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Downing Planetarium

Downing Planetarium

Program Descriptions

Our programs cover a wide range of topics, from ancient sky lore to the latest exciting astronomical discoveries. All programs include a live tour of the constellations conducted by the planetarium operator.

 

321-Liftoff!: This family oriented program tells the story of a hamster engineer named Elon. He lives in a junkyard and builds flying machines. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. No matter what, excitement is always guaranteed! Grades Pre-K - 6


5000 Eyes - Mapping the Universe with DESI: This is a fulldome film about the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) which is creating the most detailed map of our universe ever attempted. DESI is located on Kitt Peak in Arizona and features 5000 independently operated robots that gather the light from thousands of galaxies all at once. Experience the galactic web of sheets and voids made visible like never before by DESI. Dive into modern cosmology to understand the scientific motivation for building a large map of the galaxies. And, take a trip to Kitt Peak to see the telescope in action while getting to know the amazing people from all over the world who make this research possible.


Accidental Astronauts: Follow the adventures of robo-kids Cy, Annie, and their dog Armstrong, as they embark on an unexpected journey into space! Collect a sample from an asteroid in low gravity, go racing on the Moon in a lunar rover left behind by the Apollo astronauts, survive a dangerous solar storm, and gain a new appreciation of our beautiful home planet. The Accidental Astronauts is an epic fulldome theater adventure as we travel into space accidentally on purpose! Grades Pre-K - 1


A to Z Astronomy: Explore the depths of space in a wild ride through the universe! Appealing to all ages, this family romp through the galaxies includes a roller coaster ride on our huge dome, a strange stop at a black hole by Mr. Shakespeare, a talking letter with a jelly-bean universe, and a trip to Egypt to explore hieroglyphs—the origins of our letters. Don’t miss any of our out-of-this-world ABC adventures! From the aurora to the zodiac, this alphabet voyage will leave you spinning for more. Grades 2 - 4


Back to the Moon for Good: The Google Lunar XPRIZE is designed to democratize space and create new opportunities for eventual human and robotic presence on the Moon. We see the engineering and innovation steps taken by the internationally distributed teams competing to land a spacecraft on the Moon and vie for additional prizes. We highlight the human spirit of competition and collaboration as teams take on this audacious challenge. Who will win the $30 million Google Lunar XPRIZE? The audience is taken through a successful launch, landing and lunar surface travel. The show ends with a stunning glimpse of a plausible scenario for our future on the Moon.


Bad Astronomy: Were the Apollo visits to the Moon actually a hoax? Have aliens landed on Earth? Can you tell your future by the stars? Prepare to debunk and tackle pseudoscience head-on with the planetarium show Bad Astronomy: Myths and Misconceptions. Based on the popular book and website of the same name, Bad Astronomy offers a unique and fun approach to learning about the cosmos. Join the Bad Astronomer Phil Plait as he takes a critical look at popular myths and misconceptions to show audiences how science can be used to evaluate questionable claims. Grades 5 - Adult


Bear Tales: This delightful program is the perfect way to introduce children to the constellations and the Greek mythology associated with the many star pictures in our sky. This program also covers the importance of the North Star and the daily motion of the stars. Grades 1 - 3


Black Holes: Imagine a place where time stands still, and the known laws of physics don't apply. Imagine a world where it's easy to arrive, but impossible to leave. Imagine forces so vast, that the very fabric of space itself is warped out of existence. Hard to believe, isn't it? But such places do exist. They are real. They are Black Holes.


Chasing the Ghost Particle - From the South Pole to the Edge of the Universe: Deep in the ice at the heart of Antarctica, the biggest and strangest detector in the world waits for mysterious messengers from the cosmos. The detector is IceCube! The messengers are neutrinos–ghostly particles that give us tantalizing looks into the world of exploding stars and black holes.


Cleopatra's Universe: Explore the truths and mysteries of Egypt’s legendary queen Cleopatra. Experience the life and times of Cleopatra in dramatic fashion as your audiences travel back in time to see stunning re-creations of the Alexandria Library, Cleopatra’s Palace, and the Pharos Lighthouse—one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.


Constellations!: Explore star, nebula, and moon constellations! Travel the world to discover dazzling stories from the stars of the Big Dipper. Learn what "pareidolia" means and how to pronounce it! Grades 2 - 4


Cosmic Colors: Cosmic Colors will take you on a journey across the entire electromagnetic spectrum.  Discover the many reasons for color--like why the sky is blue and why Mars is red.  Take a tour within a plant leaf and journey inside the human eye.  Investigate x-rays by voyaging to a black hole and cross the event horizon.  You will even see the actual color of a dinosaur--based on recent evidence.  Get ready for an amazing adventure under a rainbow of cosmic light!


