Little Astronauts
Ages 4 to 7 · 35 min
Planetarium and observatory · Tucson
The sky, indoors.
An 8K dome, a 36-inch telescope and a very dark desert sky. Move the cursor and look around the dome.
The route
A tour of the solar system, top to bottom.
Four stops on the way out. Scroll and follow the line.
- 150 million km
The Sun
A star so large that a million Earths would fit inside. Its light takes eight minutes to reach you.
- 228 million km
Mars
A cold desert with the tallest volcano in the solar system and a day only forty minutes longer than ours.
- 778 million km
Jupiter
A planet twice as heavy as all the others combined, with a storm that has raged for centuries.
- 1.4 billion km
Saturn
A world lighter than water, wrapped in rings that are mostly ice and no thicker than a building.
Saturday
One day, three places to look up.
Pick a show or move between rooms. Telescope nights run after dark.
DomeScience hallObservation deck10:0010:3011:0011:3012:0012:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3010:00 · 60 min · Dome 11:00 · 60 min · Science hall 12:00 · 60 min · Dome 14:00 · 60 min · Observation deck 15:00 · 60 min · Dome 17:00 · 60 min · Dome 19:30 · 90 min · Observation deck 20:00 · 60 min · Dome
Build a rocket
Workshop for ages 8+
Journey to the Edge
Full-dome film · 50 min
Looking at the Sun safely
With solar telescopes
The Night Sky Tonight
Live · 45 min
Journey to the Edge
Full-dome film · 50 min
Telescope night
Saturn and the Moon
The Night Sky Tonight
Live · 45 min
Book in three taps
Show, day, time. Done.
Everything on one screen: pick from left to right and the summary underneath keeps up.
1Service
2Day
3Time
Wed 14
Thu 15
Fri 16
Sat 17
Sun 18
The hill
Four rooms, one at a time.
Run your cursor down the list, or tab through it. Each place opens to show what it is for.
01The dome theatreA 220-seat, 8K full-dome theatre with reclining seats and a sound system you feel in your ribs.
02The observatoryA working 36-inch telescope on the roof, with a deck for visitors every weekend.
03The lecture hallTalks from visiting scientists, and a stage for school shows.
04The dark-sky terraceNo lights, no screens and the best view of the Milky Way in the county.Visitors
In their words.
“My daughter looked through the telescope and saw Saturn's rings. She still talks about it a year later.”
Sophie L.Visited with family“The dome show made the universe feel close enough to touch. I forgot I was in a theatre.”
Daniel P.Stargazer“The relaxed session meant our son could enjoy it on his own terms. Thank you.”
James O.ParentBook your seat under the stars.
Dome shows from $10. Telescope nights from $22. Under-fives free.