Stargazing/Laser Evenings

Stargazing

The Virginia Living Museum offers free stargazing beginning at sunset on the second Saturday of every month. Stargazing is weather dependent. Several telescopes are set up on the grounds and staff astronomers are available to help visitors identify objects in the night sky.

The evening also includes a planetarium program and several laser shows. Shows are $3 for VLM members, $6 for non-members. Double features are $5 for VLM members and $10 for non-members.

The Wild Side Café is open on Stargazing – Laser evenings (times vary).

Laser Nights

Looking for some Saturday night fun? Start with a planetarium program. Then experience a sensory extravaganza as laser shows provide music to both the eyes and ears every second Saturday of the month. The museum has an incredible laser system that splashes brilliant high-color LED laser light all across the entire surface of the dome. It’s the most amazing light show you’ve ever seen! Plus, there’s music to suit every taste. Different bands are featured every month.

Cost: Members $3, non-members $6 per show. Double features are $5 for VLM members and $10 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased in advance.

Saturday, March 14

Free observing begins at approximately 6:00 p.m.

Show Cost: Members $3 per show, non-members $6 per show. Double features are $5 for VLM members and $10 for non-members.

Purchase Tickets Now

Laser Spirit

Time: 6:30 pm
Recommended: ages 6 and above

Celebrate our great nation and her heroes with this dazzling mix of music of and inspired by America. Enjoy hits from Lee Greenwood, Kansas, The Beatles, Gloria Estefan and many others! Enjoy laser fireworks in the cool of the Abbitt Planetarium!

Show Playlist

Summon the Heroes by John Williams
Beautiful Day by U2
Music by Madonna
Beatles Medley by The Beatles
Reach by Gloria Estefan

Santorini by Yanni
Rock Lobster by The B52s
Birds Fly by Icicle Works
Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas
Patriotic Medley including Aaron Copeland & Lee Greenwood

Virginia Skies

Time: 7:30 pm

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.

Hypnotica

Time: 8:30pm

Techno and lasers – perfect together. Join us for a body-shaking laser experience with pulsing beats, dazzling lights, and incredibly imagery. Featuring bands like The Crystal Method, Delerium, Faithless and many more.

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

Show Playlist

Trip Like I Do by the Crystal Method
Love Island by Fat Boy Slim
Insomnia by Faithless
Narayan by Prodigy
Joga by Björk
Silence by Delerium

Music: Response by The Chemical Brothers
Acid 8000 by Fat Boy Slim
Comin’ Back by The Crystal Method
Setting Sun by the Chemical Brothers

Laser Queen

Time: 10pm
Recommended: ages 15 and above

There can be only one… Laser Queen! Since its World Premiere at Pacific Science Center, Laser Queen has been an instantclassic for audiences of all ages. Queen perfected the art of creating the most epic, and immortal rock anthems of all time. Freddie Mercury may be gone, but the Queen saga lives on! The rock will be loud, emotions high, and LASER light bright when we play all the sing-along hits: “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Under Pressure,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” and of course “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Playlist

Stone Cold Crazy
Princes of the Universe
Killer Queen
Bohemian Rhapsody
We Are the Champions
Fat Bottomed Girls
Under Pressure
We Will Rock You

Bicycle Race
Another One Bites the Dust
Best Friend
Flash
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Somebody to Love
I Want it All

Dark Side of the Moon

Time: 11:30pm
Recommended: ages 15 and above

From the very beginning of lasers, this album has represented the ultimate in laser show experiences. And it’s still true today. Join us for the seminal laser show experience with one of the most incredible albums of all time. Considered by many critics to be the album that brought the commercial breakthrough to Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon offers a mixture of psychedelic, rock and jazz sounds. Its sonic backdrops and atmospheric soundscapes combined with a unique assortment of sound effects yield an emotional resonance. When accompanied by a diverse and unusual display of laser art, the overall feel is a dramatic and haunting atmosphere.

Some of these songs contain lyrics some parents may find objectionable.Please be aware that volume levels during our Pink Floyd program will be high and the imagery can be intense.

Playlist

Speak to Me
Breathe
On the Run
Time
The Great Gig in the Sky

Speak to Me
Breathe
On the Run
Time
The Great Gig in the Sky

Saturday, April 11

Free observing begins at approximately 8 pm.

Show Cost: Members $3 per show, non-members $6 per show. Double features are $5 for VLM members and $10 for non-members.

Purchase Tickets Now

Hollywood vs. Reality: Apollo 13

Time: 6 pm

Our Astronomy Expert, Dr. Kelly Herbst, will compare and contrast the actual events of Apollo 13 to what was showed in the 1995 docudrama Apollo 13.

Virginia Skies

Time: 7:30 pm

Laser Beatles

Time: 8:30 pm

The Fab Four fill the theater with music and laser light in this exciting and fun show for the whole family. Featuring great Beatles hits like Revolution, Nowhere Man, Help, and tons more, this show is as timeless as the Beatles themselves. All ages and backgrounds will appreciate this fantasy tribute of music and light to The Beatles and how they helped define a generation.

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

Show Playlist

Magical Mystery Tour
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Twist and Shout
A Hard Day’s Night
Nowhere Man
Help!

Yesterday

Octopus’ Garden

Revolution

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

A Day in the Life

Laser Vinyl

Time: 10 pm

Laser Aerosmith features hits by the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers including “Sweet Emotion,” “Walk This Way,” “Dream On,” “Back in the Saddle,” and “Train Kept A-Rollin’.” The songs may be retro, but the light displays and multimedia experience are state of the art.

Show Playlist

Sweet Emotion
Livin’ on the Edge
Jaded
Janie’s Got a Gun
Walk this Way
Dude (Looks Like a Lady)

Dream On
Angel’s Eye
Train Kept a-Rollin’
Love in an Elevator
Back in the Saddle
What Kind of Love are You On

The Wall

Time: 11:30pm
Recommended: ages 15 and above

The Wall is best considered as a continual story rather than a collection of individual songs. It tells the tale of a rock star named Pink and his downward spiral into madness. To the listener, and indeed many critics, The Wall is a gripping and spellbinding musical journey – beautiful, haunting, powerful and thought provoking. It is a timeless classic, and one of Pink Floyd’s best, becoming the group’s second best seller behind Dark Side of the Moon.

Now coupled with spectacular and mesmerizing laser art, Pink Floyd’s classic 1979 epic about personal struggle takes on a unique look, weaving its story in one of the most popular laser shows ever produced! Visitors will become lost and spellbound as their senses join this timeless journey.

Please note that we do not recommend this program for children under the age of 15.

Some of these songs contain lyrics some parents may find objectionable.

Please be aware that volume levels during our Pink Floyd program will be high and the imagery can be intense.

Playlist