"Dynamic Earth" and "Laser Fun" will be shown Friday, and "Tales of a Time Traveler" and "Laser Country" will be shown Saturday.
Wayne State College’s free planetarium and laser shows will continue Friday and Saturday, March 20-21, in the Fred G. Dale Planetarium. Admission is free and open to the public, but free-will donations are accepted.
The planetarium has been upgraded with a new single-lens ultra-high-def projection system and the immersive Digistar Astronomy software. The planetarium has once again become the most technologically advanced and educationally versatile planetarium in the region.
On Friday, March 20, the planetarium show “Dynamic Earth” will be at 7 p.m., followed by the laser show “Laser Fun” at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, March 21, the planetarium show “Tales of a Time Traveler” is at 1 p.m., followed by the laser show “Laser Country” at 2 p.m.
“Dynamic Earth” explores the inner workings of Earth’s great life support system: the global climate. With visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations, this cutting-edge production follows a trail of energy that flows from the Sun into the interlocking systems that shape our climate: the atmosphere, oceans, and the biosphere. Audiences will ride along on swirling ocean and wind currents, dive into the heart of a monster hurricane, come face-to-face with sharks and gigantic whales, and fly into active volcanoes. The show is narrated by Liam Neeson.
In “Tales of a Time Traveler,” the audience will discover that time is not so easily defined. Time is illusive, impossible to hold. It can't be owned. It can't be stopped. Time travel surrounds you – from the biological clock in your brain and the changing shadows on a sundial, to the history of life on Earth. Then the story expands to the lives of stars, the time scale of the Big Bang, and the distortion of time by gravity. The show is narrated by David Tennant.
“This spring features five new planetarium shows that add to our growing and diverse library of planetarium shows,” said Dr. Todd Young, director of the Fred G. Dale Planetarium. “They are ‘Dynamic Earth,’ ‘Liquidverse,’ ‘Edge of Darkness,’ ‘Living Worlds,’ and ‘Tales of a Time Traveler.’ We will also have an Earth Day Celebration. And after a planetarium show, everyone is welcome to enjoy the lights and music of our many laser shows, including Classic Rock, Laser Zeppelin, Laser Beatles, and our new laser show Women Who Rock!”
The planetarium is located on the lowest level of Wayne State’s Carhart Science Building. Guests should use the southwest doors to enter. Once inside, go to the stairs at the south end of the building and go down to the lowest level. You may also take the elevator. Carhart Science and the planetarium are handicap accessible.
All shows last about 45 minutes. Doors open 20 minutes prior to the start of a show and shows generally include a tour of the current night sky, how to find the constellations, and current events in astronomy.
The shows will cycle through the planetarium’s vast library of shows, and each planetarium show will be followed by a laser show.
For more information, or to view a complete schedule of planetarium and laser shows for the Spring 2026 semester, visit the planetarium, or contact Dr. Todd Young, director of the Fred G. Dale Planetarium, at 402-375-7471 or [email protected].
Those wanting to book a private planetarium show should also contact Young. School and community groups and organizations are always welcome to book private shows.