Solar System
Solar System
Solar System
Explore our amazing solar system. Show titles are organized by recommended grade. Click on the show title to view a trailer.
Secret of the Cardboard Rocket (Gr. 1 - 5). 
(Also available in Spanish)
Two children build a rocket ship out of a large cardboard box and find that they can actually travel out to the planets. Moreover, the astronomy book they took out of the library talks to them, teaching them about the planets. After several adventures, they return to Earth with a new sense of wonder about our solar system. Download the Educator Guide.
Perfect Little Planet (Gr. 2 - 6). (Also available in Spanish)
Imagine the ultimate space vacation. Discover our solar system through a different set of eyes – a family from another star system seeking the perfect vacation spot. Fly over the surface of Pluto, our best-known Dwarf Planet. Dive over the ice cliffs of Miranda. Sail through the rings of Saturn. Feel the lightning storms at Jupiter. And walk on the surface of Mars. Which destination would you choose? This is the solar system journey for space travelers of all ages.
Audio Universe: Tour of the Solar System (Gr. 4 - adult)
(Best suited for blind and visually impaired audiences.)
Experience the Solar System like never before - by traveling on a spacecraft that can turn the objects in space into sound!
Be transported inside a special spacecraft that takes you to the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) to view the stars in the night sky before lifting off into space to visit the Earth, Moon, Sun, and all the planets of the Solar System.
Unlike traditional planetarium shows, the soundtrack takes the lead role. Each of the objects in space is represented with sounds as well as being presented with incredible visuals. The audience listens to the stars appear and hears the planets orbit around their heads. This means that this show is an immersive experience that can be enjoyed irrespective of their level of vision.
Mars: The Ultimate Voyage (Gr. 4 - 8)
Have you ever wondered what it will take for astronauts to travel to the Moon, Mars, and beyond? On this long journey, what challenges will astronauts face? How will they stay motivated and healthy on their spacecraft so far away from Earth? The new Bell original planetarium show Mars: The Ultimate Voyage explores these questions and more! On a two-year journey to Mars, astronauts will face extraordinary challenges—long distance, a closed environment, isolation, altered gravity, and radiation. What will it take to get astronauts to Mars—and back—safely?
This new, animated planetarium production highlights NASA research and training initiatives that are preparing the next generation of astronauts who will head to Mars. The film shows how creativity, collaboration, communication, and expertise in a diverse number of fields are key for the success of deep space travel—while also inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals! Witness what it takes to embark on the first human mission beyond Earth’s orbit. The Bell Museum collaborated with NASA and the UNC Morehead Planetarium and Science Center to create this new planetarium show.
The work was funded by a NASA Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) Award 80NSSC20M0028 to the Bell Museum through the Regents of the University of Minnesota
Birth of Planet Earth (Gr. 5 - adult)
Birth of Planet Earth tells the twisted tale of our planet’s origins.
Scientists now believe that our galaxy is filled with solar systems, including up to a billion planets roughly the size of our own. The film employs advanced, data-driven, cinematic-quality visualizations to explore some of the greatest questions in science today: How did Earth become a living planet in the wake of our solar system’s violent birth? What does its history tell us about our chances of finding other worlds that are truly Earth-like?
From Earth to the Universe (Gr. 5 - adult) (Also available in Spanish)
The night sky, both beautiful and mysterious, has been the subject of campfire stories, ancient myths, and awe 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 the Earth to the Universe.
Moons: Worlds of Mystery (Gr. 5 - adult)
Immerse yourself in the incredible diversity of moons and their crucial roles in shaping our solar system. Follow in the footsteps of astronauts to our silvery Moon, the venture beyond to unfamiliar and exotic worlds. Journey to the outer planets and their moons, returning home with newfound wonder about the dynamic and intricate solar system in which we all live. Download the Educator Guide.
Oasis in Space (Gr. 5 - adult)
Go on a startling and beautiful voyage through our universe, galaxy, and solar system, searching for water and water worlds like Earth. We begin by exploring Earth, with its vast oceans and plentiful water that makes life possible. One by one, we fly to the other planets and moons, discovering their characteristics, such as atmosphere, temperature, and composition. Spectacular images invite audiences to draw their own conclusions about the other worlds in our solar system and beyond: is there water out there? Is there life beyond Earth? Download the Educator Guide.