Downing Planetarium

Weekend Shows

About

Public shows at the Downing Planetarium are on selected Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons. There is free parking available for our weekend visitors in parking lot P15, next to the the planetarium (shown in green on campus map). 

RESERVATIONS

We will begin taking reservations for the May public shows April 24th when the shows are posted.

  Admission Prices

Show Schedule (May Public Shows will be posted April 24th)

DAY TIME SHOW

Friday
April 10, 2026

 6:00 PM Exploding Universe  (SOLD OUT)
7:30 PM Exploding Universe  (SOLD OUT)
Saturday
April 11, 2026		 2:00 PM 3-2-1 Liftoff!  (SOLD OUT)
3:30 PM Forward to the Moon  (SOLD OUT)

 

Current Planetarium Shows

Poster for the Exploding Universe show

Exploding Universe

Out of cosmic destruction comes new creation. Explosive events shape the universe we see today—some vast, others surprisingly small.When massive stars die in supernovas, they scatter the elements that form planets and life. Black hole collisions twist space itself, unleashing bursts of unimaginable energy. On Earth, eruptions like supervolcanoes have reshaped our planet into a cradle for life. Even the tiniest reactions between atoms echo the forces that forged the early universe.This show follows a single proton through these moments of chaos and renewal, revealing how creation is born from cosmic catastrophe.
Poster for the Exploding Universe show

Exploding Universe

Out of cosmic destruction comes new creation. Explosive events shape the universe we see today—some vast, others surprisingly small.When massive stars die in supernovas, they scatter the elements that form planets and life. Black hole collisions twist space itself, unleashing bursts of unimaginable energy. On Earth, eruptions like supervolcanoes have reshaped our planet into a cradle for life. Even the tiniest reactions between atoms echo the forces that forged the early universe.This show follows a single proton through these moments of chaos and renewal, revealing how creation is born from cosmic catastrophe.

3-2-1 Liftoff! planetarium show poster

3-2-1 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!
Forward to the Moon planetarium show poster

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.