Planetarium

One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure (OC)

Explore the night sky with your friends from Sesame Street. Follow along with Big Bird, Elmo, and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu, as they take you on a journey of discovery to learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the Sun, and the Moon. Also in Spanish.

The Little Star That Could (OC)

This show tells the story of a star searching for his planets. Along the way, the Little Star discovers how stars are born, how stars die, and why stars are different colors. Near the end of his search, the Little Star finds out about planets. An old favorite that looks as good as ever in full dome!

The Christmas Star

What could be the Christmas Star that the Magi followed? A Supernova? A nova? A planetary conjunction? A comet? A meteor shower? Follow Leo and his robot to try and solve the ancient mystery about the Star of Bethlehem! A full dome planetarium show for a family audience.

Rusty Rocket's Last Blast (OC)

After decades of teaching the basics of rocket physics, Rusty Rocket has decided this will be his last blast, and he already has plans for how he will spend his free time. Still there is one final mission to command: an introductory tour of the solar system for a new class of rocket rookies focusing on the wide variety of planetary environments. Along the way, we learn Rusty is related to every famous spacecraft to explore the solar system. He also emphasizes the immense distances between the planets using cars and jets for comparison.

Earth, Moon & Sun (OC)

This full dome program explores the relationship between the Earth, Moon and Sun with the help of Coyote, a fun character adapted from Native American oral traditions. Why does the Sun rise and set? What’s fusion and solar energy? Examine the Moon’s orbit, craters, phases and eclipses. Also take a look at space travel to the Moon – and beyond.

Cosmix

Have you ever wondered how the astronauts do their job? After watching the Cosmix show it will be absolutely clear to you! But hold tight, it will be a crazy ride. You will find out what a space flight looks like and how to prepare for it. You will jump from a spinning centrifuge straight into a cosmic rocket. And where it will take you? Why, to the International Space Station! But worry not, we won’t bore you with technical details. On the contrary, the practice is all that matters! You will learn to sleep in space, to cook a cosmic food, to use a cosmic toilet and—just to be sure—to wash yourselves properly. You won’t miss a grand finale, though. And by that, we mean a nerve-wracking return back to Earth in a red-hot spaceship cabin! Buckle up!

Note: This show says the word damn.

Journey to Mars (OC)

Are you looking for ways to prepare your students for STEM-related career opportunities in the future? Do you want to spark their interest in pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation? Right now, NASA’s fleet of Mars robotic explorers is paving the way for human exploration of the solar system in the coming decades. Have your students join NASA in preparing for a monumental journey of a lifetime — to Mars!

Two Small Pieces of Glass (OC)

Join a modern star party and discover the wonders that even a small amateur telescope can reveal. See how Galileo Galilei built a “spyglass” and first aimed it to the heavens over 400 years ago.

Dawn of the Space Age (OC)

From the launch of the first artificial satellite Sputnik, to the magnificent lunar landings and privately operated space flights — be immersed and overwhelmed with this most accurate historic reconstruction of man’s first steps into space. Who were these men and women who took part in these death-defying endeavors? Witness their drive, their passion, and their perseverance to explore… in Dawn of the Space Age.

Extrasolar Planets: Discovering New Worlds (OC)

We live on a small planet that revolves around a star that is no different in size, luminosity, or location, than any other. It is just one among many. Astronomers today are using specialized equipment to observe stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way, to search for a star that might have planets orbiting it. For now we know of only one planet that has life on it … Earth. Yet astronomers are working around the clock to find even the smallest sign of life. Even if we only discover microorganisms, it would still be a monumental discovery. This discovery would prove once and for all … we are not alone.

Nine Planets and Counting (OC)

There are currently eight official planets in our Solar System. But, what exactly is a planet? Discover the answer to this question with a journey through the Solar System, visiting each planet as well as other objects in our solar neighborhood. This show was produced in 2006 just before Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet status.

