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.
- Sept 23rd: Mission to Mars: I wonder...how have we explored Mars? What does it take to get to and land on the red planet? And what have we learned from these expeditions? Join us as we take a look at the history of missions to Mars!
- Sept 30th: Exploring Dark Skies: I wonder...what we can see in our dark MN skies? Exploring Dark Skies is a live, interactive show and full-dome theater presentation! Learn about traditional star gazing and the cultural context behind the cosmos. This custom show will feature some interesting connections between the stars we see and light pollution. This show has something for curious stargazers of all ages. This show is part of Duluth Celebrate the Night Sky Week organized by Starry Skies North.
- Oct 7th: Spooky Star Stories to Tell in the Dark: Our skies are full of stories and some of them are perfect for this spooky season. Join us as we kick-off Spooktober with a special themed constellation show that is fun for all ages.
- Oct 14th: Aliens! More likely than you think...: We take life on Earth for granted, but what about life beyond? Join us in an exploration of what it would take to find life beyond Earth, and where we might find it.
- Oct 21st: The Magical World of Astronomy: A Harry Potter Show: Did you know the Wizarding World has a lot of astronomical influences? From names of our favorite characters to creatures and ghouls that inhabit the lands - we can find so many Harry Potter references in our night sky!
- Oct 28th: Monsters in the Sky: Witches and spiders and ghosts, oh my! Explore the night sky and learn the celestial counterparts to our favorite spooky characters.
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.
Every Friday in September except 9/18: 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 October except 10/30: 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 September: 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. Closed captions available upon request.
Enjoy a sensory friendly showing on September 12th at 4p.
October 3, 10, and 17: Spooky Space: Looking for cosmic fun this Halloween season? Would you like to meet the stars -- the stars of Halloween? Monsters, zombies, and ghosts -- and their far more terrible counterparts in space? Oh yes, space has its monsters: Black holes, zombie stars, and spectacular ghostly nebulae! Closed captions available upon request.
Enjoy a sensory friendly showing on October 10th 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 September: Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity: No longer the stuff of science fiction, the discovery of the black hole is a triumph of modern science. Explore the fascinating world of black holes in this program narrated by Academy Award nominated actor Liam Neeson. Closed captions available upon request.
October 3, 10, and 17: 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.
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.