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Guests wearing protective masks enjoying Buhl Planetarium
Take a Seat Under the
Stars Campaign

Full List of Buhl Planetarium Shows

Fly to the Moon, soar to Saturn, gaze at the stars, and traverse distant galaxies without leaving Pittsburgh! Buhl Planetarium offers a variety of planetarium shows designed to delight, educate, and inspire visitors of all ages! Check our calendar for show times.

Planetarium astronomy shows are free to members and are included in general admission. 

Please arrive 10 minutes prior to the show as the show begins promptly at the start time. To ensure a quality experience for our guests, we do not allow late entries.

Coming soon! Expedition: Earth

Join Quasi the robot, our loveable robot explorer on an adventure through our home planet. Fly with the birds and dive into the Great Barrier Reef in this cinematic journey of Earth. Quasi and students will learn how our planet is changing and how to protec it!

Coming soon! Expedition: Moon

Join Quasi the robot, our loveable robot companion, on an adventure through the moons of our Solar System! Travel through the volcanos of Io and the icy oceans of Enceladus, and follow in the footsteps of the famous Apollo Astronauts as Quasi tries to learn if there could be life in space.

NASA’s International Space Station

For more than 25 years, people from all over the world have lived together among the stars aboard the International Space Station. Explore the famous spacecraft and orbiting laboratory where astronauts and cosmonauts from 15 nations work together for a brighter future!

Stars Over North Atlantic

Travel back in time to 1912: a landmark year in history and view the stars as they looked above the cold North Atlantic Ocean the historic night of April 14. The show also explores how one woman changed the way we look at the expanding universe.

Blueprints to Blast Off

Follow the engineering process from blueprints to blastoff on an important mission to the Moon – and beyond to Mars. Learn technology and help humanity explore space. The live interactive decisions YOU make will impact the success of our mission.

Development of this experience was supported by NASA Grant No. NNH19ZHA002N.

Phantom of the Universe

From the journey of protons racing through the world’s largest particle collider in Europe to up-close views of the Big Bang and emergent cosmos, Phantom of the Universe immerses audiences in the search for dark matter.

Big Astronomy

Explore the world-class observatories nestled in northern Chile’s mountains and learn why Chile, with its beautiful mountain ranges and clear, cloudless skies, create an ideal environment for studying the cosmos. It takes many people with diverse backgrounds, talents, and skills to run a world-class observatory. Meet a few of these people as they share the wonder of the sky–and the excitement of discovery.

Two Small Pieces of Glass

While attending a local star party, two teenage students learn how the telescope has helped us understand our place in space and how telescopes continue to expand our understanding of the Universe. Their conversation with a local female astronomer enlightens them on the history of the telescope and the discoveries these wonderful tools have made. The students see how telescopes work and how the largest observatories in the world use these instruments to explore the mysteries of the universe.

While looking through the astronomer’s telescope, the students, along with the planetarium audience, explore the Galilean Moons, Saturn’s rings, and spiral structure of galaxies. During their conversation with the astronomer, they also learn about the discoveries of Galileo, Huygens, Newton, Hubble and many others.

Storytime Under the Stars

Early learners and their grown-ups are invited to enjoy science-themed stories under a starry sky! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the stars and the storytelling, under a bright and beaming Moon in our planetarium.

Storytime Under the Stars is a 15-minute program for early learners and their grown-ups.

Expedition: Solar System

Solar System

Content Themes: Astronomy, Robotics
Join Quasi the Robot, your loveable robot sidekick, on a theatric adventure through the Solar System! Travel to the International Space Station, the canyons and mountains of Mars, the rings of Saturn, and even the heart of Pluto! Meet the fleet of NASA robots expanding our knowledge!
Grades: 1–4

Stars Over Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh skyline at night

Content themes: Celestial Patterns, Solar System, Stars & Galaxies, Regional Science
Take a guided tour through the current night sky in this live presentation. Students will learn how to locate the planets and constellations in their own back yard, as well as the phases of the Moon.
Grades: 3–12

Presented by:

PPG logo

 

Beginners’ Guide to the Universe

Colorful nebula and stars

Content themes: Solar System, Stars & Galaxies
Go on a tour of the universe without leaving Pittsburgh! A live presenter will be your guide as you travel beyond our own Milky Way Galaxy to the farthest reaches of our cosmos.
Grades: 5–12

Space Volcanoes

Mount Vesuvius

Travel from Pompeii to Pluto in a planetarium tour of volcanoes on Earth and in space! Celebrate the festival of Vulcan’s forge in the Ancient Roman city of Pompeii. When in Rome, explore the planets in the night sky on the eve of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius – then voyage to different planets to see how their volcanoes compare! Explore the mighty mountains of Mars and Venus, and even visit the ice volcanoes of Enceladus and Pluto!

For group bookings, add a planetarium show to your package for just $2 per person! Shows can be booked for visits Monday through Friday. Call 412.237.3400 for more information.