Sit back and experience the wonders of the night sky with expert astronomers and educators. Be prepared to open your eyes to a whole new world—or worlds!
The Seymour Planetarium is home to historically significant astronomy education tools as well as modern digital presentations. The Korkosz projector is a remarkable example of Springfield ingenuity. Still used in our planetarium presentation, this Springfield-made “star ball” is the oldest operating American-made projector in the world. A new full-dome video system using Zeiss Velvet projectors covers the dome with images and video, creating immersive experiences in Astronomy and Earth Science. These projectors are the only projectors in the world that have a pure black background, enhancing the beauty of our historic Korkosz projector’s optical star field.
Tickets
$5 Ages 8 and up
Free for Museum members
In addition to museum admission. Purchase tickets below.
Seymour Planetarium upgrades have been made possible with major support from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.
Coming May 25!
Did a space rock six miles wide slam into the Earth 66 million years ago and wipe out 75 percent of all living species at that time, including the dinosaurs? Join Maddie as she explores this impact and cosmic collisions across the Solar System in this dynamic new show. Features footage from the first iridium layer found in Gubbio, Italy. Running time: 45 minutes with live Q&A
As the dome fills with moving, swirling, kaleidoscopic light and color, sweet melodious sounds enter through our outer ears, hit our ear drums, jiggle the tiniest bones in our inner ears, and the stereocilia send transmissions up to our brains to remind us what year our favorite singer was born: 1989! Lean back in your chair or stand up and dance as the Museums presents highlights of Taylor Swift’s top-selling album, combined with a visual spectacle on the dome in Seymour Planetarium. Look for Easter eggs integrated into the dynamic visuals as we remind you, we only play Taylor’s Version. Running time: 30 minutes
Big Bird, Elmo and their friend from China, Hu HuZhu, take viewers on a journey of discovery! One World, One Sky is a brilliant spectacle of light and color as the furry friends watch the stars twinkle over Sesame Street. Children attending the show can interact as they watch, drawing constellations and counting the time it takes the sun to set. The show aims to nurture a child’s natural sense of wonder about the night sky while forging cross-cultural connections, and bridging kids across nations through a common bond in learning about the sky together. Running time: 45 minutes with live Q&A.
One of our experienced astronomy staff will be your guide in this live presentation. Using our historic star projector and effects from our new Zeiss full-dome system, they will show you stars, constellations, and other sights in the night sky that you can find over the next few weeks. Running time: 45 minutes with live Q&A.
Whether earthly or alien, all life leaves a trace. Join narrator Daveed Diggs on a journey through space and time to discover how life makes Earth livable, where it could be found elsewhere in the cosmos, and what new technologies we might use to find it. Along the way, you’ll learn how light and color can help us spot other living worlds even from vast distances—and develop a new appreciation for the one-of-a-kind planet right beneath our feet.
The night sky, both beautiful and mysterious, has inspired awe and been the subject of campfire stories, and ancient myths for as long as there have been people. A desire to comprehend the Universe may well be humanity’s oldest shared intellectual experience. Yet only recently have we truly begun to grasp our place in the vast cosmos. To learn about this journey of celestial discovery, from the theories of the ancient Greek astronomers to today’s grandest telescopes, we invite you to experience From Earth to the Universe.
The passage of the Sun’s fiery disc across the sky — day by day, month by month — was the only way to keep track of time for countless past civilizations. Don’t be fooled by the terminology; although it is a typical dwarf star, the Sun consumes 600 million tons of hydrogen each second and is 500 times as massive as all the planets combined. Discover the secrets of our star in this planetarium show and experience never-before-seen images of the Sun’s violent surface in immersive full-dome format.
Name Your Seat!
Show your support for our Science Museum by memorializing a seat in the newly refurbished planetarium. Your gift will be recognized by a plaque on the seat of your choosing. Limited number of seats available. Contact our Development Office 413-314-6458 for more information.
Astronomy Day 2024
Amasa Holcomb, Pioneer American Telescope Maker
These maps show what you can see in the night sky here in Springfield at the times and dates given in each map. The view will be similar over the subsequent days as well. We would like to thank our friends at Sky and Telescope magazine, skyandtelescope.org, for creating these maps for us and allowing us to post them today.
Out-of-this-world art and science activities for children and families, created by our Family Engagement Coordinator Jenny Powers.
