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New Features Showing at Science Museum This Fall

Enhanced Lineup of Giant Screen Films and Astronomy Shows Playing on The Dome’s Quarter-Acre

September 6, 2022

What: The Science Museum of Virginia is adding a new group of giant screen films and astronomy shows to its regularly changing lineup of features. This fall’s schedule has four new features showing in The Dome, a planetarium and theater that boasts an impressive quarter-acre screen and 250 seats.

“Living Worlds” and “Forward to the Moon” just started running after Labor Day, “Into America’s Wild” will begin playing October 1 and “Red-Eye to the Stars” is available for immediately for special group showings.

  • In “Forward to the Moon,” Kari Byron of “MythBusters” fame leads guests beyond the Earth toward a sustainable future in space via NASA’s 21st century Artemis program. The astronomy show was produced by Fiske Planetarium in collaboration with TEND Studio with funding from NASA SSERVI and Lockheed Martin.
  • Narrated by Daveed Diggs and created by the California Academy of Sciences, “Living Worlds” takes guests on a journey through space and time to examine life as an essential quality of our home planet.
  • “Into America’s Wild” is a visually stunning cross-country adventure into the hidden wonders of the natural world. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, produced by MacGillivray Freeman in association with Brand USA, and presented by Expedia and United Airlines, the 45-minute giant screen film showcases the diversity of North America’s byways, trails, canyons and landscapes.
  • “Red-Eye to the Stars” allows guests to join a red-eye flight aboard the flying observatory Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy to unravel the mysteries of star birth from 50,000 feet above the sea.

When: “Living Worlds” is on the September schedule at 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. “Forward to the Moon” runs at 12 p.m. on the weekends this month. Both 30-minute films are immediately followed by a live astronomy show presented by a Science Museum educator full of recent updates about new cosmic discoveries.

The Science Museum updates its Dome schedule monthly, and will announce specific times for the October showings of “Into America’s Wild” in late September. Groups of 35 or more may reserve a special showing of “Red-Eye to the Stars” as part of their field trip visit.

All four features will remain in the Science Museum’s lineup in some capacity for the next year.

The Dome schedule is subject to change, and guests are encouraged to check the Science Museum’s website the day of their visit to confirm features and times.

Why: Just as at any theater, the Science Museum rotates the films showing in The Dome to highlight new STEM content and keep the features appealing for guests. Traditionally, the Science Museum will add one, maybe two, new films to the schedule a season. Bringing in four features at the same time offers guests a greatly expanded roster, the perfect complement to the touring and permanent exhibitions and special programming the Science Museum offers daily.

Who: Giant screen films and astronomy shows playing in The Dome are created for general audiences. The films are not rated.

How: After purchasing a general admission ticket, guests can upgrade their visit to include a Dome feature for $5. Science Museum members can use a Dome pass to see Dome features for free. Science Museum members, military and teachers with ID receive free general admission. EBT cardholders get a discount on both regular admission and Dome features.

The Science Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220