The North Museum Planetarium is the largest in south-central Pennsylvania. In addition to the beautiful star field, the planetarium can project panoramic, all-sky and video imagery. Constellations, planets, space exploration, galaxies and nebulae are close to home! Thrill to the mysteries of outer space, right here in Lancaster!

Knowledgeable staff present programs that stimulate thought and answer students questions. Many of our programs satisfy specific Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Science. These include the fourth grade standards “reoccurring patterns in nature” (3.1.4C) and “the composition and structure of the universe and the Earth's place in it” (3.4.4D).

Current Public Program Descriptions

Astro-Tots
Recommended for  3 and 4 year olds
Free! A program for the youngest stargazers! Using song and stuffed animals, the program explains how the rotation of the Earth causes night and day, and introduces some of the major seasonal constellations. Astro-Tots is approximately 12 minutes long.

Our Place in Space
Recommended for ages 6 through 8
This colorful and educational program teaches children several basic astronomical concepts (why the sun seems to move across the sky, why the sun looks small even though it is huge), illustrates the constellations, and takes a short tour of the solar system and several types of celestial objects (stars, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies.) The program is “hosted” by an array of endangered animals, whose dialogue holds the interest of any elementary student. It is recommended that children have a basic ability to read so they can comprehend Scarlet McCaw's efforts to find all the astronomy words needed to complete a crossword puzzle during the program.

Mars: Living or Dead
Recommended for ages 10 and older                                                                                                                                             Explore the history of Mars as we look at clues and evidence that may lead to the possibility of life on the Martian planet.  From astronomers like Schiaparelli and Lowell to the mission findings of old and new, Mars: Living or Dead will tackle the age old question “Is there life on Mars?” (Created by the Koch Planetarium, Evansville, Indiana)

Night Sky Tour
Recommended for ages 10 and older
Our planetarium staff will teach how to identify the stars, constellations, and planets of the current night sky, along with observing tips for upcoming celestial events. Packed with mythology, science facts, and celestial anecdotes, the sky will come alive and you'll really be able to identify constellations from your own backyard! This live-lectured program includes a musical tour of beautiful celestial vistas, using the planetarium's amazing all-sky projection system!

 Coming Soon Public Program Descriptions

Coming May 23...

Laserpalooza- Laser Light Shows
Recommended age varies - dependant of show                                                                                                                                Click here for Detailed Laserpalooza Schedule
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Coming June 14...

The Super Sky Show
Recommended for ages 4 - 7
It’s the Super Sky Show! With your host — Seymour Sky! Today Seymour welcomes the Sun and Earth (a
bickering sister act), Queen Cassiopeia (on tour promoting an upcoming television program on her life) and a
mystery guest (who turns out to be Draco the dragon). Before the first guests appear, Seymour reads his Top
Seven List of favourite tie colours. Between guest interviews, we watch a “skycam” video Seymour shot on
his drive through the northern sky, cut to a commercial break from the show sponsors — the Circle, Square
and Triangle — and go on a sky safari to visit the animal constellations. The Super Sky Show wraps up as
Seymour and his guests sing “You’re a Star.”  Produced by the Calgary Science Centre.

Blown Away: The Wild World of Weather
Recommended for ages 9 - 13
Discover the awesome fury of a tornado. Become immersed in a category four hurricane and be swept into a
thunderstorm. This virtual adventure provides an incredible look at the Earth’s weather and all its many
forms. Along with spectacular weather footage, Blown Away: The Wild World of Weather features a journey
into space to explore the Sun’s effect on weather conditions and on-screen appearances by news
meteorologists to further uncover the science of our planet’s climate.  Produced by The New Detroit Science Center.

Other Program Descriptions

Hercules and Other Superhero Stars
Recommended for ages 6 through 8
New! Join Hercules and his fellow superhero friends as they help Deanna learn about the stars.  Deanna is greeted by several superheroes who introduce her to fundamental astronomical concepts, including shapes, sizes, colors, temperatures, and the life cycle of stars.

The Stargazer
Recommended for ages 12 and older
This program features the joys of stargazing as seen through the passionate eyes of astronomer Dr. James Kaler from the University of Illinois. Produced by staff at the Minnesota Planetarium, the heavenly "human" lessons learned in this program are profound and powerful.

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In My Backyard
Kindergarten - Grade 1 and older
From the Nickelodeon children's program, entertainer Fred Penner takes children on a fun-filled scientific journey from their backyards to the stars. Visitors can learn while joining in the singing of Fred's clap-along songs, including “We're Going to Shine” and “The Moon Song”! Topics include: seasons, constellations, planets, and the moon.

Once In A Blue Moon
Grade 2 and older
Ancient tales and modern truths come together when a wish made "once in a blue moon" brings everyone's favorite night light to life.  This program is loaded with looney tales and science facts all about  the moon.

Wish Upon A Star
Grades 3 and 4 and older
This show follows a group of young friends who venture to dark skies for the first time. Grandma is the sky expert who shares the splendor of the stars through storytelling and through her telescope. This introduction to stargazing highlights basic concepts of astronomy and finding one's way around the starry night sky.

 Mystery of the Missing Seasons
Grades 3 through 5                                                                                                                                                                                        The planet Dipnot needs your help!  Hoping to discover why this planet doesn't have seasons, two
friendly aliens visit Earth searching for answers.  With the help of Angelo from Earth, explore why we have seasons and see the constellations visible throughout a year.

Explorers of Mauna Kea
Grades 4 and older                                                                                                                                                                                  Explore the tallest mountain on Earth through the eyes of the ancient Hawaiians to the astronomers of today. Learn why Mauna Kea is considered the premiere site on Earth for viewing the Universe.

The Alien Who Stole Christmas
Recommended for  5-7 year olds
Twas the night before Christmas and what should appear but Santa.  In a flying saucer?  Will Christmas ever be the same? Preceded by a short Night Sky Tour of the winter constellations, this planetarium fantasy follows the tune of Twas the Night Before Christmas - with a few changes.  Santa and his alien friend visit other planets of the solar system to see what children on those planets might like for Christmas. 

'tis The Season
Recommended for ages 10 and older                                                                                                                                                     This holiday show is all about the coldest and darkest of seasons - winter.  Learn about the historical, religious and cultural rituals practiced around the winter solstice.  How these customs involve lighting up the season, and of course, the "Star of Bethlehem."

The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket
Recommended for ages 5 through 9                                                                                                                                                     Embark on an adventure with two young explorers who travel the solar system aboard their handmade cardboard rocket. “Book,” the talking astronomy book, helps the travelers land on Venus and Mars, fly through the Great Red Spot on Jupiter, and view the other planets and the Sun up close. “Book” supplies interesting facts about each destination, teaching his students during their wild journey. Soundtrack and sound effects were created at George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch.

Black Holes
Recommended for ages 10 and older                                                                                                                                             Explore the history, research, and properties of Black Holes with the star of the show, Stella, a black hole who was once a star. Stella and her Hollywood agent tackle the difficult and often counter-intuitive properties of Black Holes by explaining these phenomena in everyday language with examples and a good dose of humor. Black Holes is produced by The Science Museum of Virginia.