Planetarium Options

Available Planetarium Options
* indicates most popular shows

Discover Your Universe*
Indulge your imagination and wonder in this Planetarium feature which honors the contributions of astronomers past and present.  Peer into the future as our understanding of outer space continues to evolve. Grades 6-12, 45 minutes

Crickets and Constellations
Join us for a camping trip in the woods as we explore the night sky and meet animals in their natural habitats. Each show concludes with a live presentation of the night's sky. Grades 1-3, 40 minutes

Dinosaur Chronicles
Travel back in time and see the Earth when the dinosaurs ruled! Learn about the ancient history of our planet, see life-sized dinosaurs on the planetarium dome and hear how they lived along with theories on how they died. All ages, 40 minutes

Everybody's Sky: Star Stories from around the World*
This presentation looks at "sky stories" from a cultural perspective and runs in conjunction with the opening of the Museum's new permanent exhibit, Newcomers: The People of This Place. Grades 5-9, 45 minutes

To Boldly Go: Exploration Today, Yesterday and Tomorrow
Exploration throughout the ages is the topic of this show. We travel with Fa-Hsien, an early Chinese explorer; sail during the European age of exploration with Columbus and Magellan; and trek into the center of frozen Antarctica—joining the ill-fated Scott expedition, and the remarkable Endurance expedition of Ernest Shackleton. The show also takes a look at exploration of the future, with a journey to the planet Mars. Grades 6-12, 40 minutes

Cowboy Astronomer*
Cowboy poet and humorist Baxter Black becomes a Cowboy Astronomer. He shares both the modern science of the sky, particularly how stars are born, live and die; and Western and Native American sky stories, showing how the personal connection we can all have with the sky. Grades 5-8, 45 minutes

The Friendly Stars
In this live presentation, the presenter interacts with Sol, our sun, and the stars of the night sky. The show features explanations of why Earth is a good place to live, the importance of the sun, and the three basic phases of matter. It also includes a tour of the basic constellations. Grades K-2, 30 minutes

Garfield: A Cat for All Seasons
Garfield and his owner Jon take us into space, where we learn the reasons for the seasons, and the effects it has on us. We also hear some myths about the sky and seasons from the Egyptians and Native Americans. The show begins with a live tour of the night sky, presented by the planetarium educator. Grades 2-4, 30 minutes

The Great Space Chase
In this laser light adventure, we join a police officer in the not-too-distant future tracking down a criminal mastermind across the universe. Along the way, we visit the Moon and Mars and learn several core facts of astronomy. The show also features five songs from artists such as Madonna and U2, as well as Monty Python’s famous “Galaxy Song.” Grades 3-6, 40 minutes

Magical Sky
In this live presentation, the planetarium wizard, Zubenelgenubi, takes the kids on an exciting imagination-driven tour of the magical sky inside the planetarium. Many other characters join in the fun, including the Sun, Moon, Tracy the Telephone Pole and Hydro the Fire Hydrant. The show talks about the motion of the sun and moon, solar system and the basic constellations. Grades K-1, 30-40 minutes

Star Trek: Orion Rendezvous
We join Geordi LaForge and other characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation on a trip through a mysterious wormhole to explore some of the stranger stars in our universe. Flare stars, multiple-star systems, red supergiants, stellar nurseries and even the remains of a dead star are all visited during the show. Grades 8-12, 40 minutes

Skytellers
A variety of Native American myths of the sky are shared, including the origin of the moon and the constellations. These are paired with the modern scientific stories that have replaced myth as explanations for the universe around us. The show can include a live constellation segment, presented by the planetarium educator. All ages, 30 minutes (15 minute version also available)

Solar System Safari*
A jungle adventurer uses a magical camera to take visitors on an exciting safari through the Solar System. The sun, moon, planets and dwarf planet Pluto come to life, taking on unique personalities while describing their characteristics and oddities, as well as explaining what just what a planet is, and the current status of Pluto. Grades 2-5, 35 minutes

Under Starlit Skies
A presentation on the current sky, including constellations, planets and other easy-to-see features. The show is presented live by a member of the planetarium staff, and can be customized for the group. It highlights the prominent stars and constellations of the season. It includes tips on constellation and star identification, the cultural and mythological origins on the stars, and current advances in space science. Grades 3-12, 45 minutes

Spooky Tunes
Don't miss this "spooky" collection of your favorite Halloween songs set to dazzling new visual effects! All ages, 35 minutes

Holiday Magic
Classic and modern renditions of Christmas music come to life on the planetarium dome. Stunning laser light patterns and incandescent effects add an exciting new dimension to the songs of the season, breathing new life into the show that has become a holiday tradition for families across West Michigan. All ages, 35 minutes