Henry B. duPont III Planetarium
Digital and Live Full-Dome Planetarium Shows
Our digital full-dome theater features a seamless 33-foot diameter dome and a dual-projector 4k laser projection system. Digistar 2025 by Evans & Sutherland transforms our planetarium into a virtual starship, creating real-time visualizations that transport our audience to other planets, star systems, and beyond. Our planetarium also screens pre-recorded shows on a variety of topics including spaceflight, aviation, biology, and history.
We have an audience capacity of 65 seats for regular shows, with the ability to expand to 85 seats for special events. All seats are removable for easy accessibility.
Admission to public shows requires a media pass, which can be purchased at the front desk. One media pass grants admission to all planetarium shows and special presentations for the day.
The planetarium is also available for private bookings and events, including school trips, scout groups, birthday parties, corporate events, and weddings. Contact us for more info.
Have questions about astronomy and space science? Ask an astronomer and check out our social media to see if your question has been answered!
The Henry B. duPont III Planetarium is brought to you by the Nor’easter Foundation.
What's playing this month?
Interested in a specific show? To see all available show times, head to our Hours & Showtimes page.
Digital Fulldome Shows
Interested in an easy trip to learn about our planet and beyond? Our collection of 360 degree films will transport you around the globe and throughout space on journeys that are both fun and educational!
Big Astronomy
Ages 9 and up
Run Time: 26 mins
In Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries, journey to three world-class observatories in Chile’s rugged Andes Mountains and the arid Atacama Desert— remote, extreme regions that happen to have the perfect conditions for astronomical research. Along the way, you’ll meet an inspiring cast of astronomers, engineers, technicians, and support staff who keep these mega-machines running.
Dark Side of Light
Ages 8 and up
Run Time: 22 mins
Have you ever been to a planetarium? Have you admired the beautiful night sky dotted with thousands of stars projected above your head? Doesn’t it feel strange that the naturally dark starry night sky – the one that was a source of inspiration for our ancestors for thousands of years – is now so rare for us that we have to travel to designated areas to see it in its full beauty?
Why and how do we humans destroy our surroundings with light pollution, what impact it has not only on us, but on nature as a whole, and also what each of us can do about it – all of this is presented in the Dark Side of the Light.
One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure
Ages 3 - 5
Run Time: 25 mins
Young audience members will be thrilled when they find themselves on Sesame Street with their famous friends, Big Bird and Elmo.
The fun begins when Elmo’s friend, Hu Hu Zhu, visits from China and the three of them take the audience on an exciting journey of discovery to learn about the Sun, stars, and Big Dipper. Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu blast off on an imaginary trip to the Moon and when they return home to Earth everyone discovers that, no matter where we live, we all share the same sky.
Live Fulldome Shows
Looking for the more classic planetarium experience? In our live shows, join a member of our planetarium staff as they teach you about all things astronomy!
Tour of the Solar System
Ages 9 and up
Runtime: 20-25 minutes
Join our educators for a tour of Earth’s nearest neighbors! From planets and dwarf planets to moons and more, you’ll see some of the major bodies in our solar system and learn about how our understanding of our place in the universe develops with each new discovery.
Skies Tonight
Ages 9 and up
Runtime: 20-25 minutes
Coming to a dark sky near you! Join our experts as they take you on a fantastic journey through the nighttime sky. Students are shown how to locate and identify the stars, planets, and constellations visible in the evening sky at the time of their visit. The Galaxy awaits…
Astronomy After Dark
Want to engage with content that dives deeper than our typical programming? Our Astronomy After Dark series is designed for ages 13+ and features content for true space enthusiasts.
Shows run between 30-45 minutes. Please be aware that Astronomy After Dark is geared towards an adult audience and viewers younger than 13 may be asked to leave to respect others' experience.
Entry at or after 6 p.m. requires only a media pass--no general admission required! Doors close promptly at 6:15 and no late entry will be permitted.
From Earth to the Universe
Ages 13 and up
Runtime: 30 min
The night sky, both beautiful and mysterious, has been the subject of campfire stories, ancient myths, and awe for as long as there have been people. A desire to comprehend the Universe may well be humanity’s oldest shared intellectual experience. Yet only recently have we truly begun to grasp our place in the vast cosmos. To learn about this journey of celestial discovery, from the theories of the ancient Greek astronomers to today’s grandest telescopes, we invite you to experience From Earth to the Universe!
Watch a preview of the show here!
Seeing: A Photon's Journey Across Time, Space, and Mind
Ride a photon across the Galaxy to your mind’s eye and experience how we see. This planetarium show follows a photon’s creation and journey across the Galaxy to a young stargazer’s eye. We’ll follow the photon into the stargazer’s eye to learn about the structures of the eye and their functions before taking a ride on the optic nerve!