Shows & Exhibits

Get Inspired

The Planetarium Star Theatre

Journey to space from the comfort of our one-of-a-kind theatre and get up close and personal with planets, meteor showers, black holes, galaxies, and other astronomical wonders that will have you marvelling at the universe.

Planetarium Star Theatre shows are part of our ticketed timed entry programming. All ages are welcome, but we recommend our shows for ages 6 years and up due to the scientific content.

*Please note: The show schedule is subject to change.

From Earth to the Universe

Take a voyage through time and space and revel in the splendor of the worlds in our Solar System and then travel to our Milky Way and beyond. Discover more about the history of astronomy, the invention of the telescope and how telescopes allow us to probe even deeper into the Universe.

Ages 8+ recommended
Show format: film

Our Martian Neighbourhood

Find out what it would take to live on the Red Planet with scarce resources, longer days and a new view of the night sky. Learn about other parts of the solar system that could also be settled, and what your “new” night sky would look like.

Ages: 6+ recommended
Show format: live with Space Centre interpretive staff

Surfing the Solar System

See the solar system as you’ve never seen it before – leave Earth behind to tour some of the most intriguing destinations in our solar system and find out more about some of the latest discoveries about our neighbouring planets.

Ages: 8+ recommended
Show format: live with Space Centre interpretive staff

The Sun: Our Living Star

The Sun has shone on our world for four and a half billion years. The light that warms our skin today has been felt by every person who has ever lived. It is our nearest star and our planet’s powerhouse, the source of the energy that drives our winds, our weather and all life. Discover the secrets of our star in this planetarium show and experience never-before-seen images of the Sun’s violent surface.

Ages: 8+ recommended
Show format: film

The Universe

Travel through our solar system and beyond our Milky Way Galaxy.

Ages: 8+ recommended
Show format: live with Space Centre interpretive staff

Out There

For thousands of years, humans thought that the Earth was the centre of the universe. Thanks to our curiosity, imagination and urge to explore, we now know that planets like our Earth are nothing special in the cosmos. Discover more about the quest for planets beyond our solar system.

Ages: 8+ recommended
Show format: film

5000 Eyes

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) is creating the most detailed map of our nearby universe. Installed on the Mayall telescope on Kitt Peak in Southern Arizona, DESI's 5000 independently operated robots can measure the light from thousands of galaxies at once. Join us as we explore the science, instrument, and people behind this global endeavor!

Stars

Live Presentation
See stars like you've never seen them before. We will take you on a visually stunning journey through the life of a star, from its birth in a stellar nursery to the majestic pulse of a neutron star.

Forward to the moon

We are the Artemis generation. NASAs 21st century Artemis program, is the next step in our mission to explore the universe and land the first woman and person of color on the surface of the Moon. Kari Byron, from Crash Test World and MythBusters, narrates this journey beyond the Earth towards a sustainable future in space.

Forward to the moon

Exploring Extremes

Discover how scientists use Earth-based environments as analogues for studying environments on other planets. Visit one of Earth’s driest deserts, Antarctica’s largest sub-glacial lake, and Pavilion Lake in our own backyard to look at how scientists use technology to study extreme environment

Ages: 8+ recommended
Show format: live with Space Centre interpretive staff

Exploring the Moon

Throughout history, humans have explored the Moon to better understand its role in our sky. Learn about the various scientific eras of studying and exploring the Moon, and what could be in store for the future of space travel and Canadian scientific contributions to astronomy!

Ages: 7+ recommended
Show format: live with Space Centre interpretive staff

Unveiling the Invisible Universe

There is more to the universe than we can see with our eyes. Discover more about how scientists, from Galileo's first use of an optical telescope to today's scientists measuring minute ripples in spacetime, unveil the invisible universe.

Ages 8+ recommended
Show format: film

Phantom of the Universe

Discover more about dark matter, from the Big Bang, to the theorizing of dark matter's existence.

We Choose Space

For anyone who dreams of space and wonders about human spaceflight. In this film astronauts Scott Parazinsky, Tom Jones and Gene Cernan, and veteran space reporter Walter Cronkite are your tour guides on an adventure to the completed International Space Station and to the past and future Moon.

Ages 8+ recommended
Show format: film

From Earth to the Universe

Live Science Shows in the Groundstation Canada Theatre

Prepare to be wowed by our interactive live science demonstrations! Learn about the latest scientific discoveries, exoplanets, gravity, rockets, and much more all through entertaining live presentations. These live science shows are part of our ticketed timed entry programming.

Planet Hunters

Discover more about planet hunting techniques astronomers use and their quest to find signs of life in the universe.
Show length: 20 minutes

Rocket Lab

3 . 2 . 1 . . . This time it IS rocket science. What goes up doesn’t necessarily come down. Take part in this live demonstration of the basic principles of Newton’s Laws of Motion and its use in rocketry.
Show Length: 20 minutes

Day in Space

What exactly do astronauts do up there? From microgravity experiments to eating and sleeping while floating - find out what it takes to live and work in space.
Age: 6+ (recommended)
Show Length: 20 minutes

Hands-On Learning in the Cosmic Courtyard

Experience the wonders of space with your own hands by using our interactive features to get a deeper understanding of some of the most fascinating facts and discoveries. Learn about deep space, climate change, light pollution, and the potential for life on other planets.

Alien Encounter

You’re a starship captain looking for life in a galaxy. Your mission is to find a planet that can sustain human life-are you brave enough to try?

Michael Collins Suit

Learn more about how food and technology made it possible for the Apollo space program to put 12 astronauts on the moon.

Mars Explorer

Step into the role of a planetary geologist and travel to Mars to see if you can find evidence of life on the red planet.

Star-Stuff: A way for the universe to know itself

Play, dance and float through the cosmos. Be transformed into a myriad of constellations in this interactive immersive VR experience. Grab a friend and use your avatars to collaborate and move the stars in your galaxy.