After Nearly A Decade, Calvert High’s Arthur Storer Planetarium Nears Reopening With Major Upgrades

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — After about a decade without regular use, the Arthur Storer Planetarium at Calvert High School is getting closer to welcoming students, families and community members back beneath its dome.

The planetarium, which opened in 1977, is named for Arthur Storer, an early American astronomer who made observations in Calvert County, including observations of the comet now known as Halley’s Comet. His work was later cited by Sir Isaac Newton.

Now, Calvert County Public Schools is working to bring that history back to life with modern technology, accessible seating and new STEM programming.

School officials said during the Thursday, Aug. 13, Board of Education meeting that they are hopeful the planetarium can reopen in November or December, although an exact date has not been announced.

The renovated planetarium is expected to have a capacity of 66 people. The seating contract approved by the Board of Education calls for 62 specialized planetarium seats, with ADA transfer accommodations included in the new configuration. Three consultants reviewed possible layouts before the final design was selected, with accessibility playing a key role in the process. The new configuration will provide accessible seating accommodations that were not available in the original planetarium.

Dr. Crystal Ricks, supervisor of gifted and advanced learning, articulation, STEM and robotics competition, said excitement has continued to build.

“As plans for the reopening have progressed, I received numerous emails from community members who are excited about the planetarium reopening,” Ricks said.

The new seating will also include accommodations for donor nameplates, giving individuals, families and organizations that support the planetarium an opportunity to be recognized inside the renovated space.

Board member Paul Harrison asked whether the renovated planetarium could eventually be opened to students from other counties.

“Is there a possibility that we accommodate all the schools to open this to other counties?” Harrison asked.

“That is a possibility,” Ricks responded. “As soon as we are able to get our bearings, that will be a possibility.”

The planetarium has also received support from outside organizations. The British Fulldome Institute announced in March that the Arthur Storer Planetarium had been given access to free fulldome educational content collected, curated and shared by the organization.

Students have already gotten an early glimpse of what the renewed space could offer. CCPS hosted two STEM camps inside the planetarium this summer, giving approximately 160 students the chance to take part in activities and experience the facility before the full renovation is complete.

Ricks said the excitement was evident among the students, recalling one young camper who arrived wearing a shirt covered in planets because he was so excited to visit. The camps also gave CCPS an opportunity to begin reintroducing students to the space as plans move forward for its broader return as a STEM learning resource.

A $95,000 Gift Helped Revive The Planetarium

A major step in the project came in September 2025, when retired science teacher Jack Bell donated $95,000 toward a new Lambda 2 projection system from Digitalis Education Solutions Inc.. The digital system is designed to project immersive 360-degree images across the planetarium dome, allowing lessons to move beyond traditional star shows and incorporate astronomy, science and other STEM subjects.

Bell taught science for 25 years, including his final decade working in a planetarium at the James E. Richmond Science Center in Charles County. His $95,000 donation was made in memory of his wife, Peggy Bell, a lifelong educator who died May 1, 2025.

“To further her teaching legacy our children and I felt that a gift to the Arthur Storer Planetarium would not only honor her memory but also invest in future generations of learners allowing her impact to continue for decades to come,” Bell said.

Bell told the board in September 2025 that his wife inspired him to become a teacher. She taught students from preschool through adulthood in New York, Virginia and Maryland and retired from Charles County Public Schools in 2019 after 37 years in the classroom.

When Bell first visited the Arthur Storer Planetarium, he said it felt like he had “walked into a time capsule.”

The facility was in “immaculate condition” despite not having been used for about 10 years, Bell said, but its equipment was decades old and would be difficult to maintain.

Bell said the upgraded planetarium will provide students with experiences geared toward their grade level, along with related hands-on activities. Plans also include night and weekend programs for families and community members, expanding the facility’s use beyond school field trips.

With new technology, accessible seating and hands-on STEM programming coming together, the Arthur Storer Planetarium is moving closer to once again becoming a place where Calvert County families can look up at the stars together.

For more on Arthur Storer and his role in early American astronomy, learn more through Historic St. Mary’s City.

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