Astronomy & Space

Immerse yourself in a journey through space and time in our awesome 120 seat planetarium—a community resource that has been missing in the Twin Cities since 2002. From the comfort of a plush reclining seat, you’ll feel like you’re flying through Earth’s atmosphere to the far reaches of the universe, delving inside plant life and the human body, or swimming the Great Lakes.

A 16-meter aluminum dome surrounds you in our new digital theater, offering larger-than-life views in front, above, and behind. Also, the dome is constructed using the latest “seamless” technology, making it the first of its kind in the world! Scientific data merges with animations and video to create crisp and stunning imagery. 5.1 digital surround sound audio and theatrical lighting provide the finishing touches. Guests can enjoy two types of planetarium experiences:

Featured productions

Grounded in current science issues, our featured productions combine fast-paced storytelling with beautiful visuals. Each of our productions not only engages all audiences, but they also meet Minnesota preK–12 curricular objectives. Following each production, planetarium educators host a live Q&A session.

Keep an eye out for original Bell productions like Mysteries of Your Brain and Minnesota in the Cosmos!

Live presentations

Our tradition of live programs continues at the Bell. Planetarium educators use real time software to create immersive visuals that highlight the topics they’re discussing with the audience.

In our live shows you can explore everything from the first satellite in space to the future journey to Mars, to the vast expanse of our universe. Regular updates to the planetarium software allows our planetarium educators to talk about current happenings in science with illustrative visuals, such as newly discovered exoplanets and gravity waves.

See a show

As the only dedicated public planetarium in Minnesota, we are proud to have public shows every day (Wednesday–Sunday, 10am to 4pm). Shows and showtimes vary, but you can get the latest information online via the link below.

Click here for tickets and availability.

Our astronomy team will help you discover what you can see in the day and night skies using everything from high-powered equipment and to the naked eye.

We host regular observing events on the Ruth and John Huss Observation Deck all year! Check our events calendar for details on Solar Sundays (every other Sunday, 12-2 pm) and Star Parties (September–May).

Minnesota’s Astronomy Classroom

We are thrilled to share the wonders of the cosmos with you. The next time you visit the museum, pick up a free copy of Minnesota Skies: Star Map, our bi-monthly guide with information about upcoming moon phases, astronomy highlights, a custom star map, stargazing tips, and more.

We also post a list of sky-lights every month on the Bell Blog.

Skynet Scholars is a program for middle and high school students that puts them in the driver’s seat to conduct their own scientific explorations of the universe.

Scholars learn how to access a global network of research-grade telescopes that serve professional astronomers and students alike over the internet. They will get to experience hands-on astronomy and STEM based activities including the use of robotic telescopes to take their own astronomical images.

Learn more about this exciting program!