Journey to the Center of the Milky Way

What lies at the heart of our galaxy? For twenty years, ESO's Very Large Telescope and the Keck telescopes have observed the center of the Galaxy, looking at the motion of more than a hundred stars and identifying the position of an otherwise invisible object - the super massive black hole at the center of our galaxy.

(7 minutes)

Take Flight

(courtesy of Moorehead Planetarium)

Join Orville and Wilbur Wright for a look at the science, pilots and inventors that allowed humans to take to the skies.

Join uniquely-animated brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright for a full-throttle adventure through the history and into the future of aeronautics!

Learn about the four forces of flight — lift, weight, thrust and drag — with demonstrations by the Wright brothers and share observations and discoveries with Leonardo da Vinci as he creates his “flying machine.”

This show is recommended for ages 8 and up.

Flight Adventures

Dreams of flying, model aircraft and a young girl and her grandfather come together in this multi-media planetarium show about the science of aeronautics.  Learn about famous inventors and aviators of the past and the pioneers who first revealed the 4 forces of flight.  See images of aircraft past, present and future and imagine where flight might take us. Past, present and future and imagine where flight might take us. 

(22 mintues)

Earth, Moon, Sun

(Courtesy of Moorehead Planetarium)

Explore the relationship between Earth, Moon and Sun.

This planetarium show explores the relationship between Earth, Moon and Sun with the help of Coyote, an amusing character adapted from Native American oral traditions. Coyote has many misconceptions about our home planet and its most familiar neighbors. His confusion about the universe makes viewers think about how Earth, Moon and Sun work together as a system and learn to distinguish between myths and science.

Learn the basics of fusion and solar energy and why the Sun rises and sets. Examine the Moon’s orbit, craters, phases and eclipses. You’ll even take a look at past and future space travel to our Moon … and beyond!

Students in grades two through five will especially enjoy this look at the Earth-Moon-Sun system, though audiences of all ages can appreciate learning the science behind the myths.

IBEX: Search for the
Edge of the Solar System

Join scientists who are investigating the boundary between our Solar System and the rest of our galaxy. Designed for visitors who desire to learn more about scientific research, the show follows the creation of NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX). Audiences will get an in-depth look at the mission and how IBEX is collecting high-speed atoms to create a map of our Solar System's boundary. Narrated by two inquisitive teenagers, audiences will hear from the scientists and engineers that developed the IBEX mission and created the spacecraft, and get the latest updates on the mission's discoveries.

(27 minutes)

Losing the Dark

Starry skies are a vanishing treasure because light pollution is washing away our view of the cosmos. It not only threatens astronomy but also disrupts wildlife, and affects human health. The glows over cities and towns — seen so clearly from space — are testament to the billions of dollars spent in wasted energy by lighting up the sky.  

The “Losing the Dark” planetarium show is the result of a collaboration between IDA and Loch Ness Productions. It introduces and illustrates some of the issues regarding light pollution and suggests three simple actions people can take to help mitigate it. 

(5 minutes)

Take Your Place in Space

NASA is entering an extraordinary new era, looking forward to writing the next chapter of human space flight with its commercial and International partners: advancing research and technology on the International Space Station, opening low Earth orbit to US industry, and pushing the frontiers of deep space even farther. 

(11 minutes)

Two Small Pieces of Glass

Go back in time to see how telescopes were invented, and how the largest observatories in the world now use these instruments to explore the mysteries of the universe. Explore the Galilean Moons, Saturn’s rings, and spiral structure of galaxies. Learn about the discoveries of Galileo, Huygens, Newton, Hubble and many others.

(35 minutes)

Cosmic Adventure

This show for families takes us on a roller coaster ride from the moon through the universe, our galaxy and our Solar System. This unforgettable high speed adventure will immerse you in some of the most amazing sites in the Universe. Narrated by Nancy Cartwright of TV's The Simpsons.

(20 minutes)

Microcosm

At the Center of Miniaturized Medicine in the year 2053, you'll shrink down to the size of a microbe and get injected into a patient who is suffering from a mysterious viral infection. As you piece together the clues found along the way, you'll race against time to save the patient on a roller-coaster ride through the body. Laser battles, genetic weapons, and lots of surprises along the way make this a show audiences will want to experience again and again. Produced in cooperation with the University of Utah Medical School.

(16 minutes)

New Horizons

From breathtaking landscapes, to violent volcanic eruptions, to Saturn's icy rings, New Horizons transports you on a majestic journey through the planets and moons of our celestial neighborhood. Our journey begins as we follow a comet through interplanetary space. On each of our exotic ports of call, real data and images from modern space probes are transformed into stunning wrap-around visualizations.

(23 minutes)

The Mystery of the Christmas Star

Journey back over 2000 years to Bethlehem as we seek to discover a scientific explanation for the star the wise men followed to find the baby Jesus. This modern retelling of the Christmas story is sure to charm and captivate audiences of all ages. Winner of five Telly Awards.

(27 minutes)