Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium
Group & Field Trip Visits
Groups of 15 or more can enjoy discounted group rates with advanced reservations and payment.
We require one adult chaperone for every ten children, but we prefer one adult for every five children. School and scout-sponsored groups of 15 or more children will receive one complimentary adult admission for every five paid children. Additional adults outside of this free ratio will receive the discounted group rate.Price $4* person/kids or adults
If you have additional questions, please contact us at [email protected]. *Excludes 10% Preservation Fee.
Full Show Catalogue
Available to reserve during designated group time slots
Big Astronomy
Journey to three world-class observatories in Chile’s rugged Andes Mountains and arid Atacama Desert— remote, extreme regions that happen to have the perfect conditions for astronomical research. Along the way, you’ll meet an inspiring cast of astronomers, engineers, technicians, and support staff who keep these mega-machines running.
Length: 26 min
Age Recommendation: 10+
Content: Astronomy, technology, engineering, physics, telescopes
Big Bird’s Adventure: One World, One Sky
Through the lens of astronomy, children join Elmo, Big Bird and Hu Hu Zhu – a Muppet from the Chinese co-production of Sesame Street – on an adventure to the moon and to explore the night sky. One World, One Sky aims to provide young children in the U.S. and China with an age-appropriate introduction to astronomy, to promote positive attitudes toward science, and to foster cross-cultural appreciation.
Length: 25 min
Age Recommendation: 0-6
Content: Early childhood astronomy concepts, constellations, introductory physics concepts, multiculturalism
Available languages: English, Spanish
Capcom Go! – The Apollo Story
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 with Capcom Go! – The Apollo Story. This immersive experience showcases the incredible achievements of NASA’s early days and takes an in-depth look at what it took to put the first humans on the Moon. This brand-new production from award-winning Fulldome producers NSC Creative introduces a new generation to the immense challenges scientists and engineers overcame to achieve this century-defining accomplishment, and will hopefully inspire the next generation to become the explorers, thinkers, and dreamers of the future.
Length: 25 min
Age Recommendation: 6+
Content: Space exploration, NASA, history, physics, astronomy, rocket science, aerodynamics, engineering
Cosmic Origins Spectrograph
Join us in the exploration of this hidden universe as we decode the secrets to the origins of the cosmos! This show highlights the current research of Cosmic Origin Spectrograph (C.O.S.) aboard the Hubble Space Telescope, the last instrument installed by the NASA astronauts. C.O.S. is allowing us an unprecedented view into the vast spaces between galaxies which surrounds our own Milky Way. The show covers the basics of spectroscopy at a high level, and touches on the processing of galactic and extragalactic gas. Other topics include the use of quasars as background light sources, cosmic evolution, and the development of large scale structure.
Length: 30 min
Age Recommendation: 14+
Content: Physics, spectroscopy, cosmic evolution, space telescopes
Destination Solar System
The year is 2096. Space tourism is thriving and “Space Express Tours” is the world’s leading company in space. You’ve signed up for a quick trip around the Solar System. This out-of-this world jaunt takes place on board the fastest ship in the Space Express fleet. Your guides are “Jesse,” a lovable rookie tour guide who can’t wait to show you the wonders of your celestial neighborhood, and “Max” — the highly knowledgeable, slightly grumpy shipboard computer. With Max steering the ship and Jesse chattering excitedly about each place you visit, you’ll soar through the Asteroid Belt, explore the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and hover over the roiling surface of the Sun. This show was developed by Adler Planetarium scientists and educators working with experts in market research, science writing, space visualization, animation, and children’s entertainment. It combines real images of planets and other celestial objects with the latest in digital animation.
Length: 31 min
Age Recommendation: 6+
Content: Planetary science, physics
Dinosaurs at Dusk: The Origins of Flight
Dinosaurs at Dusk is a whirlwind time travel adventure back to the time of the dinosaurs. Propel yourself back through the epochs to explore an Earth teeming with Pterosaurs and the ancestors of modern-day birds: the feathered Dinosaurs! Lucy, a budding pilot and amateur paleontologist, and her science teacher father fly through the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods to soar with Quetzalcoatlus, escape from raptors, and ride behind Argentinosaurus, all the while searching for the famous asteroid that killed the dinosaurs. Dinosaurs at Dusk is one of the most dynamic Planetarium shows ever created. Using a combination of live-action footage, advanced computer generated imagery, and the unique 3D, fulldome experience the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium offers, you will feel as if you were truly transported to another era of Earth’s history and flying high with the dinosaurs!
