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)
- Sensory Friendly Shows - the 2nd Saturday of the month at 4p
Ticket Prices and Information
- $8 - Adults (age 13-59)
- $5 - Children (age 3-12), Seniors (age 60+), UMD Students (must show student ID)
- Free - Children age 2 and under
Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. To purchase tickets in advance, use the link below.
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.
- June 24th: 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!
- July 1st: Exploring the July 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.
- July 8th: 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.
- July 15th: Beyond Bizarre: Strange Things in Space: I wonder...what sort of weird things are in the universe? Discover the bizarre properties of some of the strangest things in space. From our very own solar system to the edges of the universe, there are a lot of mysteries yet to be solved.
- July 22nd: Celestial Navigation: Guided by the Stars: For as long as there has been a need to go from one place to another, we have used the stars as our guide. From the first Polynesian sailors to modern-day mariners, the night sky has been guiding us on our journeys around the globe. In this show, we will explore techniques for navigating by the night sky and the history of celestial navigation.
- July 29th: Weird Worlds: I wonder...what other planets are like? We have found over 5,000 extrasolar planets, planets around other stars. Some of these are very weird and not like any of the planets we have in our Solar System. Let's explore some of these Weird Worlds!
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.
June 5, 12, and 26: 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.
Every Friday in July except 7/3: 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 Program
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.
Every Saturday in June: Sunstruck: Discover the wonders of our Sun. Its incredible energy has supported life on earth for millennia, but is now threatening our technology and way of life. Travel to the distant future to discover our Sun's connection to the Universe's cosmic cycle of life and death.
Enjoy a sensory friendly showing on June 13th at 4p.
Every Saturday in July except 7/4: Polaris, the Space Submarine and the Mystery of the Polar Night: James, a traveling penguin from the South Pole, and Vladimir, a funny bear from the North Pole, meet on the Arctic sea ice. They become friends, talk about their respective regions and observe the stars together, wondering why the night is so long at the poles of the Earth. Novice astronomers, they are trying to solve this mystery by reasoning and observation.
Enjoy a sensory friendly showing on July 11th at 4p.
Saturdays at 7p - Feature Program
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.
Every Saturday in June: Out There: The Quest for Extrasolar Worlds: 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 are able to 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.
Every Saturday in July except 7/4: Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries: Big Astronomy shares the story of the people and places who make big astronomy and big science happen. This show takes visitors to the extreme sites where astronomy happens in the most extreme environments and with some of the most interesting people. Closed captions available upon request.
Show Information
- Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.
- There is no food or drinks allowed in the planetarium.
- Please have proof of purchase (email confirmation) ready to show at the door. UMD students will also be required to show their Student ID.
- Parking information here
Gift Certificates
You can now purchase gift certificates! These can be used towards admission to Friday and Saturday shows or for items in our gift shop.