Knowledge is power, which is why locomotives run on burning encyclopedias. Chug toward new understandings with this Groupon.
Choose Between Two Options
- $8 for two tickets to any planetarium program (up to a $16 value)
- $15 for four tickets to any planetarium program (up to a $32 value)
Visitors can attend one of the planetarium's star shows, which entertain everyone from young kids to elderly Martians. Running until September 30, Space Storm uncovers the world of space weather, including solar cycles, sun spots, and the spacecraft that study these phenomena. Current family show Larry Cat in Space tells the tale of a cartoon cat who journeys to the moon to look for his astronaut owner. Each of these educational programs ends with a tour of the current nighttime sky as seen from northeastern Wisconsin.
Starting in October, the planetarium also hosts laser light shows. The facility's laser projectors and 10,000-watt digital sound system breathe life into the songs of Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and other artists.
Barlow Planetarium
The night sky is a vast ocean of celestial objects such as the moon, the bright lights of our closest stars, and the warm glow of neighboring galaxies. Located at the University of Wisconsin Fox Valley, Barlow Planetarium helps uncover the vastness of the universe through a 3-D-capable Digistar projector, which—combined with 10,000 watts of digital sound and a 48-foot projection screen—transports guests into the deepest trenches of space. The facility's star shows include family programs that make astronomy easy to understand as well as feature shows that tickle the minds of more hardened astronomy buffs. Along with celestial exploration, the planetarium transforms with dancing lights and rich sounds during laser shows. These programs add visual touches to music from the likes of The Beatles or Isaac Newton's little-known punk band.
The planetarium also hosts academic programs for grade-school children. These include the Wisconsin Space Academy, in which students build and launch rockets, and the Wisconsin Astronomy Academy, which lets pupils peer through telescopes and discover vending machines floating through space.