Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Planetarium opens August 6

August 3, 2020
Goldy Gopher stands on stage at the Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Planetarium at the Bell Museum.

The Bell’s state-of-the-art Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Planetarium opens to the public on Thursday, August 6. The planetarium will open with two all-ages programs: Minnesota Night Sky and Out of This World! This summer the planetarium will put the spotlight on Mars, as NASA's Perseverance rover will launch and be on its way to a February 2021 landing.

For visitor safety, the planetarium audience will operate at 25 percent of its normal capacity, providing an exceptional interactive experience. Planetarium staff will seat each group at a safe physical distance from others, and allow extra time between programs for cleaning and air circulation. All visitors over 2 years old must wear a face covering that covers the mouth and nose, and all planetarium staff will be wearing masks.

As Bell Museum Executive Director Denise Young observes, “For me, a visit to the planetarium is a chance to be in awe of our universe and Earth and to explore those big questions of life we all ask from time to time. It's an opportunity to step back and experience something bigger than myself—to see the interconnectedness of all things. I am thrilled to reopen the Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Planetarium and excited to welcome everyone to visit with new safety rules in place.”

“We have enjoyed presenting virtual astronomy and space programs over the past few months,” said Planetarium Manager Sally Brummel. “Now we are excited to welcome you back into our theater. There have been so many great celestial events, from the Crew Dragon launch to the ISS, to comet NEOWISE, and we can't wait to hear your questions!”

Assistive listening devices with single use earpieces are available. An online schedule lists monthly captioned and ASL interpreted programs.

Tickets are available online at bellmuseum.umn.edu one week prior to the show, with an advance day pre-sale each week for Bell members. Guests will need to make advance timed reservations online. Two live, interactive presentations will alternate throughout the day:

Minnesota Night Skies
Join planetarium staff on a tour of the sky above Minnesota, including seasonal constellations, the Moon, and visible planets. There's something in the sky for everyone. Staff will also demonstrate how to locate and identify celestial objects—then visitors will be able to do this from home.

Out of this World
Hop into the Bell Museum’s spaceship and tour the planets of our solar system. Investigate the phases of the Moon, be the first humans to land on Mars, and fly through the rings of Saturn. Discover your favorite planet, or moon, while learning what makes a planet a planet in the first place (sorry Pluto!).