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VAST: A Cosmic Journey through Space and Time

Space is unimaginably vast and incredibly beautiful. Thanks to our curiosity and quest for knowledge, we humans have been driven to explore space and learn more about the universe. There is still incredibly much left to explore. Join us on the journey, starting on Earth, venturing out in our solar system, and journeying all the […]

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God, Science, and Our Search for Meaning

Since the dawn of humanity, we have looked up to the skies in search of meaning. Even today, the mysteries of the cosmos inspire many of our most profound questions: Who are we? Why are we here?  How did all of this come to be?  God, Science, and Our Search for Meaning explores our oldest questions, offers exciting new possibilities, […]

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SPARK: The Universe in Us

From the oxygen we breathe to the uranium that warms our planet’s core, we owe everything to the stars. SPARK: The Universe in Us is about our deep connection not just to Earth, but to stars millions of light years away—and billions of years in the past. Discover the celestial origins of the elements we […]

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Global Soundscapes

Listen…can you hear that? It’s the sound of the Earth!  Take a sound safari to explore the health of our planet. Travel the globe to investigate the spectacular soundscapes of Costa Rica’s rainforests, Hawaii’s coral reefs, and Mongolia’s vast grasslands. Learn how animals use sounds to survive and communicate.  Experience sound in new ways through interactive […]

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Supermassive Black Holes

Explore the amazing environments of the strangest objects in our universe – Supermassive Black Holes! Leading observational and theoretical astronomers share the latest state-of-the-art observations and stunning computer simulations to shed light on the physics of black hole formation in the context of galaxy evolution. Travel inside a black hole, see how they shape galaxies […]

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The Arctic

The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness

Vast. Wild. Magical. The Arctic is not just one of the planet’s greatest natural spectacles, it’s a place with global ecological importance that has supported Indigenous communities and diverse ecosystems for generations. Follow the elusive Porcupine caribou herd as it migrates to the Arctic Coastal Plain, one of the longest animal migrations on Earth. Meet […]

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Total Eclipse: Chasers of the Lost Sleep

Kentucky, a sleepless hen, and star of social networks, finds out that animals fall asleep during total eclipses. With the help of her robot J.O.S., she travels through space-time in search of the perfect total solar eclipse, in the hope of finding sleep at last. On her journey, she discovers the conditions that make eclipses […]

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Moonbase: The Next Step

From the moment mankind first set foot on the Moon in 1969 we have dreamed of making a base there. In the next 10 years humans will return to the Moon with the Artemis missions and develop a sustained, strategic presence near the lunar South Pole. The Moon will become our first ‘staging post’ from […]

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5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) is creating the most detailed map of our nearby universe. Installed at Kitt Peak in Arizona, DESI’s 5000 independently operated robots can measure the light from thousands of galaxies at once. Dive into modern cosmology, and the scientific motivation for building a large map of galaxies. Join us as […]

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One Sky

One Sky is a collection of sky cultures around the world. It recognizes that all people around the globe share strong connections to the stars for navigation, time keeping, agriculture and storytelling.  As active exploration of our universe continues today, we honor the cultures who first looked up and dreamed about our place in the […]

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We Are Guardians

Join us on a journey into, under, and around the many ecosystems across our planet. Discover how each component fits together, and how the health of each part is vital to the health of Planet Earth. Discover how, with the help of satellites and scientific study, we can understand the links between human activities and […]

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Cosmic Mashups

What do you see when you look up into the night sky? Stars. Planets. The Milky Way galaxy. They’re all up there and have been enthralling humankind for our entire existence. But there is more to the night sky that we can’t see. Uncover the awe of imploding stars, galactic collisions and the monstrous blackholes found […]

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Black Hole First Picture

Black Hole – First Picture

Black Hole First Picture features the human attempt to create the very first picture of a black hole with the Event Horizon Telescope – a network of 8 Radio telescopes at  remote locations in the world ranging from Europe, North and South America, Hawaii to Antarctica. For years, the Event Horizon Telescope has been staring into […]

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Mars: The Ultimate Voyage

Ever wondered what it will take for astronauts to travel to the Moon, Mars and beyond? On this long journey, what challenges will astronauts face? How will they stay motivated and healthy on their spacecraft so far away from Earth?  Discover how NASA research and training initiatives are preparing the next generation of astronauts who will […]

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ECLIPSE: The Moments of Wonder

Join us for an immersive view of eclipses, the most spectacular sights in the sky! Explore the nature of these special celestial alignments and get prepared to safely observe them.  Experience the awe and wonder with stunning images of both solar and lunar eclipses captured by a world-renowned astro-photographer from locations around the globe.   The […]