Season of Light (OC)

Formerly ‘Tis the Season, this popular holiday show has been renamed for full dome. Here we discuss the Winter Solstice and the origins of holiday traditions, concluding with a possible explanation for the famous Star of Bethlehem

To Space & Back (OC)

To Space & Back takes audiences on an incredible journey from the far reaches of our known universe to our own planet. It is an extraordinary story of human ingenuity and incredible engineering, describing how the technology that transports us through space is paving the way for the devices and apps we use every day. What is happening above is coming back down to Earth!

Cosmic Colors: An Adventure Along the Spectrum (OC)

Cosmic Colors will take you on a wondrous 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 monstrous black hole and then back at your doctor’s office. You will even see the actual color of a dinosaur–based on recent evidence.

Infinity Express (OC)

A remarkable blend of science, art, and entertainment, this show dramatically communicates breakthroughs in our quest to understand the universe. Some of the best Hubble Space Telescope images are also shown in a fascinating gallery view.

Mayan Archaeoastronomy: Observers of the Universe

“Mayan Archaeoastronomy: Observers of the Universe” intertwines science and mythology to take the viewer on a poetic journey through how the Mayans have viewed and understood the Universe throughout their history. The visuals are stunning, giving the viewer the impression of being inside a beautifully stylistic painting. This artistic interpretation of the Universe makes for a journey that will not be forgotten. Also in Spanish.

Mexica Archaeoastronomy: Between Space and Time (OC)

“Mexica Archaeoastronomy: Between Space and Time” illustrates the important role of astronomical observations in the evolution of pre-Hispanic cultures in central Mexico. The Mexicans used the calendrical and astronomical knowledge of previous cultures to found the capital of their empire, Tenochtitlan. Vibrant colors, shapes, and sounds transport the viewer to a culture that, to this day, still lives on in the hearts of the Mexican people. Also in Spanish.

Seeing (OC)

Sky Tour: Window on the Universe (OC)

Journey across beautiful landscapes, oceans, and continents to discover the different views into space that our planet offers. Watch the Southern Cross and Milky Way slowly move across the sky as you are immersed in beautiful timelapse imagery. Then enter the magical dream-world of Salar de Uyuni, where the universe is seen reflected within a giant natural mirror.

(Only through May 31, 2025)

Solar Quest (OC)

This short feature demonstrates how the Sun and Earth are interconnected and that we are “Living with a Star”. View solar phenomena such as fusion and light energy, as well as solar surface features and events. Granules, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections are highlighted.

Spirits from the Sky, Thunder on the Land

Take an in-depth look at the Pawnee nation, which thrived in parts of Kansas and Nebraska from the late 1600s to the 1750s. Students will learn how the Pawnee organized their calendar according to which stars were visible in the sky, and hear the Pawnee creation legend.

Sunstruck! (OC)

Heliophysics is the main component of Sunstruck! It includes information on the sun, parts/layers, space weather, and its impact on Earth. We used several NASA heliophysics missions including SOHO, IRIS, and SDO. The audience should gain an enhanced understanding of the Sun and how it impacts our world.

From Earth to the Universe (OC, Spanish OC)

The night sky, both beautiful and mysterious, has inspired awe and been the subject of campfire stories, and ancient myths 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. Also available in Spanish!

Big Astronomy (OC)

Big Astronomy shares the story of the people and places who make big astronomy and big science happen. The show takes visitors to the extreme sites where astronomy happens in the most extreme environments and with some of the most interesting people. Also in Spanish with Spanish OC

Black Holes (10th Anniversary Edition) (OC)

Some of the most mysterious objects known, black holes defy the imagination. Explore how black holes form, their strange properties, and what exactly would happen if you got too close!

Climate Change in our Back Yard (OC)

As we develop a broader picture of our Earth as a whole, we are coming to see it as a complex, interconnected, remarkable world – and one that humans have impacted directly. Explore the role of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, the natural temperature variations the Earth has experienced over millions of years, and how we are affecting our planet today.

Europe to the Stars (OC)

Europe to the Stars 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 designing, building, and operating the most powerful ground-based telescopes on the planet. Also in Spanish.

