
December 2019
Mystery of the Christmas Star
Journey back 2,000 years to Bethlehem as we seek to discover a scientific explanation for the star the wise men followed to find the baby Jesus. Investigate possible dates for the birth of Christ and look at recorded sightings of significant historical and astronomical events during this timeframe. We’ll explore scientific explanations for celestial objects that could have been remarkable enough to cause the wise men to travel across the desert from Babylon to Bethlehem just to see a newborn…
Find out more »Let It Snow
"Let it Snow" features a new variety of festive classics from Frank Sinatra and Chuck Berry to Burl Ives and Brenda Lee, including a stunning multimedia finale by the Trans Siberian Orchestra. The soundtrack is visually enhanced with thematic animation, special in the audiovisual setting of the planetarium and is an entertaining experience for all ages, especially families. Tickets are $8 for general admission. Music programs may contain explicit lyrics, and are intended for adult audiences. All music programs may…
Find out more »Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe
The Hitchhiker's Guide the Universe is an incredible visual tour of the size and scale of our cosmos. Join planetarium manager Shawn Laatsch as he hosts the evening presentation and “flies” participants out into space on a unique and engaging tour through the universe. Audience members will travel to our local planets and their moon systems, zip through the rings of Saturn, and explore the asteroids. We will visit other star systems, explore nebulae and go far beyond to star…
Find out more »Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe" is an incredible visual tour of the size and scale of our cosmos! Join planetarium manager Shawn Laatsch as he hosts the evening presentation and “flies” participants out into space on a unique and engaging tour through the universe. Audience members will travel to our local planets and their moon systems, zip through the rings of Saturn, and explore the asteroids. We will visit other star systems, explore nebulae and go far beyond to…
Find out more »Mystery of the Christmas Star
Journey back 2,000 years to Bethlehem as we seek to discover a scientific explanation for the star the wise men followed to find the baby Jesus. Investigate possible dates for the birth of Christ and look at recorded sightings of significant historical and astronomical events during this timeframe. We’ll explore scientific explanations for celestial objects that could have been remarkable enough to cause the wise men to travel across the desert from Babylon to Bethlehem just to see a newborn…
Find out more »Let It Snow
"Let it Snow" features a new variety of festive classics from Frank Sinatra and Chuck Berry to Burl Ives and Brenda Lee, including a stunning multimedia finale by the Trans Siberian Orchestra. The soundtrack is visually enhanced with thematic animation, special in the audiovisual setting of the planetarium and is an entertaining experience for all ages, especially families. Tickets are $8 for general admission. Music programs may contain explicit lyrics, and are intended for adult audiences. All music programs may…
Find out more »Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe
The Hitchhiker's Guide the Universe is an incredible visual tour of the size and scale of our cosmos. Join planetarium manager Shawn Laatsch as he hosts the evening presentation and “flies” participants out into space on a unique and engaging tour through the universe. Audience members will travel to our local planets and their moon systems, zip through the rings of Saturn, and explore the asteroids. We will visit other star systems, explore nebulae and go far beyond to star…
Find out more »Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe" is an incredible visual tour of the size and scale of our cosmos! Join planetarium manager Shawn Laatsch as he hosts the evening presentation and “flies” participants out into space on a unique and engaging tour through the universe. Audience members will travel to our local planets and their moon systems, zip through the rings of Saturn, and explore the asteroids. We will visit other star systems, explore nebulae and go far beyond to…
Find out more »January 2020
Expedition Reef
Explore the secrets of the "rainforests of the sea" and embark on an oceanic safari to the world’s most vibrant and endangered marine ecosystems — coral reefs. Discover how corals grow, feed, reproduce, and support over 25 percent of all marine life on Earth — while facing unprecedented threats from climate change, habitat destruction, and overfishing. Although they line about a third of tropical coastlines, reefs comprise less than one percent of the world's ocean environments, showing how precious and…
Find out more »February 2020
Lucia: The Secret of Shooting Stars
Vladimir, a polar bear, and James, a penguin, travel into space aboard the Polaris to study polar auroras. Hit by a meteorite, they crash at the foot of a pre-Columbian pyramid and meet Lucia, a hummingbird who is passionate about rocks. She tells them about a legend evoking “stones of light.” Meteorites, shooting stars, these “stones of light” intrigue them all. Searching for answers, they board for the moon, then the asteroid belt, and finally land on a comet nucleus.…
Find out more »March 2020
Secret of the Cardboard Rocket
Join two children on a magical journey through the solar system, aided by a talking astronomy book, a cardboard rocket and a vivid imagination. During this imaginative show, audiences will land on Venus, fly through the rings of Saturn, and discover the secrets of the solar system. Tickets for planetarium programs are $6 for Adults, $5 for UMaine Students/Veterans/Senior Citizens, and $4 for children under 12. Click here to view the calendar. Tickets may be purchased online, by phone at…
Find out more »April 2020
Habitat Earth
Living networks connect and support life forms large and small — from colonies of tiny microbes and populations of massive whales to ever-expanding human societies. Discover what it means to live in today’s connected world in "Habitat Earth." Through stunning visualizations of the natural world, dive below the ocean’s surface to explore the dynamic relationships found in kelp forest ecosystems, travel beneath the forest floor to see how Earth’s tallest trees rely on tiny fungi to survive, and journey to…
Find out more »May 2020
Incoming!
Asteroids and comets have collided with our planet throughout its history, changing the course of life on Earth and shaping the world we know today. Real-time data from current NASA missions help audiences explore the past, present and future of our solar system. Take a journey through the dynamic story of our cosmic origins. Discover what these impacts from above can teach us—and how scientific advances may allow us to find and track cosmic threats before they reach planet Earth.…
Find out more »June 2020
Earth, Moon and Sun
"Earth, Moon and Sun" is a fast-paced full dome demonstration of lunar phases, eclipses, day and night, the sun and other puzzling events with the help of a confused coyote. This program beautifully illustrates basic concepts like moon phases and seasons. Based on the trickster of Native American lore, Coyote is constantly corrected in his misunderstandings of how things work. A live tour of the Maine sky and its beautiful constellations completes this micro-unit of astronomy. Tickets for planetarium programs…
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