Willard Smith Planetarium
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Planetarium Show Schedule
Children under 4 years are not admitted to the planetarium, except for Preschool All-Stars. There is no late seating. Please note, tickets for planetarium shows require an accompanying General Admission ticket. If purchasing planetarium tickets online, select "General Admission" then "General Admission and a Planetarium Show."
Preschool All-Stars
Preschool All-Stars is an opportunity for preschool children to be introduced to the wonders of astronomy within the structure of a developmentally appropriate planetarium experience. Visitors will interact with the sky in the planetarium through dance, song, and storytelling.
Preschool Trip to the Moon - 20 minutes
This show is an age-appropriate mix of observing the night sky, a puppet story, and a dance party--on the Moon! We aim the show at preschoolers, but there are no age-restrictions on this show. A seat token is required for entry. Tokens are free, and can be picked up in front of the planetarium any time after Pacific Science Center opens on the day of the show.
The Sky Tonight
Our best show for any age above 6, visitors will learn to use a star map, and practice describing and recognizing the objects and motions of the night sky.
Worlds of Stone, Worlds Unknown: NASA Investigates Mercury and the Asteroid Belt
Worlds of Stone, Worlds Unknown is all about NASA's missions to Mercury and the Asteroid Belt. Follow spacecrafts MESSENGER and Dawn to learn about rocks in space and how the solar system formed 4.5 billion years ago. The show will highlight brand-new NASA content and images every month.
(40 minutes - Appropriate for adults and children grades 3 and up. Children under 4 years are not admitted to this show. Ticket required FREE tickets for Pacific Science Center members.)
What's Up in the Sky?
Be sure to check out AstroInfo for stories of what's happening out there, written by Planetarium Supervisor, Alice Enevoldsen.
To see what's up in the night sky, check out our Starmaps.
Need more space-related links? We have plenty on our Astronomy Resources Page.
For other help, contact the Planetarium Supervisor at (206) 443-2385.
Originally installed in October of 1977, the Willard Smith planetarium has hosted thousands of families, adults, and school children. After more than 33 years of delivering educational programming, the Willard Smith Planetarium has undergone a technological transformation. The planetarium closed for the month of November in 2010 to allow Pacific Science Center to install the first half of a brand-new, state-of-the-art projection system created by Zeiss Optics. The new digital projectors allow science center staff to present up-to-the minute NASA photographs, research and movies. In addition, the new projector allows guests to view five times as many stars. The new projector virtually transports guests to the mountains to view a pristine sky, unhindered by clouds or light pollution. It even has the ability to show you more stars than the human eye can perceive in the natural world, without the assistance of technology. These renovations are just the beginning. Pacific Science Center is dedicated to presenting science to our fullest capacity. As technology continues to open the door in communicating scientific discovery, Pacific Science Center will continue to make improvements to enhance the guest experience.
The Zeiss Spacegate DUO is made possible by a grant from NASA, which supports programming in the Willard Smith Planetarium, on the road around Washington state with our Science on Wheels portable planetariums, and increased astronomy achievement in Discovery Corps, Pacific Science Center's youth development program.
