Planetarium Shows

Visit the planets, travel to a black hole, observe spinning galaxies or study the Earth from space in the Virginia Living Museum’s 71-seat Abbitt Planetarium Theater. Using our state-of-the-art digital full-screen projection system, we can recreate the many wonders of the universe, including the stars and constellations of the sky for any season of the year – all from the comfort of an armchair.

All daytime programs cost $4 plus Museum admission. VLM members are admitted free to day-time programs.

The Abbitt Planetarium is open:

Memorial Day through Labor Day: Daily

October through May: Wednesdays through Sundays and holiday Mondays

Planetarium is closed for annual maintenance in September

List of Shows

Virginia Skies

Ongoing: days and times vary. Check the calendar.

Cost: VLM members free, non-members $4 plus Museum admission. Buy Tickets

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.

The Friendly Stars

January 2 – May 26: Check the calendar.

Recommended: ages 6 and under, accompanied by an adult

Cost: VLM members free, non-members $4 plus Museum admission. Buy Tickets

Introduce your little astronomer to the wonders of the sky with this gentle and interactive program for preschoolers. One of our staff astronomers, with some help from our friendly Sun character Sol and the chatty stars of the night sky, will guide you and your little ones on a journey from day to night and show you some of the exciting things you can find just by looking up. An excellent “first experience” program for children before coming on their first field trip with their kindergarten class.

Laser Retro

Now through May 26. Check the calendar.

Recommended: ages 6 and above

Cost: VLM members free, non-members $4 plus Museum admission. Buy Tickets

Totally awesome! Let our lasers take you back to the days of leg warmers, big hair and excellent music! Fun for the whole family, you’ll rock on to music from great ’80s bands like New Order, The Cure and way more. Astonishing laser art is coupled with upbeat rock and pop songs from one of the most exciting periods in mainstream music: the ‘80s! Like, don’t miss it.

Please note that daytime shows will feature a reduced playlist for time considerations. Song selections determined by the operator.

This program is family-friendly: Inappropriate song lyrics have been eliminated or blanked.

Show Playlist

Lunatic Fringe by Red Rider
Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears
One Thing Leads to Another by The Fixx
Message in a Bottle by The Police
Blue Monday by New Order
Rio by Duran Duran
Life in a Northern Town by The Dream Academy

Never Let Me Down Again by Depeche Mode
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics
Just Like Heaven by The Cure
She Blinded Me With Science by Thomas Dolby
Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) by Icicle Works
New Sensation by INXS
Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Eclipse 2017

Now through Sept. 4. Check the calendar.

Recommended: ages 10 and above

Cost: VLM members free, non-members $4 plus Museum admission. Buy Tickets

The Great American Eclipse is coming! In August, the United States will experience a rare and marvelous event – a total eclipse of the Sun. Join us for this timely program that will give you all the information you need to know about how, when and where to view this astronomical spectacle safely.

Laser Pop

May 27 – June 30. Check the calendar.

Cost: VLM members free, non-members $4 plus Museum admission. Buy Tickets

The hottest pop artists and the latest laser art come together in a sensational, eye-POPping laser show that will have your heart thumping and your feet tapping! Laser Pop features sizzling stars, both past and present, in brilliant laser light. It’s an amazing mix of hits from great bands like The Beach Boys, Smashmouth, N’Sync, Pink and many more!

This program is family-friendly: Inappropriate song lyrics have been eliminated or blanked.

Show Playlist

Pop–N’Sync
Get This Party Started–Pink
Beatles Medley–The Beatles
I’m A Believer–Smashmouth
Desert Rose–Sting

Beach Boys Medley–The Beach Boys
Cosmic Thing–The B52’s
Digital Get Down–N’Sync
Kryptonite–3 Doors Down

Oasis in Space

May 27 – July 9. Check the calendar.

Recommended: ages 8 and up

Cost: VLM members free, non-members $4 plus Museum admission. Buy Tickets

Water: our most precious resource. Without it, life could not exist on our planet. Is the reverse also true? If we search for water, will we also find life? Stunning imagery will captivate you as we journey to, and sometimes even below, the surfaces of our neighbor worlds to discover whether life might be possible beyond our home planet. Oasis in Space takes you on a startling and beautiful journey through our Solar System and beyond in search of water and water worlds like Earth. Incorporating the latest results of astronomical research and exploration, including recent data from robot explorers, Oasis in Space offers a new perspective on a substance of obvious importance to our planet.

Oasis in Space is the first in a series of fulldome video programs for Spitz’s ElectricSky theaters to be entirely produced using original 3D computer animation. With a proven, audience-tested story, visually immersive imagery and an original surround-sound musical score, Oasis in Space will inform, delight and entertain viewers of all ages.

Saturn: The Ringworld

May 27 – Sept. 4. Check the calendar.

Recommended: ages 10 and up

Cost: VLM members free, non-members $4 plus Museum admission. Buy Tickets

September 15th, the Cassini spacecraft will end its 20-year odyssey with a spectacular plunge into Saturn. Join us in the planetarium as we celebrate the incredibly successful Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn and its rings and moons. Featuring some of the intrepid spacecraft’s best images, you won’t want to miss this stunning fulldome presentation.

Kaluoka’hina

May 27 – Sept. 4. Check the calendar.

Cost: VLM members free, non-members $4 plus Museum admission. Buy Tickets

The colorful inhabitants of Kaluoka’hina, Kaluoka-hina an enchanted reef with magic to protect against humans finding it, live in peace until a volcano erupts and the spell is broken. Can a young sawfish and his pal restore the magic?