Planetarium Shows
Visit our calendar for a show schedule.
Planetarium shows run approximately 40-45 minutes.
The theatre is "looped" with
a magnetic loop system that enables individuals with Telecoil-equipped hearing aids to fully enjoy planetarium shows, thanks to the New Hampshire Academy of Audiology and Oticon
Now Playing:
kaluoka'hina: the enchanted reef | our place in space | tonight's sky |
the amazing telescope |
COMING SOON: Fractal Zooms!
Shows for Schools & Private Events only: black holes | breathing space |
dawn of the space age | digital universe | family of the sun |
interstellar boundary explorer |
ice worlds | impact earth |
inside einstein's universe | reach for the stars | infinity express |
equinox (seasonal) | ring worlds (traveling only)
Kaluoka'hina: The Enchanted Reef
Go on a magical ride to a beautiful tropical reef and travel alongside two friends, Jake and Shorty, a sawfish and a reef fish, as they seek to restore the magic of their home, Kaluoka'hina. Originally produced in 360° Dome Projection Format, Kaluoka'hina, the Enchanted Reef offers an exciting new and visually unique panorama experience. Previously undisturbed and undiscovered by humankind, the enchanting peace of Kaluoka’hina is suddenly broken by a volcanic catastrophe. How will Jake and Shorty restore the magic of their home? Their quest begins with an ancient legend that tells of "touching the Moon", just one of many puzzles these two friends will have to solve to save their beloved reef. This family friendly planetarium show is a unique journey through a colorful and foreign world with adventure, mystery, myth and legend, perfect for young and young-at-heart. Both thrilling and educational, Kaluoka’hina: the Enchanted Reef brings to life the wonder of ocean life and a gentle environmental message for all.
Recommended for ages 4 and up.
School visits: Grades 1-6.
Our Place in Space
Come romp through space with your new astronomical animal friends! Hear Scarlet the Macaw discover the cause of day and night, explore our giant star the Sun with Indy the Elephant, spot your favorite constellations with Paula the Polar Bear and then Crusty Crocodile launches our trip through the solar system. Work together with these imaginative, colorful friends to solve a crossword puzzle about space and sneak a peek at tonight's starry sky.
Recommended for ages 4 - 7.
School visits: Grades PreK-2
Tonight's Sky
Since this show tells you all about the current night sky plus the latest exciting information about space, it's NEVER the same show twice! Is that a star or a planet? What is Orion hunting? What is a gibbous moon? What does the Milky Way look like? Hold on to your seat as you become part of the spectacular current night sky. This Planetarium program helps you get started observing the wonders of the sky from your own backyard. Our Digital Sky® projection system allows us to travel thousands of light years from Earth.
Recommended for ages 6 and up.
School visits: Grades PreK-12
The Amazing Telescope
Take a voyage through time and space and discover how a simple adjustment to a child's spy glass revealed an infinite and perplexing universe never before imagined. This amazing journey features two students who encounter an astronomer at a local star party and discover not only how telescopes work, but how they have enabled us to make some of the most incredible cosmic discoveries of the past few centuries. Then - learn where you can find some fascinating objects with a small telescope or binoculars in the current night sky with a Discovery Center educator as your guide.
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
School visits: Grades 7-12
Fractal Zooms!
Absorb yourself in the latest planetarium show that transforms simple algebraic equations into beautiful never-ending patterns. All ages will love the dramatic immersive experience of zooming into patterns smaller than atoms or bigger than the universe! Enjoy a stunning original musical score in 5.1 surround sound that accompanies this dazzling journey into infinity.
35-40 minutes. Recommended for ages 8 and up.
School visits: Grades 3 and up.
Black Holes (school shows and private events only)
Black Holes takes you on a journey through one of the most mystifying, awe-inspiring phenomena in the universe. What is a black hole? Where do they come from? Where do they go? How do we find them? Is there one in Earth's neighborhood? Explore the latest scientific knowledge on black holes in a show that is visually immersive. Narrated by John de Lancie, a.k.a. "Q" from Star Trek: Next Generation.
