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Planetarium

Star Theater Planetarium

Enter SCI’s digital planetarium, the Star Theater, through the Why The Sky? experience platform. Immerse yourself in the night sky under the 50-foot, 360-degree domed screen — the largest and most advanced planetarium in the state of Iowa!

Access to the Star Theater and all planetarium programs is included with your general SCI admission!

Funding for Why the Sky? and the Star Theater has been generously provided by NASA.

Programs

  • SCI Planetarium Programs

    • 9:30AM | Zula Patrol: Under the Weather
    • 10:30AM | Violent Universe
    • 11:30AM | Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity
    • 12:30PM | Phantom of the Universe
    • 1:30PM | Back to the Moon for Good
    • 2:30PM | Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity
    • 3:30PM | Two Small Pieces of Glass
  • Seven Wonders

    Tour the Seven Wonders of the World as well as some of the greatest wonders of our universe and beyond! Narrated by Sean Bean. Program and location subject to change.

  • Two Small Pieces of Glass

    Go on an adventure though history to learn about the creation of the telescope and the discoveries this invention has helped humanity make! Program and location subject to change.

  • Violent Universe

    Catch a glimpse of the immense power of the enigmatic forces of our starlit sky — from black holes to exploding stars! Narrated by Patrick Stewart. Program and location subject to change.

  • Flight Adventures

    Dreams of flying, model aircraft and a young girl and her grandfather come together in this multimedia planetarium show about the science of aeronautics! Program and location subject to change.

  • Reaching for the Stars

    Learn about humanity's journey through cosmological understanding and upcoming goals for cosmic exploration.

  • Phantom of the Universe: The Hunt for Dark Matter

    This 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. Narrated by Tilda Swinton. Program and location subject to change.

  • Back to the Moon for Good

    Discover how international teams are attempting to be the first to land a robotic spacecraft on the Moon as they compete for the Google Lunar XPRIZE. Program and location subject to change.

  • Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity

    Experience one of the most mysterious — and misunderstood — wonders of the Universe. Narrated by Liam Neeson. Sponsored by NASA. Program and location subject to change.

  • Dawn of the Space Age

    Travel through time to witness the Space Race between the USA and USSR, and see the status of space travel today. Sponsored by NASA. Program and location subject to change.

  • Global Soundscapes

    Join a team of soundscape ecologists to learn how the sounds around us can tell us more than we think about the environment in this full dome interactive presentation! Program and location subject to change.

  • Iowa Skies Tonight

    Locate constellations and planets, and hear myths of the night sky in this live planetarium program. Program and location subject to change.

  • The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather

    When weather is stolen from the solar system planets, the Zula Patrol comes to the rescue! Sponsored by NASA and Variety Club. Program and location subject to change.

  • Story Time Under the Stars

    Our youngest visitors can bring their imaginations as an SCI Programs Team member reads under the starry skies.