Out There (The Quest for Extrasolar Worlds)(OC)

For thousands of years, mankind thought that the Earth was the center 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 can 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. A huge diversity of different worlds is out there, just waiting to be discovered.

The Hubble Legacy (OC)

The Hubble Legacy is the first full-dome planetarium show produced in-house exclusively by Hastings Museum staff. Planetarium coordinator Kirk Rosberg researched, wrote, and narrated the show. The chronological story of the Hubble from its conception, launch, and early setbacks to the glorious images it took that have forever changed the way we see and understand the universe.

The Sun, Our Living Star (OC)

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 passage of the Sun’s fiery disc across the sky — day by day, month by month — was the only way to keep track of time for countless past civilizations. Don’t be fooled by the terminology; although it is a typical dwarf star, the Sun consumes 600 million tons of hydrogen each second and is 500 times as massive as all the planets combined. Discover the secrets of our star in this planetarium show and experience never-before-seen images of the Sun’s violent surface in immersive full dome format.

Cosmic Origins Spectrograph

This show covers the basics of spectroscopy at a fairly high level, and touches on the processing of galactic and extragalactic gas. Other topics include the use of quasars as background light sources, cosmic evolution, and the development of the large-scale structure of the universe.

DARK: The Movie (OC)

Explore the nature of Dark Matter, the missing 80% of the mass of the Universe. Finding answers will help us understand why the Universe is as it is, where it came from, and how it has evolved over billions of years.

Phantom of the Universe (OC)

From the journey of protons racing through the world’s largest particle collider in Europe to up-close views of the Big Bang and emergent cosmos, Phantom of the Universe is a new full dome planetarium show designed to immerse audiences in the search for dark matter. A collaboration of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, University of Texas at Arlington, Michigan State University, IFIC at University of Valencia, as well as other institutions. It is narrated by Oscar-winning actress, Tilda Swinton.

Rising Star: A South African Astronomy Journey (OC)

Rising Star takes you on an astronomical journey from our beginnings through the development of astronomy research in South Africa and looks at what the future of astronomy holds for the country. In addition to introducing multi-wavelength and multi-messenger astronomy, it highlights the many remarkable facilities hosted in South Africa along with some of their latest results. This includes unrestricted views of the Southern African Large Telescope and the most powerful radio telescope in the Southern Hemisphere, MeerKAT.

The Dark Matter Mystery (OC)

What keeps Galaxies together? What are the building blocks of the Universe? What makes the Universe look the way it looks today? Researchers all around the world try to answer these questions. We know today that approximately a quarter of the Universe is filled with a mysterious glue: Dark Matter. We know that it is out there. But we have no idea what it is made out of. This 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.

The Hot and Energetic Universe (OC)

The Hot and Energetic Universe presents the fascinating world of high energy astrophysics. High energy astrophysics plays a key role in understanding the universe, as this radiation, in the form of x-rays and gamma rays, reveal the processes in the hot and violent universe. High energy astrophysics probes hot gas in clusters of galaxies, which are the most massive objects in the universe. It also probes hot gas accreting around supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies. Finally, high energy radiation provides important information about our own galaxy, neutron stars, supernova remnants, and stars like our Sun which emit copious amounts of high-energy radiation. Come and learn about your hot and energetic universe!

Unveiling the Invisible Universe (OC)

For thousands of years humans observed the light coming from the night sky with their eyes. In the beginning of the 17th century, the invention of the telescope by Galileo revolutionized our knowledge of the universe. Finally, in the 20th century with the advent of rockets, it became possible to go above the earth’s atmosphere and observe X-ray and gamma ray radiation which are the marks of the hot and violent universe. But it is not only light that can give us information about the cosmos. Neutrinos and cosmic rays also provide vital information. Finally, the detection by the LIGO experiment of gravitational waves from two merging black holes opened a new window in astrophysics. This full dome video show presents images of the cosmos as revealed by all these different messengers. From the producers of The Hot and Energetic Universe.