Constructed in 1977, near West Mesquite High School, the MISD Russell Planetarium continues to serve our students. Each year approximately 15,000 students visit the planetarium to enrich their understanding of the Earth and the universe.

In 2008, the planetarium undertook an extensive renovation by installing SciDome, a state of the art, full-dome digital projection system. With the SciDome system it is possible to simulate flying through space, to view objects from Earth in stunning detail and to simulate the view from any location in the solar system at just about anytime in the past or future. SciDome can also present the latest in full-dome digital productions being produced by museums and other scientific institutions. When students leave the planetarium we hope that they will feel inspired to learn more about the Earth and our place in space.

For more information about the Russell Planetarium, teachers, students, and community guests are invited to visit us at our Google Apps web site.

Additional Sites:

• NASA: Sputnik - The Fiftieth Anniversary
  History changed on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I. That launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments.
  http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/
• Space & Astronomy Lessons
  Offers astronomy and space science lesson plans for students of all ages.
  http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/astronomy.html
• Lesson Plans @ Earth from Space
  These lesson plans will be engaging and helpful in the classroom. Grade level and standards are noted beside each plan.
  http://www.earthfromspace.si.edu/lesson_plans.asp
• Space Place Teacher's Corner
  Although the entire Space Place site may be helpful to teachers and students, the resources linked here were developed specifically to help in the classroom.
  http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/en/educators/

Dr. Richard R. Russell Planetarium
2501 Memorial
Mesquite, TX 75149 USA
(972) 882 7750 Fax (972) 882 7753

Serving Mesquite, Texas (USA) students and teachers since 1977, Russell Planetarium is located next to Memorial Stadium, at the foot of the Communications Tower. The facility was named for the late school board president and physician Dr. Richard Russell.

• Visited by up to 30,000 students annually
• Presents programs ranging from Kindergarten to 12th Grade
• Projects the stars on a dome that is 9.1 meters (30 feet) across
• Has a college-style lecture hall that seats 98