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The Christmas Star

Over the years numerous people have tried to explain the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem, as described in the Bible and other historical texts of the time. What was the Christmas Star? Could it be explained as an exploding star, a comet or some other natural celestial phenomena?  Explore a variety of scientific explanations for the Star of Bethlehem in this […]

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Climate Change in Our Backyard

As humans develop a much larger picture about our Earth as a whole, we are beginning to see it as a complex, interconnected, remarkable world, and one that people have impacted directly. Explore the role of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, the natural temperature variations that the Earth has experienced over millions of years, and […]

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Secrets of the Universe

Travel with scientist Manuel Calderon De La Barca Sanchez as he journeys to the largest machine ever built, the greatest scientific instrument ever created, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). There, he joins a global team working to uncover another amazing breakthrough in this new world of technology-driven physics. We get an inside look at the […]

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Stargazers of Africa

From the dawn of time, African people have looked to the skies above for inspiration and guidance. Stargazers of Africa is a journey connecting the stars, Moon and planets to the people across this great continent—from long ago to the stargazers of today. Experience African tales from the Yoruba people and a Nigerian story about […]

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3-2-1 Liftoff!

Elon the hamster loves science and doing experiments!  One day Elon hears a crash. In his garden, he finds a crater with a damaged robot named 8 of 12 inside. How did it get here? Elon fixes the robot and finds out that it fell from a spaceship. Does Elon have the courage and wits […]

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Star Dreaming

Explore the mysteries of the universe with Max and Lucia as they travel deep into the Australian Outback to visit the site of the world’s largest radio telescope and the planet’s oldest living culture. Discover the SKA (Square Kilometer Array) radio telescope and the questions it hopes to answer.  Enter the Ancient land of the […]

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Living Worlds

Earth is a planet shaped by life. From the forests that help stabilize our climate, to the winds carrying life-sustaining water and oxygen to far-flung parts of the globe, the fingerprints of life are visible even from many light years away. Journey through space and time to examine life as an essential quality of our […]

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Rising Star: A South African Astronomy Journey

Take an astronomical journey from our beginnings through the development of astronomy research in South Africa, and discover what the future of astronomy holds for the country. Dive into multi-wavelength and multi-messenger astronomy with the many remarkable facilities such as Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and the most powerful radio telescope in the Southern Hemisphere, […]

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Worlds of Ice

Journey to the farthest reaches of the solar system, traveling through the dimensions of ice from the remote territories of the arctic, to a scientific complex nested under the South Pole. Experience it all immersed in a kaleidoscopic igloo, be dazzled by the icy wonderland of the arctic, and explores the relationship between humans and […]

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Forward to the Moon

Forward to the Moon engages audiences in NASA efforts to send both humans and robots to the Moon and Mars. NASA’s 21st century Artemis program, named after the Greek moon Goddess and twin of Apollo, is the next step in our mission to explore the universe and land the first woman on the surface of the Moon. Jessica […]

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Worlds Beyond Earth

Take an exhilarating journey to the worlds that orbit our Sun and the unique conditions that make life on our planet Earth possible. Celebrate the extraordinary Age of Exploration carried out by robotic explorers, over the past 50 years with imagery from NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), and Japan Aerospace Exploration (JAXA) missions.  Audiences will […]

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Big Astronomy – People, Places, and Discoveries!

Big Astronomy – People, Places, and Discoveries!  will take audiences to cutting-edge telescopes in the remote mountains of Chile and introduce the people who make sure these instruments operate day and night, unlocking the secrets of the universe.  Explore ALMA, VLT, and the new Vera Rubin Observatory (formerly LSST) and how these incredible facilities are changing […]

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EXO: Are We Alone?

Humankind has always sought to understand the mysteries of the Universe and speculated about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Today we know of thousands of exoplanets — planets located outside our Solar System — that offer valuable information about our own planet, its origins and life on Earth. We’re on the cusp of making some […]

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Into the Polar Night

Take an epic expedition to the Artic Ocean to discover the importance ice for planet Earth!  The Arctic sea ice groans and creaks as a massive icebreaker slowly churns through. Scientists on an ice flow call out to each other in the dark as a chainsaw cuts through the ice, exposing open ocean below.  Journey with […]

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The Sun – Our Living Star

The Sun has shone on our world for four and a half billion years. The light that warms our skin today has been felt by every person who has ever lived. It is our nearest star and our planet’s powerhouse, the source of the energy that drives our winds, our weather and all life. The […]

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Magic Globe: A Story of the Seasons