Length: 40 min
Age Recommendation: 6+
Content: Paleontology, archeology, biology, geography, physics, aircraft mechanics, astronomy
Available languages: English, Spanish
Earth, Moon & Sun
This show explores the relationship between the Earth, Moon and Sun with the help of Coyote, a character adapted from Native American oral traditions who has many misconceptions about our home planet and its neighbors. His confusion about the universe helps viewers think about how the Earth, Moon and Sun work together as a system. Native American stories are used throughout the show to help distinguish between myths and science. Audience members will learn why the Sun rises and sets, examine the Moon’s orbit, craters, phases and eclipses, and explore past and future space travel to our Moon and beyond.
Length: 30 min
Age Recommendation: 3-12
Content: Introductory astronomy concepts, mythology, solar system science, physics, geography
Hazelnuts: In Search of the Perfect Planet
Once upon a time, two squirrels named Nino and Lilli loved hazelnuts so much, they decided to go on an adventure to find super-hazelnuts on other planets! Will they find any treats out there among the stars, or will they learn that our home world may be more special than they could ever imagine! Hazelnuts is an exciting new children’s show, featuring animated characters brought to life through cutting edge digital puppetry, and early astronomical concepts which have been adapted to young learners. By introducing the planets of our solar system from the point of view of life, Hazelnuts tells the story of conditions of life on Earth, covering a variety of subjects such as: inhabitable zones, the essential role of the atmosphere, and even the different stages of the creation of planet Earth.
Length: 25 min
Age Recommendation: 3-10
Content: Astronomy, planetary science, biology, botany
Legend of the Enchanted Reef
Join energetic Shorty, intelligent Indigo, and daring sawfish Jake on a colorful coral reef adventure! After a fishing trawler devastates their reef, three fish have no choice but to set out on a quest to find a new home. They hope to find the “Enchanted Reef” — a mythical underwater haven free from humans. As they search the sea for a legendary reef, the friends encounter a variety of intriguing environments, from kelp forests to sunken wrecks — and even outer space! Their unforgettable journey brings them face-to-face with an octopus, dolphins, anglerfish, and other exotic creatures. Throughout their adventure, they must avoid hungry sharks, hazardous pollution, and other dangers, as they seek a reef that may be a myth. Legend of the Enchanted Reef is filled with humor and imagination that the whole family will enjoy. This touching animated fulldome show combines entertainment and education with an important message about the impact of ocean pollution.
Length: 26 or 43 min versions available
Age Recommendation: 3-12
Content: Marine biology, conservation, astronomy, planetary science
Magic Tree House: Space Mission
Travel with siblings Jack and Annie in their Magic Tree House as they discover a note that asks them to answer a series of six questions about space. With the help of the astronomer, the Internet, an astronaut, books and the writer of the mysterious note, Jack and Annie are taken on a wondrous journey of adventure and learning to the planets and far out into the Universe!
Length: 30 min
Age Recommendation: 3-12
Content: Astronomy, astronauts, history of space travel, black holes, NASA, gravity, space probes
Mars 1001
Travel with us to the not-so-distant future and join explorers on a daring 1000 day mission to fly an international crew to Mars and return them safely to Earth for the first time. Featuring a stunning mix of live-action, cutting-edge technology, and advanced digital simulations, embark with us on the greatest adventure of the 21st century and unlock the secrets of humanity’s next home!
Length: 42 or 52 min versions available
Age Recommendation: 10+
Content: Space exploration, NASA, planetary science, biology, physics, astronomy, rocket science, aerodynamics
The One Sky Project
The One Sky Project is an international collaboration focused on increasing understanding about cultural and indigenous astronomy, its historical and modern applications, and how our One Sky connects us all. It features seven short films centered around different world cultures, which each touch on the topics of finding patterns and building tools that foster connection to the sky and leverage astronomical phenomena to advance societal goals.
