About SAC College Offices and Departments Scobee Education Center Additional Features (draft)

Additional Features

Scanlan Observatory

Housed atop the iconic blue Charles E. Cheever, Jr. Star Tower, the Scanlan Observatory houses a 10-inch refractor telescope and features a 360-degree rotating dome, enabling stargazing in any direction. The adjacent Powell Star Deck accommodates up to 50 guests for a rooftop star gazing experience or an outdoor classroom for astronomy students.

The Scanlan Observatory is only available on Friday evenings in two viewing sessions at 9:30pm and 10:30pm. Observatory availability is subject to weather conditions and availability of staffing. When available, a limited number of single price $3.00 tickets are only sold at the Lackey Camp Casper ticket booth in the center. Guests attending the 9:30 p.m. presentation may purchase observatory tickets at the time of their planetarium purchase. Tickets will not be sold during evenings of extreme temperatures or cloud cover and will never be sold in advance online.

 

Virtual Planetarium Programs

Our planetarium programs are designed to be “grade-specific.”

Virtual “Sky Tonight Live” presentations have a $150 fee and are astronomer led for up to 100 students via a secure zoom web platform. To plan a virtual journey, contact our planetarium coordinator, Michelle Risse at mrisse2@alamo.edu for more information and scheduling next steps.

 

Challenger Learning Center Public Missions

Public missions are offered twice a year in February (Valentine's Day) and April (Spring/Fiesta timeframes).

  • Friday, closest to Valentine's Day - Valentine's Couples' Mission This event is limited to 18 couples 21 years or older. Tickets for the 2027 Valentine's event will be posted online in the Alamo Marketplace Mall and typically sells out within two weeks. The event will close once the 18 couple tickets have been sold.
  • Fiesta de la Tierra Family Micronaut Mission The First Saturday of Fiesta, Saturday, April 17, 2027. Look for ticket information to be posted here and on social media one month ahead of time.