On vacation at her grandpa’s, a little girl Mia accidentally discovers a mysterious piece of astronomical machinery. Edek, Mia’s eccentric uncle, tricks the girl into using the tool’s secret powers to change the world’s seasons. She quickly realizes the consequences of what they are going to do, but Edek doesn’t want to let the plan […]

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Solar Superstorms

A fury is building on the surface of the Sun – high-velocity jets, a fiery tsunami wave that reaches 100,000 kilometers high, rising loops of electrified gas. What’s driving these strange phenomena? How will they affect planet Earth? Find the answers as we venture into the seething interior of our star. Travel into the tangle […]

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Expedition Reef

Explore the secrets of the “rainforests of the sea” and embark on an oceanic safari to the world’s most vibrant and endangered marine ecosystems – coral reefs.  Discover how corals grow, feed, reproduce, and support over 25% of all marine life on Earth — while facing unprecedented threats from climate change, habitat destruction, and overfishing.  […]

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Faster Than Light

The impulse to strike out into the unknown, to see what’s over the horizon… is as old as humanity. Today, a whole new horizon beckons.  Astronomers are racing to find habitable worlds, including any that might exist in the neighborhood of our Sun. But if we find one, how will we ever get there? How […]

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Habitat Earth

Living networks connect and support life forms large and small—from colonies of tiny microbes and populations of massive whales to ever-expanding human societies. Discover what it means to live in today’s connected world in Habitat Earth. Through stunning visualizations of the natural world, dive below the ocean’s surface to explore the dynamic relationships found in […]

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Mexica Archaeoastronomy: Between Space and Time

Through impressive immersive scenarios, Mexica Archaeoastronomy: Between Space and Time illustrates the important role played by astronomical observation for the evolution of pre-Hispanic cultures in central Mexico. The Mexicas used the calendrical and astronomical knowledge inherited by their predecessor cultures to found the capital of their empire: Tenochtitlan. Vibrant colors, shapes and sounds transport the viewer […]

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Incoming!

Asteroids and comets have collided with our planet throughout its history, changing the course of life on Earth and shaping the world we know today. Real-time data from current NASA missions help audiences explore the past, present, and future of our Solar System. Take a journey through the dynamic story of our cosmic origins. Discover […]

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Spooky Space

Looking for cosmic fun this Halloween season? Would you like to meet the spectacular stars of Halloween? Monsters, zombies, and ghosts — and their far more terrible counterparts in space? Oh yes, space has its monsters: Black holes, zombie stars, and spectacular ghostly nebulae!  Explore these “spooky” wonders of the night sky here at the planetarium. Learn about […]

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The Secrets of Gravity

Luke is interested in the universe and its secrets. He is fascinated by the stars, the universe, and the laws of nature. One night, he sneaks into the Albert Einstein Museum where he meets ALBYX3, a small, clever but rather quirky robot who knows all about Albert Einstein and his theories. ALBY takes Luke on a […]

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From Dream to Discovery

Join NASA’s engineers as they design, test, and launch today’s hottest missions into space. Witness the enormity of the new James Webb Space Telescope, the intensity of Goddard Space Flight Center’s testing facilities, and the excitement of the New Horizons mission to Pluto. From blueprint to blastoff, experience how robotic space flight is pushing the […]

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Cosmic Recipe

The famous astronomer Carl Sagan once said: “If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”  Though that may sound crazy, Sagan was onto something BIG! Want to know what? Pull up a chair at our Planetarium’s Periodic Table and learn the cosmic recipes that created everything in our […]

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First Stargazers

Journey back in time to explore how the first stargazers experienced the sky above. Your guide is Nashira, a friendly time traveler who has visited Earth many times before.  Witness the very first stargazer making a Moon calendar out of animal bone 30,000 years ago. Discover the ancient pyramids of Giza and their alignment to […]

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Halloween: Celestial Origins

Vampires, Witches, Goblins, and other spooky creatures!  What do you associate with Halloween? Trick-or-Treating, costumes, or something more…  Be it ghoulish or ghostly, Halloween is an astronomical holiday!  Experience the history of Halloween and how it fits into the seasons as a “cross-quarter day.”  From Celtic roots around the harvest and bonfires to modern celebrations, […]

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Explore!

Mars… For centuries it’s been an object of human fascination. Once mysterious, soon this red world may become our new home. This became possible due to daring individuals like Johannes Kepler: fascinated with the world, striving toward discovery and embracing challenges it may bring. It is our duty to continue their work… Explore, Dream Discover.  […]

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Cell! Cell! Cell!

