The Merrillville Community Planetarium has scheduled more than 600 shows for the 2001-2002 school year. By the time the scheduling year ends in early August, the planetarium will have given a record number of programs. The previous record, set in 1999-2000, was 592 shows. Last year, the planetarium presented 553 programs.

In the last twenty years, planetarium use has grown from 199 shows in 1982-83 to over 600 shows in 2001-2002. The 300 show total was exceeded in 1987-1988 when 325 programs were given. It took only two years more to break the 400 show barrier - 417 programs presented in 1989-1990. The 1996-1997 school year was the first year to exceed 500 shows with 508 programs.

Historically, 62% of the planetarium shows each year have been presented to Merrillville classes. About 32% of the programs have been for outside groups and the remaining 6% have been public shows. More than 340,000 people have attended programs at the Merrillville Community Planetarium over the last 20 years.