Planetarium Shows
The Abbitt Planetarium is open for PUBLIC SHOWS on select days.
NOTE: General Admission is required. Planetarium ticket can be reserved as an add on.
Cost: VLM members FREE (but must reserve seat), non-members $6 with general admission
Groups up to 40 people may reserve tickets in regularly scheduled shows. PRIVATE SHOWS must be reserved for groups of 41 to 71 guests. For a list of available shows for private groups, please visit the Group Planetarium Shows page here.
Daily tickets can be purchased at the front desk or through the website using the links below. For questions on group Planetarium shows please call the Reservations Office at 757-595-9135, Monday – Friday, 9 am – 4:30 pm. Large groups are encouraged to book their tickets in advance, as seating for regularly scheduled shows is limited. Private planetarium shows must be booked at least 7 days in advance.
List of Scheduled Shows
Starting on April 2nd, listed planetarium shows will occur Saturday and Sunday at 1:30pm and 2:30pm unless otherwise stated.
Starting Memorial Day Weekend, listed planetarium shows will occur Friday – Sunday at 12:30pm and 1:30pm unless otherwise stated. Crafts hosted will take place in the Planetarium lobby at 12pm and 1pm.
When choosing a showtime, please click one of the below links and navigate to the selected time area of the page, then click Other times: to reveal other ticket options. Clicking on the intended time will allow you to reserve tickets for that show time.
Dates | Craft | Planetarium Program |
May 7 – 22 | Virginia Skies | |
May 27-30 (Memorial Day Weekend) | Make a Planisphere | Virginia Skies |
June 3-5 | Make a Map of the Solar System | Oasis in Space |
June 10-12 | Make a Planisphere | Virginia Skies |
June 17-19 | Make a bug Constellation | Big Bug Skies |
June 24-26 | Make a Map of the Solar System | Oasis in Space |
July 1-4 | Fireworks Splatter Painting | Spirit of America |
July 8-10 | Make a Bug Constellation | Big Bug Skies |
July 15-17 (Shark Weekend) | Make a Moon Phases Predictor | Kaluoka'hina: The Enchanted Reef |
July 22-24 | Make a Planisphere | Virginia Skies |
July 29-31 | Make a Bug Constellation | Big Bug Skies |
August 5-7 | Make a Map of the Solar System | Oasis in Space |
August 12-14 (Meteor Weekend) | Meteorite Mining | Impact! |
August 19-21 | Make a Bug Constellation | Big Bug Skies |
August 26-28 | Make a Map of the Solar System | Oasis in Space |
September 2-5 (Labor Day Weekend) | Make a Planisphere | Virginia Skies |
Description of Shows
Legends of the Night Sky: Orion
Recommended for ages 6 and up
Solar System Odyssey
This program made possible by The Morehead Planetarium and NASA.
Virginia Skies
Big Bug Skies
Join us in the planetarium as one of our staff astronomers goes on a ramble through the stars, looking for pollinators and their pals! You’ll even have the chance to add your own bug constellation to the sky.
Recommended for all ages.
Spirit of America
A patriotic mix of uniquely American music paired with delightful laser animations.
Recommended for ages 6 and up
Kaluoka'hina: The Enchanted Reef
Now it’s up to the young sawfish Jake and his paranoid pal Shorty to restore the magic of Kaluoka’hina. Their only lead: the ancient legend that tells of touching the moon. But how is a fish supposed to touch the moon? This is just one of the intriguing puzzles that Jake and Shorty have to solve on their most exciting adventure ever: the quest to save their beloved reef.
Impact!
Impact! is a fulldome planetarium show that teaches about meteors, meteorites, asteroids, and comets. It includes results from recent NASA missions and about the dangers they can pose to life on Earth. Recommended for ages 10 and up
Special Thanks to the British Fulldome Institute for the use of planetarium shows and clips.