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.
- Nov 4th: Exploring the November Sky: I wonder...what we can see in the night sky this month? Explore this month's sky with us as we go through the planets and constellations visible, as well as discuss upcoming astronomical events like meteor showers or eclipses.
- Nov 11th: A Beginner's Guide to Telescopes: Interested in buying your first telescope? Or does a loved one have a telescope on their wish list? Join planetarium staff and members of the Arrowhead Astronomical Society to hear our recommendations for good beginner telescopes, some tips and tricks to using it, and let us answer your questions! Just in time for this holiday season, it's a Beginner's Guide to Telescopes!
- Nov 18th: 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.
Friday November 13 and 20: 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.
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.
November 7, 14, and 21: Did an Asteroid REALLY Kill the Dinosaurs?: Did a space rock six miles wide really slam into the Earth 66 million years ago and wipe out 75 percent of all living plants and animals, including the dinosaurs? Audiences will explore impacts, cosmic collisions and different types of evidence that can be found on the moons and planets of our solar system. This dynamic show discusses impact events of the past, those of a more recent time, and what we have come to know about the impact that likely killed off the dinosaurs and many other forms of life at the end of the Cretaceous Period.
Enjoy a sensory friendly showing on November 14th 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.
November 7, 14, and 21: Space Aliens: Looking for Life in the Universe: Join our alien “experts”–Hopeful and Skeptical–as they try to convince each other whether or not life exists beyond the Earth. Follow their astrobiology arguments from the ocean floor to a journey across the galaxy!
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.