Stars Around the World
About
Pole-to-Pole
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!
Average Show Length: 45 minutes (Live Performance)
This live show includes:
- Observational astronomy
- Cultural interpretations of the night sky
- How latitude and longitude impact the sky overhead
- Constellations and deep sky objects of the southern hemisphere
- And more!
Show Overview:
Explore the sky from pole-to-pole in the McDonnell Planetarium’s live star show Stars Around the World. Enjoying the beauty of a starry sky is universal across cultures, but the sights visible overhead change dramatically with your home on Earth.
This live show begins with a familiar night sky in St. Louis, then transports audience members to changing locations across the globe. Compare the stars visible in the heart of a city to a remote location far from lights. Then, travel to the opposite side of the world to learn how other cultures interpret the same stars we see each night. Next, venture to the far arctic regions to explore the northern circumpolar stars and the beauty of aurora. Lastly, fly south of the equator to discover the tropical constellations of the southern hemisphere and celestial sights never visible in St. Louis, like the Magellanic Clouds and the dying star Eta Carinae.
Stars Around the World provides audiences with a virtual vacation and an escape from the familiar stars you see each night. Join us to discover there is always a reason to look up all around the world!
UPCOMING SHOWS
There are no upcoming events at this time.
Astrotourism
Astrotourism is the act of traveling to locations ideal for stargazing far from city lights.
Chile features a growing industry centered on astrotourism. The country’s climate provides over 300 clear nights per year. Other optimal conditions include the low amount of dust particles, an ideal level of humidity and Chile’s high and dry geography, which are all factors that give Chile’s skies the perfect conditions to install telescopes and contribute to the advancement of astronomy and astrotourism.
Northern Chile has some of the largest and most important observatories on Earth, such as the ALMA Observatory’s Radio-telescope (Atacama Large Millimeter Array), the La Silla Observatory, and soon, Paranal Observatory’s newest ELT (Extremely Large Telescope) which will turn this astronomic center into the World’s largest optic astronomic center.
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Star Show Pricing
This is a paid experience. |
Price
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| Members | FREE* |
| Adults (ages 13-59) | $6 |
| Children (ages 2-12) | $5 |
| Seniors (ages 60+) | $5 |
| Military | $4 |
Groups (10 or more): $5 for school groups, $5 for all other groups
Location
The Planetarium Entrance in Forest Park is currently closed. Please park and enter at 5050 Oakland Avenue.
Star Shows take place in the Star Bay, the 2nd floor, of the Planetarium. Access is available through the stairs or elevator from the main Planetarium lobby.
Due to the dark nature of the planetarium, late admittance or reentry is not permitted. Please arrive on time for your Star Show.
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.
