About
Get inspired to look up.
For over 60 years, the iconic James S. McDonnell Planetarium has been the place in St. Louis for all things space.
Connected via the Skybridge over Interstate-64, the Planetarium Campus in Forest Park contains three floors of attractions dedicated to the wonders of space, aviation, and spaceflight.
Relax under the largest artificial sky in the Western Hemisphere, see space history first-hand with our genuine space capsules, and have your every question about the universe answered by one of our Planetarium Educators.
Exhibits & Attractions
Star Shows in the Orthwein Starbay Theater
Star Shows are your gateway to the stars and beyond. Let the beauty of a clear, dark sky be your window into the universe as you relax under the largest artificial sky in the Western Hemisphere.
Star Shows are a live experience lead by one of our skilled Planetarium Presenters and powered by our world-class ZEISS Universarium Mark IX star projector – one of only three in the United States and thirteen in the world!
The Orthwein Starbay is located on the 2nd floor of the Planetarium.
This is our star projector.
The McDonnell Planetarium is home to a ZEISS UNIVERSARIUM Mark IX Star Projector. Installed in 2001, this magnificent machine is one of only three in the United States and 13 in the world!
As the World Turns
Learn about geospatial data and St. Louis’ rich geospatial history in the McDonnell Planetarium’s newest exhibit area As the World Turns. Located in the Planetarium’s lobby, the exhibit is anchored by the 8-foot-tall Rand McNally Geophysical Earth Globe. Guests can interact with near-real-time satellite images and explore applications of geospatial data. Then, explore mapping projections and how the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC), one of the NGA’s legacy organizations, mapped the Earth and moon to aid NASA in the Space Race and humanity’s “giant leap.”
Geospatial technology is related to collecting, processing and analyzing data associated with location. Identified as a next-generation sector in Greater STL, Inc.’s 2023 Jobs Plan, the report stated, “Applications for geospatial intelligence reach across all types of industries (e.g., precision agriculture, e-commerce, financial services) and potentially hold solutions to challenges ranging from food insecurity and climate change to pandemic prevention and global terrorism.”
Roving with Perseverance
This FREE display in the Planetarium lobby allows guests to see full-scale replicas of the NASA Perseverance Mars Rover and Ingenuity Helicopter up close. The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover mission is part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the Red Planet. The mission addresses high-priority science goals for Mars exploration, including key questions about the potential for life on Mars.
While the real-life technological marvels are at work hundreds of millions of miles away exploring Mars, these life-sized “twin” models will be on display inside the McDonnell Planetarium for a full year to help demonstrate the scale and technology required for space exploration.
Liftoff Gallery
The McDonnell Planetarium is home to two genuine space capsules from the 1960’s. See Mercury 19 and Gemini 3A up close!
All Mercury and Gemini space capsules were built in St. Louis by McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. Learn how St. Louis became humanity’s gateway to the Moon!
The Liftoff Gallery is located on the 1st floor of the Planetarium.
Mission: Mars
A gallery dedicated to our neighbor Red Planet, visit Mars Base to discover what life would be like for future astronauts living on Mars.
Mars Base is home to a REAL Martian meteorite – an actual piece of Mars!
Mission: Mars Base is located on the 1st floor of the Planetarium.
Boeing Space Station and Starbridge
Star Show audiences have the remaining time after their program to explore the Boeing Space Station and Starbridge exhibits surrounding the Orthwein Starbay.
The Space Station exhibits immerse visitors in what it would be like to live and work in space. Additional exhibits feature our meteorite collection and imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope.
The Boeing Space Station exhibits are located on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Planetarium. A Star Show ticket is required for access.
Experience Flight
St. Louis is steeped in the history of flight. Our three simulators allow you to experience flight for yourself!
Experience Flight and the Virtual Reality Simulator are located in the Planetarium Tunnel.
Planetarium Grounds
The grounds surrounding the iconic McDonnell Planetarium are beautiful to explore all year long. Take a stroll around the distinctive hyperbolic paraboloid and you will encounter everything from a real F/A-18B fighter jet to dinosaurs!
What’s Up?
News from around the Universe.
Astronomy Fact of the Day
Posted daily at 9:00am
Learn something new about space and astronomy every day! Moons, stars, planets and the history of how we’ve learned about our universe.
Night Sky Update
Posted weekly on Saturday
Discover what’s up in the Saint Louis sky each week from our James S. McDonnell Planetarium astronomers!
Contact Us
Have a space question?
Reach out to our educators to connect your curiosity with space!
Illumination Requests
The exterior of the McDonnell Planetarium is illuminated nightly for all to enjoy. This illumination has helped raise awareness for charities and causes through special illumination requests.
Membership
Members stargaze for free.
Love the Planetarium? Become a Science Center member and watch star shows for free with every visit, as well as get a full year of additional members-only benefits.
Plus, members help support the Science Center and our mission to make science learning open to everyone.
Accessibility
Elevators and ramps serve all public areas of the McDonnell Planetarium.
Planetarium Star Shows rely heavily on live, spoken narration. Sign language interpreters or Communication Access Realtime Transcription (CART) can be provided with advanced notice. Please contact the reservations department to request accommodation prior to scheduling your visit.
We also offer hearing assist devices for Planetarium star shows. When ordering tickets, please let your reservationist know you’re interested in a hearing assist device, or see a Planetarium team member before your program begins.
The Liftoff gallery offers tactile models of the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft, as well as models of the Planetarium’s StarBay and building exterior. The models of the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft and StarBay feature large print and braille materials for visitors thanks to a generous grant from Lighthouse for the Blind Saint Louis.
