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.

On September 1, 2024, after more than five decades of service, long-time Planetarium Director, Dr. Robert Hitt, officially retired. The district is currently collaborating with city officials and educational partners to create a plan for the future of the planetarium. To learn more, visit our District News story, Planetarium Updates.

Contact

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

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.

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.