The Merrillville Community Planetarium is a unique theater for presenting programs about astronomy and the space sciences. The planetarium is equipped with a domed ceiling and a special projector that projects stars on the dome, giving the audience the illusion of looking up at the night sky. Slides, movies, videos, special effects, lasers, and sound are all used to present shows in the planetarium theater.

The Merrillville Community Planetarium is the only planetarium in Northwest Indiana presenting public and group programs. The planetarium is part of the Merrillville Community School Corporation. The theater, which seats 64 visitors, has a 30 foot perforated aluminum dome that serves as the screen for the approximately one hundred projectors and special effects.