Planetarium Shows

The Abbitt Planetarium is open for PUBLIC SHOWS on select days. Enjoy activities in the lobby prior to some shows included in your planetarium ticket! (See schedule below)

NOTE: General Admission is required. Planetarium ticket can be reserved as an add on.

Cost: VLM members FREE (but must reserve seat), non-members $4 with general admission

Due to rising COVID-19 cases in the area, all guests ages 5 & up are required to wear masks while participating in these programs.

PRIVATE SHOWS can be reserved for 5 people or less for any planetarium show of your choice. Full Planetarium Rental: Members $100 and non-members $200. For larger groups please call Reservations Office.

Daily tickets can be purchased at front desk. For questions on Planetarium shows call the Reservations Office at 757-595-9135, Monday – Friday, 9 am – 4:30 pm.

List of Scheduled Shows

Shows occur at 1:30pm on the dates specified unless otherwise stated.

Dates	Planetarium Program
January 8 & 9	Virginia Skies
January 15, 16, 17	One World, One Sky (12:30 pm) Astronaut (1:30pm)
January 22, 23, 29, 30	Virginia Skies
February 5, 6, 12, 13	Legends of the Night Sky: Orion
February 19, 20, 21	One World, One Sky (12:30pm) Legends of the Night Sky: Orion (1:30pm) Noisy Neighbors: A Frog Story (2:30pm)
February 26 – May 1 (Saturdays & Sundays)	Legends of the Night Sky: Orion
April 23 & 24 (Earth Day Weekend)	Solar System Odyssey (12:30 pm) Legends of the Night Sky: Orion (1:30pm)

Description of Shows

Virginia Skies

Explore the evening skies above Virginia in this classic planetarium presentation. A staff astronomer will discuss seasonal constellations as well as any planets visible. Additional topics may be explored depending on celestial happenings around the time of your visit.

One World, One Sky

A Sesame Street Adventure! Join Big Bird, Elmo and their new friend Hu hu Xiu as they explore the sky.

Recommended for ages 6 and under

Astronaut

Do you have the right stuff to be an Astronaut? Find out in this amazing full dome movie.

Recommended for ages 10 and up

Noisy Neighbors: A Frog Story

Discover the danger faced by amphibians and how you can help save them in this multimedia planetarium presentation.

Recommended for ages 10 and up

Legends of the Night Sky: Orion

Explore the night sky in our backyard and hear the classic tale of Orion the Hunter as told in lasers!

Recommended for ages 6 and up

Solar System Odyssey

“Solar System Odyssey” is a character-driven adventure set in the future, in a time when humans have depleted the resources of their home planet. A business tycoon recruits our hero, Jack Larson, on a mission to discover a new home for humans to colonize. The journey takes Jack, an important stowaway, and you on an exciting exploration of our cosmic neighborhood, including the icy rings of Saturn, Jupiter’s volcano-ridden moon Io and the sub-zero methane lakes of Saturn’s moon Titan. Can humans find another place to settle before the Earth becomes unlivable? And what will happen to our home planet? Find out in this wild solar system adventure!