Cosmic Mashups: Supermassive black holes are found in most galaxies and we’re beginning to uncover how the merging of galaxies activates galactic centers.


Cosmic Questions? Answers & Mysteries: This program takes viewers on a captivating journey through the cosmos, exploring some of the most profound and mysterious questions about the universe. The program delves into topics such as the origins of the universe, the potential for life beyond Earth, and the nature of dark matter and dark energy. The program invites audiences to reflect on humanity's place in the vastness of space while sparking curiosity about the ongoing discoveries in modern astronomy. Designed to be both educational and visually spectacular, the program offers an immersive experience that stimulates wonder and exploration of the Universe's greatest mysteries.


Cosmic Recipe - Setting the Periodic Table: This program explores the relationship between chemistry and astronomy, explaining how the universe's elements are created and how they connect to everyday objects. It visually illustrates the world of atoms and their interactions, emphasizing the connection between the small and large scales of the universe.


Dark Matter Mystery - Exploring a Cosmic Secret: This fulldome planetarium show takes you on the biggest quest of contemporary astrophysics. You will see why we know that Dark Matter exists, and how this search is one of the most challenging and exciting searches science has to offer. Join the scientists on their hunt for Dark Matter with experiments in space and deep underground. Will they be able to solve the Dark Matter Mystery?


Daughter of the Stars: This program is a collection of Native American sky stories, including the creation of the heavens and Earth from the Iroquois, the origin of the Sun and Moon from the Kutenai, and the cause of solar eclipses according to the Bella Coola. Learn how men traveled to the Moon to bring fire back to Earth for all the people in a legend from the Snake Indians. These stories will delight young and old alike. Grades 1 - 4


Did an Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs?: The dinosaurs ruled our planet for nearly two hundred million years and then suddenly vanished. How did these incredible beasts become extinct? Join us in the search for evidence that will shed light on this mystery. Grades 3 - 8


Dino Soars!: Perhaps the most astounding discovery about dinosaurs is that they are still around today – and not just in the movies. Birds are living dinosaurs! Follow the story of Malkia, a museum palaeontologist, as she explores fascinating connections between birds and dinosaurs. Grades 3 - 8


Endless Horizon: This program explores mankind's innate desire to explore the land, sea, sky, and space in order to better understand our place in the Universe. Hear stories of exploration from ancient times to the Apollo Moon landings, and beyond. Featured explorers include Columbus, Captain James Cook, Galileo, Newton, and many others who have shaped our view of the world--and the Universe. Grades 5 - Adult


Escher’s Universe: Escher s Universe is based on the life and work of the multifaceted Maurits Cornelis Escher. Was he an artist, an astronomer, a mathematician, a traveler? For the first time, we will see in the dome Escher's use of mathematics, astronomy, optics, crystallography and geometry to artistically explain very complex concepts addressed by Cosmology. This show will take us to the artist's studio where his most iconic works are displayed.


Europe to the Stars: This program takes the viewer on an epic journey behind the scenes at the most productive ground-based observatory in the world, revealing the science, the history, the technology and the people. Discover the European Southern Observatory in a story of cosmic curiosity, courage and perseverance; a story of observing a Universe of deep mysteries and hidden secrets; and a story of designing, building and operating the most powerful ground-based telescopes on the planet.


Far Away Worlds: Astronomers have recently discovered over 4,000 planets beyond our solar system.  What are these far away worlds like?  Are they the homes of alien life?  This program examines the possibility of fantastic creatures on these far away worlds. 


From the 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. To learn about this journey of celestial discovery, from the theories of the ancient Greek astronomers to today's grandest telescopes, we invite you to experience From Earth to the Universe. Grades 3 - Adult


The 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 the skies. See stunning digital re-creations of the Parthenon, Alexandria Library, Stonehenge and Abu Simbel Temple and be inspired by the first stargazers who laid down the foundations of modern-day astronomy. Grades 6 - Adult


Forward to the Moon: Project Artemis is NASA's bold new plan to send astronauts back to the Moon for the first time in over fifty years.  The discovery of water ice at the lunar south pole will provide a valuable resource which will help sustain a planned lunar base by providing water to drink, grow food, oxygen to breathe, and even rocket fuel!  Join us for this exciting adventure as the first woman and the next man take that giant leap for all.


Galileo - The Power of the Telescope: The film takes you back in time to Pisa, Italy, to experience Galileo’s early experiments with gravity and the laws of motion, his advocacy of the idea that the Earth revolves around the sun, and his work with early telescopes. You see how his keen observations culminated in The Starry Messenger, an early masterpiece in which Galileo described all his dazzling discoveries in a straightforward, easy to understand way.


Incredible Universe: This program explores the wonders and mysteries of space. It highlights the challenges and discoveries of space exploration, presenting the vastness and incredible nature of the universe.


