibit galleries, the UA Mineral Museum, and public telescope viewing in a single destination. The UA Mineral Museum within Flandrau is one of the finest university mineral collections in the world, housing more than 6,000 specimens including extraordinary examples of fluorite, tourmaline, and native metals from Arizona's historically significant mining districts. The collection also includes meteorite specimens, many from the prolific Arizona meteorite hunting grounds. The mineral galleries are a destination for collectors and geology enthusiasts from around the world. The Gruenhagen Digital Dome theater presents daily planetarium programs covering astronomical topics from beginner-friendly sky tours to advanced exploration of the cosmos. On Friday and Saturday evenings, visitors can use the Flandrau 16-inch research telescope on the roof for extended viewings of planets, deep-sky objects, and star clusters—one of the few science centers in the country that offers public access to a genuine research telescope. Flandrau serves Tucson's large K-12 student population through field trips and school programs, and its mineral and geology resources support the UA's nationally ranked Earth Sciences and Planetary Sciences departments. The center's proximity to the Kitt Peak National Observatory and other major telescope facilities in southern Arizona makes it a gateway to the region's remarkable astronomy heritage.

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