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Charles W. Brown Planetarium

Enjoy "A History of Planetariums" by the American Museum of Natural History, and learn about planetariums and their impact on society. 

We invite you...

Be a part of One Ball State Day on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, a 24-hour fundraising and engagement effort where you can give to the Brown Planetarium at Ball State!

 

Together, we can make an impact...


Your contribution to the planetarium directly impacts Ball State students and the Muncie community by supporting and advancing our free programs and outreach events. Open for free educational public programs and group tours, our Brown Planetarium reflects Ball State University’s commitment to service through educational engagement with our community.

Your contribution...

  helps fund student staff!

  helps expand our outreach events with new technologies and programs!

  helps expand our hands-on, minds-on, and hearts-on activity stations!

  helps the Brown Planetarium continue to encourage scientific literacy and advancement through inspiring educational programming, innovative research, and service to our community.

 Ball State students contribute to all planetarium events...

 

Did you know that the Brown Planetarium is part of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Ball State? Students from our department work in the planetarium and share their knowledge and passion for the universe with visitors.


Who visits...


Over 22,000 people enjoy the planetarium each year and we see over 9,000 school kids! All planetarium events are free and open to the public.

 

Our namesake...

Charles W. Brown (second from the left, back row) and his family.

 

The Charles W. Brown Planetarium is named for businessman and philanthropist Charlie Brown, BA '71, whose passion for science was rekindled by the planetarium project. Mr. Brown and his wife, Dr. Louise Tetrick, hope the planetarium provides an incredible resource for the community, especially youth, as well as university students. Their goal is to make a difference in kids’ lives, as they believe that is where we can all be the most impactful.

 

We are continuously inspired and humbled by those who continue to give to support the planetarium; including gifts to the James and Nancy Watson Planetarium Science Education Fund. This fund was set up by the late Nancy Watson to support the science educational outreach mission of the planetarium to K-12 children.

 

 

Join those who have given to the planetarium to help us expand our reach and impact to Ball State and beyond!

 

 

Stay connected with the Brown Planetarium on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!

