Public Shows

Public Shows for All!

Explore the universe weekly at the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium!

General Show Schedule

• Wonderstruck Wednesdays at 7p - FREE shows for all
• Fridays at 7p - Live guided tours of the universe (includes a tour of Tonight's Sky)
• Saturdays at 2p - Family Show! Pre-recorded shows that are ideal for families (includes a tour of Tonight's Sky)
• Saturdays at 7p - General Public Show! Pre-recorded shows for all ages (includes a tour of Tonight's Sky)

Ticket Prices and Information

• $5 - Adults (age 13-59)
• $3 - Children (age 6-12), Seniors (age 60+), UMD Students (must show student ID)
• Free - Children age 5 and under

Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. To purchase tickets in advance, use the link below. 

Purchase tickets here

Upcoming Show Schedule

Shows are scheduled a month at a time. The next months schedule will be posted about a week before the start of the month. Tickets for the next month's shows will also go live a week prior to the start of the month. You can find show descriptions below the calendar. 

Show Descriptions

Wonderstruck Wednesdays at 7p - FREE Shows

Shows last about 30 minutes. Seats are first come, first served and may fill up fast. Doors open at 6:30p.

These shows will also be streamed to Facebook Live (www.facebook.com/UMDPlanetarium/live) and recorded for our YouTube channel. Audience members will not be seen on video, but they may be heard.

• Southern Skies: I wonder...what the night sky looks like south of the equator? We're not in Minnesota anymore! Journey with us to the southern hemisphere as we explore the stars and constellations in the night sky there. 
• Exploring the April Sky: I wonder...what we can see in the night sky this month? Explore this months sky with us as we go through the planets and constellations visible as well as discussing upcoming astronomical events like meteor showers or eclipses. 
• Presentation by the Arrowhead Astronomical Society: I wonder...what the Arrowhead Astronomical Society is up to? Enjoy a presentation from a member of our local amateur astronomy group - the Arrowhead Astronomical Society. If you are interested in joining, the monthly club meeting will take place right after the show. 
• Mythbusters: Astronomy + Telescope Viewing: I wonder...are seasons caused by our distance to the Sun? Can you really only balance an egg on the Spring Equinox? What about the Moon, is there a dark side? Join us as we bust some astronomy myths in this fun trivia show for all ages! Afterward, take a look at the Moon and other objects visible through our telescopes (weather permitting). 
• The Mystery of the Northern Lights: I wonder...what causes the aurora? How can I see them? Do they only happen on Earth? Explore the mystery of the northern lights and get these questions, and many others, answered! 

Fridays at 7p - Live Guided Tours of the Universe

Shows last about an hour and include a tour of Tonight's Sky. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Doors open at 6:30p. 

• Journey Through the Solar System:  All aboard the MWAP spaceship, it’s almost time for liftoff! Sit back and enjoy the view as we fly around the canyons on Mars, plunge through Saturn’s rings, find out why Pluto is now classified as a dwarf planet, and more! Join us on our Journey Through the Solar System.
• Expedition: Moons: Our solar system has over 150 moons! Hop in the MWAP spaceship and we’ll explore some of the most interesting moons our solar system has to offer. There’s a moon full of volcanoes, another with a giant ocean, and so much more! Join us as we set out on Expedition: Moons.
• Adventure to the Edge of the Universe: Planets and stars and galaxies, oh my! Jump in the MWAP spaceship as we take off for an epic journey to see all our universe has to offer. We’ll journey to other planetary systems, fly through giant gas clouds, and find out how many galaxies are out there. Join us as we Adventure to the Edge of the Universe.

Saturdays at 2p - Family Show 

These shows are perfect for families with kids, but can be enjoyed by all ages!

Shows last about an hour and include a tour of Tonight's Sky. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Doors open at 1:30p. 

• Minnesota in the Cosmos: In this original Bell Museum production, explore the formation of the universe from a uniquely Minnesota perspective. Investigate the deep cosmic and geological history of the land beneath our feet as seen through the eyes of a boy on a field trip to Interstate State Park in Taylors Falls, Minnesota.     Watch a trailer
• Two Small Pieces of Glass Join two students as they explore with a female astronomer at a local star party. Along the way, the students learn the history of the telescope from Galileo’s modifications to a child’s spyglass — using two small pieces of glass — to the launch of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and the future of astronomy. Aiming to engage and appeal to audiences of all ages, the show explores the wonder and discovery made by astronomers throughout the last 400 years.     Watch a trailer

Enjoy a sensory friendly showing on Saturday April 13th at 4p. More information here

Saturdays at 7p - General Public Show

Shows last about an hour and include a tour of Tonight's Sky. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Doors open at 6:30p. 

• Unveiling the Invisible Universe: For thousands of years the 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 video presents images of the cosmos as revealed by all these different messengers.     Watch a trailer
• From 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.     Watch a trailer