Fleischmann Planetarium UNR

What Fleischmann Planetarium UNR does

The Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center is a department within the University of Nevada, Reno's College of Science, operating a single public science center and full-dome theater at 1664 N. Virginia Street in Reno, Nevada. It serves three primary customer segments: K-12 schools and teachers booking educational field trips, families and general public visitors attending public shows, and private event organizers renting the venue for non-public screenings. The facility is staffed by a small team of five employees under Director Paul McFarlane, a former Washoe County School District educator.

The core product is a state-of-the-art full-dome projection system that delivers immersive astronomical and space-exploration video content visible from every seat, complemented by interactive exhibit spaces (including a 3-D sun mural and space-themed displays) and an on-site Science Store selling branded merchandise. Programmatic offerings include scheduled public shows on Fridays through Sundays, field trips available seven days a week, private dome screenings during non-public hours, and a tiered membership program for recurring visitors.

Revenue is generated through six streams: ticket sales for public shows, Science Store merchandise, annual memberships, educational field trip bookings, private dome rentals, and corporate/panel sponsorships. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via an online Shopify ticketing store, an Appointment Plus booking system for school groups, and on-site walk-in purchases. The facility is currently scheduled for a major renovation closing regular drop-in programming from May 4, 2026 through early 2027, during which field trip reservations and select special events continue on a limited basis.

Name

Fleischmann Planetarium UNR

Legal name

Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center (University of Nevada, Reno)

Website

https://planetarium.unr.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center is a University of Nevada, Reno department operating a single full-dome theater and science center in Reno, NV. It serves K-12 schools, families, and private event audiences through public shows, field trips, memberships, and venue rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Planetarium and Science Education Center

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE), Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), University & Educational Venue Operations (Auditoriums, Campus Arenas) (MPAGALAI)

Keywords

• Planetarium shows
• Science education
• Full-dome theater
• Field trip programs
• Space exhibits

Headquarters

HQ city

Reno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from visitors purchasing tickets to Full-Dome Theater shows. Shows are available to the general public on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
2. Science Store Merchandise: Sale of space-themed merchandise including t-shirts and other items at the on-site Science Store
3. Membership Program: Annual memberships offering exclusive benefits to members of the Planetarium family
4. Field Trip Bookings: Revenue from pre-arranged educational field trips booked by teachers and schools, available seven days a week
5. Private Dome Screenings: Private events and screenings scheduled during non-public showtimes for special occasions
6. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship programs including panel sponsorship opportunities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center operates a Full-Dome Theater delivering immersive astronomical and space-exploration shows on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, complemented by interactive space-themed Exhibits, a Science Store selling space-themed merchandise, and structured educational Field Trips for school groups available seven days a week. Additional offerings include Private Dome Screenings for events during non-public showtimes and a tiered Membership Program providing exclusive benefits to recurring visitors.

Product overview

The Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center is a historic landmark science center operated by the University of Nevada, Reno. It offers a unified visitor experience centered on its Full-Dome Theater for immersive space shows, complemented by interactive Exhibits showcasing space-themed displays, and a Science Store for merchandise. Additional visitor programs include Field Trips for school groups, Private Dome Screenings for exclusive events, and a Membership Program. The planetarium's mission is to engage, educate, and explore the universe with visitors of all ages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full-Dome Theater Shows State-of-the-art dome projection system covering the entire ceiling to deliver immersive full-dome video shows featuring space exploration, astronomy, and science content visible from every seat; available to the general public on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• Exhibits Interactive and educational exhibit spaces featuring space-themed displays, including a 3-D sun mural and an exhibit hall with space suits and artifacts, available to visitors as part of the planetarium experience.
• Science Store On-site retail store selling space-themed merchandise, including planetarium-branded apparel and educational items, available to walk-in visitors.
• Field Trips Pre-arranged educational programs for school groups available seven days a week, including Full-Dome Theater shows and access to exhibits, designed to provide structured, curriculum-aligned science learning.
• Private Dome Screenings Private screenings of the Full-Dome Theater available during non-public showtimes for groups, events, and special occasions, providing exclusive use of the immersive dome projection system.
• Membership Program Tiered annual membership program offering exclusive benefits to recurring visitors and members of the planetarium community.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Gates Planetarium (Denver Museum of Nature & Science): Denver planetarium inside a major natural history museum. Comparable as a regional, museum-embedded planetarium with public shows, education programs, and ticketed admission.
• Adler Planetarium: Chicago-based planetarium operating full-dome theater shows, exhibits, and educational programming. Directly comparable as a museum-based planetarium with school field trips, memberships, and a science-center retail component.
• Chabot Space & Science Center: Oakland-based science center with planetarium shows, exhibits, school programs, and memberships. Comparable as a non-university-affiliated public science center with a similar exhibits-plus-theater programming model.
• Griffith Observatory: Los Angeles public observatory and planetarium offering full-dome theater shows, exhibits, and public programming. Closely comparable in its reliance on ticketed public shows, school field trips, and a science/astronomy educational mission.
• Fels Planetarium (Franklin Institute): Philadelphia-based planetarium inside a science museum. Operates full-dome theater shows, school field trips, memberships, and a science store — a near-direct mix of revenue streams.
• Clark Planetarium: Salt Lake City public planetarium offering free and ticketed full-dome theater shows, exhibits, and educational programs. Comparable regional planetarium with a similar mix of public, school, and event revenues.
• Hayden Planetarium (American Museum of Natural History): New York City planetarium operating within a major natural history museum. Directly comparable in full-dome theater programming, school groups, and science-tourism draw, though at substantially larger scale.
• Morrison Planetarium (California Academy of Sciences): San Francisco planetarium embedded within a science museum. Comparable in full-dome shows, educational programming, and institutional alignment with university/research partners.

Regional players

• Discovery Museum (Reno): Local Reno children's science museum. Comparable regional family-learning destination competing for the same K-12 field trip and family-entertainment dollars in the Reno market.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: National museum with planetarium, IMAX theater, and space/aviation exhibits. Operates at a vastly larger scale but is thematically comparable in its immersive theater-plus-exhibits mix and educational mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fleischmann-planetarium-unr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fleischmann Planetarium UNR