Experience the largest artificial sky in the Western Hemisphere
Star Shows in the Orthwein Starbay Theater are your gateway to the stars and beyond. Let the beauty of a clear, dark sky be your window into the universe as one of our skilled Planetarium Presenters leads each audience on a live exploration of the cosmos.
Shows are offered on a variety of topics and include a 40-45 minute live Planetarium program powered by our world-class ZEISS Universarium Mark IX star projector underneath our 80-foot dome.
After each show, explore the exhibit galleries on the 2nd and 3rd levels of the McDonnell Planetarium available only to guests who attend a Star Show.
Live. Current. Unforgettable.
Current Star Show Schedule
Thursday, April 18
Planetarium: The Sky Tonight
PLANETARIUM: Great Observations
Friday, April 19
Planetarium: The Sky Tonight
Planetarium: The Little Star That Could
PLANETARIUM: Great Observations
Saturday, April 20
Planetarium: The Sky Tonight
Planetarium: The Little Star That Could
PLANETARIUM: Great Observations
Sunday, April 21
Planetarium: The Sky Tonight
PLANETARIUM: Great Observations
Monday, April 22
Planetarium: The Sky Tonight
Planetarium: The Little Star That Could
PLANETARIUM: Great Observations
Thursday, April 25
Planetarium: The Sky Tonight
Planetarium: The Little Star That Could
PLANETARIUM: Great Observations
Friday, April 26
Planetarium: The Sky Tonight
Planetarium: The Little Star That Could
PLANETARIUM: Great Observations
Saturday, April 27
Planetarium: The Sky Tonight
Planetarium: The Little Star That Could
PLANETARIUM: Great Observations
Sunday, April 28
Planetarium: The Sky Tonight
PLANETARIUM: Great Observations
Monday, April 29
Planetarium: The Sky Tonight
Planetarium: The Little Star That Could
Planetarium: Yoga Under The Stars (SOLD OUT)
PLANETARIUM: Great Observations
Monday, May 20
Planetarium: Yoga Under The Stars
Thursday, May 23
PLANETARIUM: Stars Around The World
Friday, May 24
PLANETARIUM: Stars Around The World
Saturday, May 25
PLANETARIUM: Stars Around The World
Sunday, May 26
PLANETARIUM: Stars Around The World
Monday, May 27
PLANETARIUM: Stars Around The World
Thursday, May 30
PLANETARIUM: Stars Around The World
Friday, May 31
PLANETARIUM: Stars Around The World
Monday, June 24
Planetarium: Yoga Under The Stars
Returning 5.23!
Stars Around The World
Explore the sky from pole-to-pole in Stars Around the World!
From the auroras of the arctic north to the tropical constellations of the southern hemisphere, leave the familiar sights of St. Louis behind as we experience the nighttime sky from changing locations on Earth.
Join us to discover there is always a reason to look up all around the world!
Now Showing at the McDonnell Planetarium
Great Observations
“Great Observations” is the story of how watching the sky changed the world. Beginning with humanity’s first observations of the stars, through the aid of telescopes, and up to the modern day, discoveries made by watching the sky influence everything from the basic act of timekeeping to the fundamental way we think about our role in the Universe.
The Sky Tonight
Relax under the clearest night sky in St. Louis as our skilled presenters lead you on tour of the best the night has to offer.
This live show is different every time, so stop back again to discover the changing stars, planets, and other celestial events visible from your own backyard.
The Little Star that Could
A tradition in St. Louis for over 30 years! Developed for our youngest stargazers, experience the timeless story of an “average” star in search of what makes him special. Along his journey, we will discover the differences of stars, planets, and galaxies in the night sky. Note: Not a live performance.
Membership
Members stargaze for free.
Love the Planetarium? Become a Science Center member and watch star shows for free with every visit, as well as get a full year of additional members-only benefits.
Plus, members help support the Science Center and our mission to make science learning open to everyone.
Accessibility
Elevators and ramps serve all public areas of the McDonnell Planetarium.
Planetarium Star Shows rely heavily on live, spoken narration. Sign language interpreters or Communication Access Realtime Transcription (CART) can be provided with advanced notice. Please contact the reservations department to request accommodation prior to scheduling your visit.
We also offer hearing assist devices for Planetarium Star Shows. When ordering tickets, please let your reservationist know you are interested in a hearing assist device, or speak with a Planetarium team member before your program begins.