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
School visits: Grades 9-12
Breathing Space (school shows and private events only)
Breathing Space is a multi-media planetarium show featuring two teenage skateboarders, Seth and Zeek, who have been assigned a homework project on climate change. When they sit down as guests at a powerful computer system and "click" where they shouldn't, they are immediately transolved into cyberspace and meet Amanda, their cyberspace guide. Amanda takes the boys on some wild cyberspace skateboard rides as they visit various planets and moons to study their climates. The show presents the climate of Earth, how it is changing, the impact humans may be having on it, and suggests specific things that we can do to improve our environment.
45 minutes. Recommended for ages 8 and up.
School visits: Grades 5-8
Dawn of the Space Age (school shows and private events only)
Re-live the excitement and drama of the early days of space exploration, from the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, to the magnificent lunar landings and privately operated space flights. Meet some of the men and women who risked their lives; witness their drive, their passion, and their perseverance to explore.
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
School visits: Grades 5-6, 9-12
Digital Universe (school shows and private events only)
Digital Universe carries you to previously unknown places way beyond our solar system and even beyond our own Milky Way Galaxy. Displayed with stunning color and graphical effects, the experience captures the imagination while providing an entertaining and rich education about the universe!
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
School visits: Grades 8-12
Family of the Sun (school shows and private events only)
Experience the solar system as you never have before, from the Sun to the distant edge of the Oort cloud. Travel to planets, moons, comets and transneptunian objects. Enjoy an aurora on Saturn, see the relative positions of planets in their orbits around our star, understand eclipses and more in the engaging live presentation.
Recommended for ages 6 and up.
School visits: Grades 3-4
Interstellar Boundary Explorer (school shows and private events only)
Discover how scientists and engineers are using cutting-edge technology to explore the boundary between our solar system and the rest of our galaxy. Learn how the IBEX mission was developed, how the spacecraft was created, and how IBEX is collecting high-speed atoms to create a map of our solar system’s boundary, in this engaging planetarium show narrated by two inquisitive teenagers and the IBEX scientists and engineers themselves.
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
School visits: Grades 7-12
Ice Worlds (school shows and private events only)
Explore the critical relationship between ice and life - a tale of friend and foe, enabling, challenging, supporting and adapting - that has developed over millions of years. Will other ice worlds of our solar system have life? Can they help us understand Earth's changing polar habitats? For answers, Ice Worlds explores the two poles of Earth and the other ice worlds nearby.
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
School visits: Grades 5-8
Impact Earth (school shows and private events only)
Narrated by astronaut Tom Jones, Impact Earth illustrates the differences between asteroids, meteors, and comets, and how each can benefit (or harm) Earth. It dramatically demonstrates the effects of some famous impacts, discusses ways that humans discover asteroids and comets and how we might try to deflect objects that may be on a collision course with Earth.
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
School visits: Grades 5-8
Infinity Express (private events and traveling planetarium only)
The universe is slowly offering up its secrets as shown in this remarkable blend of science, art and entertainment. Powerfully narrated by actor Laurence Fishburne of "The Matrix" fame, Infinity Express will take you on an exciting journey of discovery. From the exploration of our solar system to the mapping of the universe, Infinity Express will funnel you towards humanity's mission to explore what lies beyond Planet Earth.
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Traveling planetarium: Recommended for grades 4-12
Inside Einstein's Universe (school shows only)
An interactive multimedia Planetarium presentation about Albert Einstein and some of his most provocative ideas that changed the way we look at our universe. Learn about gravity, time dilation, the warping of the fabric of space-time, black holes and more in this fascinating educational production based on actual theory and observed celestial phenomena. A brief look at the current night sky is also included.
50 minutes. Recommended for grades 9-12.
Reach for the Stars (private events only)
The story of Christa McAuliffe, a courageous woman and passionate teacher and her lifelong commitment to education. Christa was, and remains, one of NASA's most visible and beloved space pioneers. This award-winning documentary film chronicles her life and vision.
75 minutes.
Equinox (private events only. Offered Sep/Oct & Mar/Apr)
The equinoxes are markers on the great wheel of time - a promise of predictable change. They mark the beginning of autumn as well as spring and the time when day and night are of equal length. Students learn the reasons for the seasons while they gain an appreciation of the astronomical reasons for the equinoxes, how they have changed over the years and how they impact our lives.
45 minutes.
Ring Worlds (traveling planetarium only)
Saturn and its rings are the most visually delightful - and mysterious - objects in our solar system. Your students will travel to Saturn and learn abll about this exotic gas giant.
45 minutes. Recommended for grades 4-12.
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