EXPERIENCE THE NEW NORTH MUSEUM PLANETARIUM!

Planetarium upgrade to provides an immersive experience

Get ready to explore the universe like never before as the North Museum Planetarium received a cosmic make-over. A new digital projector now splashes video across our entire 41-foot dome providing an immersive experience and propelling central Pennsylvania’s largest planetarium into the 21st century.

You’ll feel like you are soaring through the universe, visiting the planets, or running along with dinosaurs, with video completely surrounding you.

Our new High Definition system and high brightness projector, the first of its kind in the nation. The cutting-edge system was developed by ePlanetarium of Houston, Texas.

This new projector system dramatically improves our visitors’ experience. Not only are we be better able to visually show astronomical concepts, but we’ll be able to use the planetarium technology to venture into the other sciences.

We'll continue to use our star projector to provide its incredibly accurate depiction of the night sky for our live Night Sky Tour programs.

The $50,000 projector comes with a new sound system and shows. Two board members, Andrew H. Appel and Roger W. Sandt, are spearheading the fund drive to make this possible. Also leading the way are Lancaster Neuroscience and Spine Associates in honor of Dr. Dan Good, Caroline S. Nunan, and Dan and Karen Good.

The North Museum Planetarium first opened its doors in 1953 and has served as south-central Pennsylvania’s largest planetarium ever since.  In addition to the beautiful optical star field, the Planetarium system can project panoramic, all-sky and video imagery. Constellations, planets, space exploration, galaxies and nebulae are close to home! Along with regularly scheduled shows and weekday school programs, the planetarium offers educational workshops for Boy and Girl Scouts as well as a special outreach star lab to help spread the thrill of the mysteries of outer space to all!

To visit the North Museum and experience a Planetarium program, the admission rates are:

• Adults - $8.50
• Juniors (ages 3-17) - $7.50
• Seniors (ages 65 +) - $7.50
• Children 2 and under - Free
• North Museum Members - Free

Please stop by the Front Desk as you enter the Museum to purchase your Planetarium tickets.  Additional planetarium programs are $3.50 each.

Planetarium programs are shown every Saturday and Sunday from September through May.  An expanded summer provides planetarium programs everyday from June through August.

Planetarium program seating may be limited and shows may be subject to change.

Out of consideration to those around you and for copyright purposes, no photography, video or audio recording is allowed in the Planetarium during shows. Please silence your cell phone during the program.

Restrooms are available on the Museum’s lower level; please use them before the show starts. For safety reasons, guests cannot be re-admitted to the planetarium once a show has begun.

To book a private showing for your school or organization during the week, call the Education office at 717.291.4371. 

Contact North Museum Planetarium at 717.291.4315 or at cosmicmike@northmuseum.org.