center for earth & space science education

We had our second visit to CESSE (the Planetarium) for the Valentine Day "Love Under The Stars". There is no way to make it too superlative. What a wonderful experience, and the Staff are so nice, accommodating and gracious! This was a couples only event to celebrate the history of the lore of Love Under the Stars.

This exhibit was fantastic at both Discovery Science Place and CESSE. Movies in the dome at CESSE a plus; very fun and informative too.

With kids ages 9, 13, and 17 it can be difficult to find something we can all enjoy together and the CESSE has been the perfect place for us. There are about 5 different shows that run back to back each day. New shows are added each year. Once you pay, you can see as many of the shows as you want. You can even watch one, leave the center and go do something else and then return to see a different show. We've enjoyed seeing Space Junk and the coral reef show among others. We've always gone during the summer and it's never been crowded. In fact, we've sometimes had the whole theater to ourselves. There is a very small museum that is included with admission. It is really just one main exhibit and the exhibits change periodically but we enjoyed the recent dinosaur exhibit and the DaVinci exhibit with hands-on working models. The staff have always been very friendly, appreciative, and helpful. The theater is clean. There is a small gift area with science experiment kits, stuffed planets, model building kits, astronaut ice-cream, etc. The kids always find things they want though we've not purchased anything. It's a great outing for a hot summer day or rainy day. Best of all, the kids always leave with a renewed interest in science. Parking is a bit tricky as the CESSE is located on a college campus and you can't just drive right up to the center itself. If you're unfamiliar with the layout I'd advise calling ahead for some pointers.

We enjoyed the planetarium and the Da Vinci exhibit. The young lady with the exhibit was very well informed and seemed excited to show us the exhibits. We only had a few hours to stay, but you could spend almost all day here. The exhibition of Goodnight Rose City was OK. It was nice to see a local children's book illustrator put on display.The air conditioning was wonderful! We did not have children but I think they would get a kick out of this place. Children should be warned how loud the movie in the planetarium is.

This was a great stop for the family while we were in Tyler. The planetarium was excellent. Our family was very engaged and excited about the amazing Davinci exhibit also. The only issue we had was finding the building on campus. The physical address was not found in any of our GPS apps nor were there signs on campus to direct us. The street address on file was also not the same as the street where it was located. We had to call and have them guide us.

Yes we have been in planateriums all over the country..But my grandkids had not. They were 10 & 8 and love science..I was amazed at the wealth of information and looking up to the roof in comfortable chairs was astounding. We saw the Egyptian exibit and spent an hour just in the museum area..building things and being amazed. Also would be wonderful for senior trips as one can just sit and watch the amazing light show. Thank You TJC for your contribution to the wonderful city of Tyler!!

Maybe we came when it was under construction but this place was way overrated. The exhibit hall was the size of a living room with only a handful of dinosaur replicas. We saw the Dinosaur/Pangea film. I was expecting a National Geographic type movie. It was claymation. My 6 year old liked it, though. The customer service is lacking. Badly. Maybe I'm just spoiled after visiting some of the other "big city" science centers. Whatever the case, we won't return.

We took our 11 year old daughter to see the new dinosaur show and display. The theater is a dome that holds about 75 people and the projections are really clear and crisp. This show we saw is only here for a few months and worth seeing. They also have a display of dinosaurs, and fossils to see that was well done. Besides the dinosaur exhibit they also have great star shows.

The current "Sea Rex: Journey to a Prehistoric World" is extremely well done. The computerization is over-the-top amazing for all ages. The movie lasts about 45 minutes and is shown in full high-definition color on the 40-foot domed planetarium theater.Various of the tourist maps have a 2 for 1 coupon.Your ticket also admits you to a very small archaeologic museum displays of dinosaurs and "digs".

The Center for Earth and Space Science Education (CESSE) at Tyler Junior College is a fantastic facility for all ages. There is a state of the at digital theater and a range of exhibits that change regularly to keep you coming back for more, all at a very reasonable price. We saw Wonders of the Universe in the digital theater. The visuals were awesome - it was a great teaser of the amazing things that happen in our universe, and I would have loved to look up some of the stuff, but I couldn’t remember half of it when the show was done! The digital theater ended with a digital roller coaster ride. It was interesting - fantastic visuals - but it was strange without any G-forces, wind, or noise of tracks. There was a brilliant Egyptology display, small, but with lots of artifacts and detail. Well presented and enough to keep even younger minds engaged. There is food available for purchase at the facility, although you cannot bring it in with you to the digital theater or the exhibit hall. Go check out the website for details on the shows and exhibits that are currently at the facility.

We don't stop to smell the roses or look at the stars much any more. This is a great experience. During the summer - the heat of this summer - it was a cool, inspiring experience. We did not want to leave!

This is an amazing facility and is so engaging for kids and adults. It's a must see!

Outstanding, enlightening and imaginative programs...great for all ages, and such an asset to our community.

Recently renovated, CESSE certainly becomes a leader in space education for adults and children alike. Great adventure for the whole family. State of the art planetarium, fascinating exhibits, unbelievably low prices. On the campus of Tyler Junior College, so also easily accessible to local college students. Variety of programming appropriate for all ages. Just a total fun and educational treat for our wider community!! Very reasonable planetarium fees, discounts for children and seniors.

The Center for Earth and Space SCience Education is the best science center in the state of Texas, by far! My fiance and I went their during the Christmas holidays and loved it! I was surprised by how the exhibits and planetarium show were engaging for adults because I had always thought of these places were just for kids. But they definitely appeal to adults and kids!I highly recommend going to that place.