Light Out! Eclipse - Whys, Wonders, and Wows: This program is a family-friendly planetarium show that explains eclipses, explores their history, and delves into the science behind them.


Destination Mars - The New Frontier: See the new rockets under construction and fly through the International Space Station, where astronauts are already living and working in space. Mars is waiting, are you ready?


Mars - The Ultimate Voyage: "Mars: The Ultimate Voyage" is an animated planetarium show that takes viewers on a journey to Mars, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of human space exploration. The show explores what it takes to prepare astronauts for a two-year journey to Mars and back, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, communication, and expertise in diverse fields. It also showcases NASA research and training initiatives, inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals.


Messengers of Time and Space: This program explores the dynamic universe and how real-time data from observatories is revolutionizing our understanding of cosmic events. It highlights the collaboration between observatories like Gemini and the Rubin Observatory to study phenomena like exploding stars and cosmic rays. The show weaves a story that looks back at humanity's history with the changing night sky and explores how our perspective on the universe is being revolutionized by observations of energy and forces.


Mysteries of Your Brain: Mysteries of Your Brain takes you on an immersive, animated adventure into the human brain, exploring how the brain works and what makes human brains so special. Your tour guides on this journey are a curious girl and her crow companion—together you’ll zoom along the paths of neurons, fly through brains and experience illusions on a grand scale. You’ll learn how your brain makes you you and that, ultimately, we each have the power to change our brains. Grades 3 - 5


NASA - From Dream to Discovery: This program explores the engineering process behind spacecraft, from design to launch, using real-life examples like the Hubble Space Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the New Horizons mission. It highlights the challenges and solutions involved in creating and testing spacecraft for extreme space environments.


Out There - The Quest for ExtraSolar Worlds: For thousands of years, mankind thought that the Earth was the centre of the Universe. Thanks to our curiosity, imagination and urge to explore, we now know that planets like our Earth are nothing special in the cosmos. The Sun is just one ordinary star among hundreds of billions in our galaxy, the Milky Way. With the world’s most powerful telescopes, we are able to explore more and more of the Universe. What we have found so far has surpassed even the wildest expectations of scientists as well as authors of science fiction. Most stars have planets — it turns out they are more common than we thought.


Perfect Little Planet: Imagine the ultimate space vacation! Discover our solar system through a new set of eyes in a family from another star system seeking the perfect vacation spot. Fly over the surface of Pluto, our favorite former planet. Dive off the ice cliffs of Miranda. Sail through the rings of Saturn. Feel the lightning storms of Jupiter. Walk on the surface of Mars. Which destination would you choose? Don't miss this solar system journey for space travelers of all ages! Grades K - 2


Phantom of the Universe: This program is an exciting exploration of dark matter, from the Big Bang to its anticipated discovery at the Large Hadron Collider. The show will reveal the first hints of its existence through the eyes of Fritz Zwicky, the scientist who coined the term "dark matter" in the 1930's. The program describes the unexpected results found by astronomer Vera Rubin and how it led her to dark matter as the likely explanation. From there, we visit the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, and speed alongside particles before they collide to create new particles from their kinetic energy.


Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon: Fifty-two years ago, Pink Floyd released their groundbreaking album The Dark Side of the Moon. Now, this iconic record comes to life like never before in an immersive fulldome planetarium experience, featuring stunning visuals from NSC Creative. Join us as we journey through sight and sound—see you on the Dark Side of the Moon!


The Planets: The Planets takes audiences on a grand tour of the Solar System to see amazing images of our neighbor worlds. Is there life on Mars? Do other planets have hurricanes? What makes up the rings of Saturn? What lies beyond Pluto? How was our Solar System formed, and are there other solar systems out there in the stars? Get answers to these fascinating questions and more. Grades 6 - Adult


Phantom of the Universe - The Hunt for Dark Matter: This program is an exciting exploration of dark matter, from the Big Bang to its anticipated discovery at the Large Hadron Collider. The show will reveal the first hints of its existence through the eyes of Fritz Zwicky, the scientist who coined the term "dark matter" in the 1930's. The program describes the unexpected results found by astronomer Vera Rubin and how it led her to dark matter as the likely explanation.  From there, we visit the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, and speed alongside particles before they collide to create new particles from their kinetic energy.


The Edge - Pluto and Beyond: Beyond the orbit of Neptune there is a mysterious ìthird realmî of the Solar System which remains almost entirely unexplored. This realm is the likely home to many thousands of small, icy worlds of which Pluto is the most famous member. Discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh, Pluto remained a mystery until it was visited by the New Horizons spacecraft in 2015. Despite its demotion to dwarf planet status, Pluto remains one of the most interesting worlds of the solar system with five moons, mountains 10,000 feet tall, and a possible underground ocean of liquid water!