You are made of 70 trillion living cells. They work. They talk. They think. They are what make you alive. This is the story of the trillions of cells that form our bodies, from our beginnings as a single cell to the complexity of a whole body: it’s the story of who we are. Join […]

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We Are Astronomers

Do you know what an astronomer does? We Are Astronomers reveals the global collaboration, technology and dedication required to answer the unresolved questions of the Universe. See how technologies such as the Large Hadron Collider, the observatories of Chile and the Hubble Space Telescope work and how they are used by teams around the world […]

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Mars 1001

An international crew is about to embark on the first interplanetary journey in history, the first manned mission to the surface of Mars!  Science reporter Miles O’Brien is reporting while events unfold for the crew on their daring 1001 day long mission.  Witness firsthand their brave attempts to put human footprints on Mars and return […]

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Natural Selection

Join the young Charles Darwin on an adventurous voyage of exploration circumnavigating the World with the HMS Beagle. In the 19th century in Victorian times many physical phenomena were already discovered and described by natural laws, but life’s most eloquent mechanism was still unknown: How could new species arise to replace those lost in extinction? […]

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From Earth to the Universe

The night sky, both beautiful and mysterious, has been the subject of campfire stories, ancient myths, and awe for as long as there have been people. A desire to comprehend the Universe may well be humanity’s oldest shared intellectual experience. Yet only recently have we truly begun to grasp our place in the vast cosmos. […]

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Asteroid: Mission Extreme

Asteroid: Mission Extreme takes audiences on an epic journey to discover how asteroids are both a danger and an opportunity. The danger lies in the possibility of a cataclysmic collision with Earth; the opportunity is the fascinating idea that asteroids could be stepping stones to other worlds – veritable way stations in space – enabling […]

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Mystery of the Christmas Star

Journey back 2000 years to Bethlehem as we seek to discover a scientific explanation for the Star the wise men followed to find the baby Jesus. Investigate possible dates for the birth of Christ and look at recorded sightings of significant historical and astronomical events during this timeframe. We’ll explore scientific explanations for celestial objects […]

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Dawn of the Space Age

Experience the exciting beginnings of space travel, from the launch of Sputnik 1 to the Apollo landings on the Moon, and from the assembly of the International Space Station to the first private space flights. Trace the initial competition of political systems for supremacy in space, and the peaceful collaboration between nations today. Join in […]

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Dream to Fly show poster

Dream to Fly

Have you ever dreamt you were flying? Have you ever thought how wonderful would it be to fly free as a bird?  Discover the mystery of flight with Leonardo da Vinci, Montgolfier brothers, Wright brothers and other inventors. Experience the adventure with powerful images and music, an immense and challenging dream, for which mankind has […]

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Totality: Explore the Wonder of Eclipses

Explore the incredible phenomena of Eclipses, both Lunar and Solar. How and why do they occur?  What can we observe and learn from these spectacular displays of nature? Take a look at how eclipses helped prove the theory of general relativity and look forward to upcoming eclipses learning where to see them. From spectacular space […]

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Phantom of the Universe

From the journey of protons racing through the world’s largest particle collider to up-close views of the Big Bang and emergent universe, and the nearly mile-deep descent to an underground experiment, Phantom of the Universe immerses audiences in the search for dark matter. Explore this mysterious matter and how we are using discoveries at the Large Hadron Collider […]

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Mayan Archaeoastronomy: Observers of the Universe

The night is an eye, both dark and bright!  It forces us to look up and ask ourselves questions about our place in the Cosmos, our origins, and what is beyond the horizon.  Using spectacular visuals and stunning sound, audiences tour six ancient Mayan temples: San Gervasio, Chichen Itzá, Uxmal, Edzna, Palenque, and Bonampak. Along […]

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Origins of Life

Tour the far reaches of the universe and our Earth as the evolution of life is examined in this fully immersive space experience. From the Big Bang to new life on Earth, from great extinctions to the search for life beyond our planet, Origins of Life is an inspirational journey through time and a celebration […]

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Earth Moon, and Sun

Earth, Moon, & Sun is a fast-paced full dome demonstration of lunar phases, eclipses, day and night, the sun and other puzzling events with the help of a confused coyote. This program beautifully illustrates basic concepts like moon phases and seasons. Based on the trickster of Native American lore, Coyote is constantly corrected in his misunderstandings […]

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Black Holes

The attraction of Black Holes is more than just gravitational. These mysterious graveyards of dead stars have fascinated generations. “Black Holes” explores the history, physics, and mystery of these reality-bending phenomena. Experience the bending of light, the skewing of perception, and the dizzying descent into a black hole.

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Cosmic Colors

From northern lights to garden flowers, color fills our lives and “Cosmic Colors” explains how we use the rainbow to see, understand and explore our universe. Visitors learn more about the electromagnetic spectrum, the Northern Lights and get a tour of the night sky!

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