Planetarium

astronomy · sky · theater · space

Dome theater magic. A planetarium has a huge curved ceiling shaped like a dome that covers your whole view, just like lying on your back and looking up at the real night sky. A special projector at the center makes thousands of stars and planets appear all around you.

Learn the constellations. Planetariums teach you about constellations, the patterns of stars that people have named for thousands of years. You can see how the same stars look different depending on where you are on Earth and what time of year it is.

Navigate by stars. Long ago, sailors used stars to figure out where they were going on the ocean. Planetariums still teach this skill called celestial navigation, which is how people found their way before GPS.

Shows and stories. Planetariums put on entertaining shows that tell stories about space, explain how planets move, and show what it would be like to visit other worlds. Each show is carefully designed to teach while keeping you entertained.