A portable planetarium is making the rounds in Boardman Local Schools to teach children about the stars and our solar system just over six months before the valley is slated to be in prime viewing position for a rare total solar eclipse next year.

The SkyDome Planetarium is a large inflatable designed to fit in school gymnasiums, allowing easy access for students to get exposure to the cosmos.

The planetarium was first taken to Robinwood Elementary on October 11th, then to West Boulevard Elementary on Thursday, October 12th. Shows inside the planetarium give students a 45-minute interactive presentation about the solar system, complete with vivid projections of outer space.

The SkyDome will later come back to Boardman for more stops, including Center Intermediate School on January 22nd and 23rd, Stadium Drive Elementary on January 26th.

The visits by SkyDome were funded by donations from the Boardman PTA.