Season of Light: This family oriented program focuses on winter holiday traditions from many cultures, and how they have been used for millennia to light up this darkest and coldest of seasons. It also showcases some of our more light-hearted customs--such as giving gifts, kissing under the mistletoe, and decorating Christmas trees. The program highlights some of the winter constellations, demonstrates the cause of the four seasons and the meaning of the winter solstice, and even gives some astronomical possibilities for the Star of Bethlehem. Grades K - Adult


Skywatchers of Ancient Mexico: This program explores the relationship between astronomy, archaeology, and the culture of Mesoamerican civilizations like the Olmecs and the Mayans. It delves into their astronomical observations, calendrical systems, and how these influenced their religious beliefs and societal practices. Grades 6 - Adult


Solar System Show: Looking to explore way-out worlds? The blistering Sun? Mysterious moons? Crazy comets and amazing asteroids? Then join our gang of smart, wacky reporters and rambunctious planets in the Planetarium Channelís new extravaganza, The Solar System Show. We promise planet fun for everyone! Grades 2 - 4


Space Aliens - Looking for Life in the Universe: Are aliens real? Is it possible that they could travel across the vast regions of outer space in order to visit us? Join our alien experts Hopeful and Skeptical as they try to convince each other whether or not life exists beyond Earth. Follow their astrobiology arguments from the ocean floor to a journey across the galaxy!


Spooky Space: "Spooky Space" is a planetarium show that explores the "spooky" wonders of the night sky, connecting them to familiar Halloween characters and concepts. The show features celestial objects like nebulae (representing ghosts), black holes (representing vampires), and the unseen universe (representing the Invisible Man). It also delves into the celestial origins of Halloween and how it's an astronomical holiday.


Stargazers of Africa: Even before the dawn of recorded history, African people have looked to the skies above for inspiration and guidance.  Experience tales from the Yoruba people and a Nigerian story about the far away stars. Discover the stone structures of Nabta and a Moon calendar made from bone over 40,000 years ago!  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.

Supermassive Black Holes: Leading scientists in observational and theoretical studies of black holes and galaxies, industrial experts in cutting-edge big technologies, and professionals in science dissemination have been brought together to set up research projects which will combine the latest state-of-the-art observations, numerical simulations and innovative analytic tools to compare theory with observation, and shed light on the physics of black hole formation in the context of galaxy evolution.


Surviving in Space: Ever dream of pulling several g's while rocketing into space or being an astronaut falling endlessly while weightless in Earth orbit? Would you like to venture into the final frontier to see new worlds that have never been seen before? Explore these fascinating journeys and beyond with NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and her robot helper, SLOTH! That is short for Space Life Operations Trainer for Humans. Join us for this fun Planetarium program for all ages.


It’s About Time: "It's About Time" is a planetarium show that explores the concept of time and its impact on our lives, from daily cycles to the vast timescale of the universe. The show takes viewers on a journey from Earth to the edge of a black hole, illustrating how time is perceived and measured differently across various scales.


Trip Through Space: In this family oriented program, we start out in the back yard with observations of the Moon and bright planets through a small telescope. Next, we examine a few constellations before heading out into the solar system to visit each planet close-up. Way out there, we find our favorite dwarf planet, Pluto, with its many neighbors in the Kuiper belt. Last, we venture out into our Milky Way galaxy to see star clusters, dying stars, and even a black hole. Don’t miss this fantastic voyage into the depths of space and back! Grades 2 - Adult


Two Small Pieces of Glass: This program puts the audience in the middle of a modern star party, experiencing the wonders that even a small amateur telescope can reveal. Learn about the invention of the telescope, how a telescope works, and how this important invention has developed and grown over hundreds of years—from the first primitive handheld telescope, to orbiting space telescopes, and gigantic modern ground-based telescopes. Grades 3 - Adult


Unveiling the Invisible Universe: For thousands of years humans have used their eyes to see light coming from the night sky. Today, we know that what we can see with our eyes is but a tiny fraction of the true Universe. At the beginning of the 17th century, the invention of the astronomical telescope by Galileo revolutionized our knowledge of our solar system. In the 20th century, with the arrival of rockets, it became possible to travel above the Earthís atmosphere to observe x-ray and gamma ray radiation, evidence of a hot and violent Universe. More recently, the detection of gravitational waves from two merging black holes has opened an entirely new window in astrophysics. Enjoy spellbinding images of the Cosmos as revealed by all these unique messengers.


Weather - Wonders and Mysteries Revealed: This program covers a wide variety of weather phenomena including lightning, hurricanes, and tornados. Our weather is driven by the interplay between the Sun, the continents, and the oceans that gives a wonderful variety of interesting effects. We also look at how particles from the Sun can cause the Northern Lights. Grades 3 - 6