Length: 43 min
Age Recommendation: 10+
Content: Indigenous astronomy, mythology, history, culture, celestial navigation
Phantom of the Universe: The Hunt for Dark Matter
Featuring Academy Award winners Tilda Swinton and Skywalker Sound Studio, Phantom of the Universe showcases the exciting exploration of dark matter, from all the way back to the Big Bang, to recent discoveries at the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva. This brand-new show reveals dark matter’s earliest clues, covering the astral choreography of galactic orbits as well as sensitive detectors hidden deep underground in ancient gold mines. Finally, take a first-person trip inside the world’s largest particle accelerator at CERN to witness firsthand the forces that are illuminating this mysterious, invisible particle that fills our universe.
Length: 30 min
Age Recommendation: 14+
Content: Dark matter, dark energy, physics, astronomy, Vera Rubin, Fritz Zwicky, CERN, The Higgs Boson particle
Spark: The Universe in Us
Everything in the Universe is composed of different combinations and concentrations of the same 94 naturally occurring elements. Their source? Stars. Spark: The Universe in Us offers a dynamic new perspective on the periodic table of the elements, revealing how stellar phenomena created and dispersed the raw materials of galaxies, planets, and us. The film is about our deep connection not just to Earth, but to stars millions of light years away—and billions of years in the past. Start your journey by soaring over a stunning Sierra Nevada waterfall, and then blast off across space and time to discover the celestial origins of the elements we all have in common, guided through narration by Star Wars actor Diego Luna. Along the way, you’ll enter the core of a giant star just before it implodes, experience the quiet demise of a star like the Sun, and see how colliding stars seed the Universe with the building blocks of life.
Length: 26 min
Age Recommendation: 10+
Content: Astronomy, physics, chemistry, stellar evolution
Stargaze Kansas City
Experience the night sky like never before in our refreshed and remastered live seasonal star tour! Join our expert team of Science City Educators as they guide you on a one-of-a-kind journey through the ever-changing stars and beyond. Explore the tapestry of constellations and mythology that have guided humans for thousands of years, fly to distant planets in 3D and wonder at the amazing sights right next door in our Solar System, dive into deep space to uncover the hidden mysteries in nebulae and galaxies, and experience exciting new discoveries revealed to us by cutting-edge science and the James Webb Space Telescope. And because the stars and Earth are always on the move, be sure to visit the planetarium often for new additions to Stargaze Kansas City every season!
Length: 35-45 min
Age Recommendation: 3+
Content: Astronomy, mythology, history, space science, planetary science, physics, geography
Stars of Faith
Experience a brand-new special edition of our seasonal star tour, featuring holiday stars and traditions from around the world! In addition to normal winter seasonal star tour stops such as constellations, planets, and deep-space objects, this holiday season our planetarium educators will also share with you the many ways in which faith connects with the night sky. Learn about the significance of astronomical bodies mentioned in the Quran, explore the lunar mechanics of the Hebrew calendar, investigate the possible astronomical origins of the Star of Bethlehem, and discover more about humanity’s many connections to the heavens. Only at the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium!
Length: 35-45 min
Age Recommendation: 3+
Content: Astronomy, history, religion, mythology, astrology
Sunset Meditation
Enjoy a guided meditation experience with the program “Sunset Meditation.” View an amazing sunset as you travel from the Grand Canyon to the North Pole. Then relax under a night sky filled with stars – and even glimpses of the Northern Lights.
This program was developed as part of the Ball State University Meditation Partnership which provides meditation and mindfulness programs for campus and community members to improve mental health and resilience. Ball State’s Meditation Partnership is a collaboration between Working Well, Counseling Center, Office of Health, Alcohol, and Drug Education, Museum of Art, Orchid Garden, and the Planetarium working toward improving well-being on campus through meditation.
Length: 25 min
Age Recommendation: 10+
Content: Mental health, mindfulness, astronomy
Two Small Pieces of Glass
While attending a local star party, two teenage students learn how the telescope has helped us understand our place in space and how telescopes continue to expand our understanding of the Universe. Their conversation with a local female astronomer enlightens them on the history of the telescope and the discoveries these wonderful tools have made. The students see how telescopes work and how the largest observatories in the world use these instruments to explore the mysteries of the universe.
Length: 25 min
Age Recommendation: 6+
Content: Astronomy, history, telescopes, engineering, light, physics
