Donate to CPS Planetarium …
and make a difference!
Click here to donate to Columbia Public Schools’ Planetarium.
Select “Senior High Schools” and under Rock Bridge High School,
click on “Planetarium” and enter an amount.
Dear Friend,
We ask you to support your regional Columbia Public Schools (CPS) Planetarium.
From meteors streaking across the sky to close encounters with asteroids to ambitious plans
to colonize Mars, the 21st century is an exhilarating time for astronomy and the physical sciences at large – geophysics, climatology, chemistry, engineering and mathematics.
Astronomy ignites our innate curiosity about the wonders of our planet and the scope of the Universe. As Central Missouri’s only planetarium, CPS Planetarium aims to make astronomy accessible to all, to reinforce this expanding curiosity with engaged learning, and to intensify
this learning via thrilling audio-visual presentations that go beyond standard science classrooms.
Located inside Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, the planetarium hosts an array of interactive opportunities for school groups and the general public, including:
- Projecting shows against the 40-foot star dome;
- Touring the night sky “live” via the indoor star projector;
- Streaming live “Watch Events” like Curiosity landing on Mars;
- Interacting with displays featuring space artifacts and telescopes;
- Special multi-media programs such as Dinosaurs, Cavemen, and Our Changing Planet.
Last year, about 12,000 students participated in planetarium activities. We now ask for your support to grow our star shows, education programs, and public events.
The Planetarium is a not-for-profit service, and all donations are tax-deductible. Columbia Public Schools provides for the facility, upkeep, and staffing. Donations support the purchase of new shows and the development of new materials to extend learning. Recent major gifts have provided key capital improvements, including the purchase of a new projection system and the installation of new seats.
Enclosed, please find a flyer with more information about CPS Planetarium as well as a gift
card and return envelope. Alternately, you can donate online at http://cpsplanetarium.org.
Your donation makes it possible for another child, another student, another person to participate in CPS Planetarium programs.
The study of astronomy contributes to human knowledge and progress! By providing aspiring scientists an infinite variety of “cosmic laboratories”, CPS Planetarium is the “stargate” for Central Missouri – a virtual portal into the cosmos and science-related careers.
The CPS Advisory Board thanks you for your support!
Dr. Caitlin Casey – Astrophysicist
Val German – Amateur Astronomer
Dr. Linda Godwin – Astronaut, retired
Dr. Philip Knocke – Aerospace Engineer, retired
Dennis Murphy – CPS Media Specialist
Dr. Jennifer Rukstad – Principal, Rock Bridge High School
Zona Sharp-Burk – Academic Excellence Foundation, retired
Mike Szydlowski – CPS Science Coordinator
Click here to donate to Columbia Public Schools’ Planetarium.
Select “Senior High Schools” and under Rock Bridge High School,
click on “Planetarium” and enter an amount.
Below are some of the ways your money will help:
New Programs and Shows
* The Cowboy Astronomer
* Extra Solar Planets
* Birth of the Solar System
* We Choose Space
* Our Living Climate
Assistance to Special Students and Groups
Accommodations may include a companion, admission assistance, and/or mobility accessibility.
Capital Improvements
* Sound System
* Cove (Perimeter) Lighting
Past donations to the CPS Planetarium have made
a huge difference! Just see for yourself …
Donations collected during public shows purchased:
* HubbleVision 2 full dome show
* Partially paid for new carpeting in the dome
* Rental of Laser Light system for Lasers, Music, and Stars program
A grant from the Columbia Public Schools Foundation purchased three shows:
* Forces of Nature
* Astronaut
* Natural Selection
A donation from the Stafford Family Trust:
* Purchase and installation of new theater seats
An anonymous donation
* Purchase of the Warped Media full-dome system.
To make an online donation through the Columbia Public Schools website, click the link below. Look for the Planetarium option beneath Senior High Schools/Rock Bridge High School.
Click here to donate to Columbia Public Schools’ Planetarium.
Then select “Senior High Schools” and under Rock Bridge High School
click on “Planetarium” and enter an amount.
OR
If you prefer: make a check payable to CPS Planetarium and mail to:
CPS Planetarium
c/o Rock Bridge High School
4303 S Providence Rd
Columbia, MO 65203
Donations do make a difference!