Clark Planetarium

Clark Planetarium has a theater and more than 10,000 square feet (about 930 square meters) of exhibits. The attractions start in the lobby with Newton’s Daydream, a two-story sculpture with balls moving through mazes. Also on this level is the Science on a Sphere exhibit. Watch weather systems and tectonic plates shift across earth through images projected onto a six-foot (1.8-meter) diameter sphere.See pictures from the Hubble Space Telescope to get a sense of the earth’s size at the Earth Globe exhibit. Learn about how telescopes are created or imagine walking on the moon at the MoonScape exhibit. Don’t miss seeing a sample of the moon, which is on permanent loan from NASA. Stories and videos about the Apollo moon landings are part of the same exhibit. Buy a ticket to see a cosmic light show. A series of 45-minute productions were created by the Clark Planetarium and are distributed to planetariums around the world. These shows feature visual effects projected onto a 55-foot (16.8-meter) dome. The theater has a state-of-the-art projection system and powerful surround sound speakers. Take your pick from a range of themed shows that include music by rock bands and documentaries about the universe. See a movie or educational film in the five-story IMAX Theater. The 3-D shows range from children’s programs to classic films. Clark Planetarium is open 365 days a year. (Check the website for opening hours.) The IMAX Theater has its own entrance and is open daily. Many exhibits in the planetarium are free, but there’s a fee to see IMAX movies and light shows. Underground parking is available next door at The Gateway shopping center, which offers a discount for Clark Planetarium patrons. The TRAX public transport service from downtown stops at the front door of the planetarium.