Success!
Pop it, Snap it, Share it! Benny Cutout Social Media Challenge
Faculty, staff, and student social media challenge! Share a photo of your Benny Cutout to show a window into your Ball State world. Be sure to stamp your post with #OneBallState. Two random participants will get to donate $500 in challenge funds toward their favorite area.
Completed
Leaderboard
Morning Leaderboard
The three departments/units/teams with the most donors by 10 a.m. receives $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000 in challenge funds.
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $3,000 Theatre & Dance 125
2 $2,000 Indiana Academy 79
3 $1,000 Communication Studies 66
4 Football 65
5 Student Scholarships 61
Ended
Leaderboard
Non-Academic / Non Athletic Donor Leaderboard
The two non-academic/non-athletic areas with the most donors from 6-8 p.m. will each receive $1,000.
Rank Prize Unit Donors
1 $1,000 BFSA: Dr. Charles R. Payne Scholarship 18
2 $1,000 Ball State Student Media 16
3 Student Emergency Aid Fund 9
4 Black Alumni Council 9
5 Women of Beneficence (Discovery) 5
Ended
Leaderboard
Evening Donor Leaderboard
The five areas with the most donors between 8-10 p.m. will each receive $1,000 in challenge dollars.
Rank Prize Unit Raised
1 $1,000 Indiana Academy $8,142.54
2 $1,000 Cardinal Excellence Fund $7,140.00
3 $1,000 Theatre & Dance $6,951.80
4 $1,000 Honors College $6,129.18
5 $1,000 Department of Architecture $6,025.00
Ended
Leaderboard
College Donor Leaderboard
The college that has the most donors by midnight will receive $5,000 in challenge funds.
Rank Prize College Donors
1 $5,000 College of Fine Arts 641
2 College of Communication, Information, and Media 558
3 College of Sciences and Humanities 548
4 Miller College of Business 432
5 College of Health 389
Ended
Success!
Mentor Social Media Challenge
It’s all about who you know, and who you help! Share a story about an impactful Ball State mentor or mentee experience to X (Twitter). One participant will get to donate $500 to their favorite area. Stamp your post with #OneBallState and tag @BSUFoundation or @BallStateAlumni ❤️
Completed
Success!
1,918th Donor
The 1,918th donor will win an additional $500 to designate to the area they gave to.
Completed
Success!
LinkedIn Social Challenge
Share a One Ball State Day post on LinkedIn on April 3rd for a chance to designate $1,000 to your favorite Ball State area! Use #OneBallState and tag the Ball State Foundation!
Completed
Success!
Top 100 Student Challenges
The top two students from the Top 100 Student Awards designate $1,000 to the fund of their choice.
Completed
Success!
EPM Employee Giving Challenge
VP for Enrollment Planning and Management Paula Luff, will match dollars raised from EPM employees, up to $500, to the Jack Beyerl Student Emergency Aid Fund.
Completed
Success!
Foundation Employee Giving Challenge
100% participation of Foundation employees unlocks $500 from Foundation and BSUAA President Jean Crosby.
Completed
Success!
First Student, Employee, Parent, and Alumni Challenge
First Alumni: Bill Jenkins, Theatre & Dance First Employee: Debra Roberts, Teachers College First Parent: Scott Fuller, Gymnastics First Student: Jayden Gillam, Christian Student Foundation
Completed
Leaderboard
Brunch Leaderboard
The five areas that raise the most money from 10 a.m. - Noon each receive $1,000 in challenge funds.
Rank Prize Department Raised
1 $1,000 Theatre & Dance $9,882.80
2 $1,000 Football $8,032.54
3 $1,000 Indiana Academy $6,463.36
4 $1,000 Men's Golf $4,685.00
5 $1,000 Men's Tennis $4,360.00
Ended
$5,000
Solar Eclipse Challenge
To celebrate the April 8 total solar eclipse, 8 gifts to the Charles W. Brown Planetarium between 1:52 p.m. - 4:24 p.m. will unlock $5,000 from alum and Planetarium namesake Charlie Brown.
8 / 8 Gifts
Completed
Leaderboard
College Gift Leaderboard
The three colleges with the biggest percentage of increased gifts from OBSD 2023 will receive $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000.
Rank Prize College % +/- Goal
1 $3,000 Honors College +80.72% 150
goal: 83
2 $2,000 Miller College of Business +69.78% 472
goal: 278
3 $1,000 College of Health +32.86% 469
goal: 353
4 Teachers College +30.59% 397
goal: 304
5 College of Sciences and Humanities -8.30% 619
goal: 675
Ended
Leaderboard
Donor Leaderboard
The five units with the most donors by midnight will each receive $1,000
Rank Prize Unit Donors
1 $1,000 Theatre & Dance 456
2 $1,000 Indiana Academy 325
3 $1,000 Football 273
4 $1,000 Communication Studies 199
5 $1,000 Soccer 163
Ended
Leaderboard
Provost Marri College Leaderboard Challenge
The three colleges with the most donors will unlock an additional $250 for 1st place, $150 for 2nd place and $100 for 3rd place from Provost Anand Marri.
Rank Prize College Donors
1 $250 College of Fine Arts 641
2 $150 College of Communication, Information, and Media 558
3 $100 College of Sciences and Humanities 548
4 Miller College of Business 432
5 College of Health 389
Ended
Success!
Paint the U.S. Cardinal Red
Gifts from all 50 states will unlock $2,500 from the Alumni Council to Ball States greatest needs.
Completed
Success!
One Ball State Day Video Social Media Challenge
Share any of the One Ball State Day videos on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram Stories using #OneBallState for a chance to earn extra challenge dollars. Two participants will get to donate $500 to their favorite area. Tag @BSUFoundation or @BallStateAlumni ❤️
Completed
$650
James & Nancy Watson Planetarium Science Education Challenge
5 gifts made to the James and Nancy Watson Planetarium Science Education Fund will unlock $650 from Dept. of Physics and Astronomy faculty, staff, and alums in memory of Nancy Watson who passed away December 2023.
5 / 5 Gifts
Completed
Leaderboard
CSH Department Leaderboard
Dean McCarthy will donate $500 to the CSH Department with the largest percent increase in the number of donations from last year.
Rank Prize Department % +/- Goal
1 $500 Physics & Astronomy +140.00% 24
goal: 10
2 Charles W. Brown Planetarium +50.00% 30
goal: 20
3 Political Science +36.67% 41
goal: 30
4 Sociology +29.41% 22
goal: 17
5 Chemistry +28.95% 49
goal: 38
Ended
Participating Groups
Alumni Association Athletics Ball State Fund Ball State PBS BFSA: Dr. Charles R. Payne Scholarship Burris Laboratory School Christian Student Foundation College of Architecture and Planning College of Communication, Information, and Media College of Fine Arts College of Health College of Sciences and Humanities Community Engagement Digital Corps Emens Auditorium Employee Emergency Fund Graduate School Honors College Immersive Learning Inclusive Excellence Indiana Academy Indiana Public Radio Institutional Research & Decision Support Learning Center Miller College of Business Name a Goose Online Student Support Fund Rinker Center for Global Affairs Student Affairs Student Scholarships Teachers College Undergraduate Research & Creative Project Support University College University Libraries Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry Women of Beneficence (Discovery)
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