Encounters in the Milky Way

Reaching billions of years into the past and peering millions of years into the future, Encounters in the Milky Way explores the cosmic movements that shape our galactic neighborhood. Narrated by Pedro Pascal, experience spectacular moments in our Solar System's past and future — and, visualized for the first time, a dramatic, ongoing merger of our galaxy with a smaller satellite galaxy.

Encounters in the Milky Way is made possible by data from one of the most transformative projects of the past century: the European Space Agency's Gaia mission, dubbed the "billion-star survey" for mapping the precise positions, distances and motions of nearly 2 billion stars in our galaxy.

Encounters in the Milky Way was developed by the American Museum of Natural History (amnh.org) with the major support and partnership of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

*Please check our hours and schedule to confirm availability before your visit.

With discounted group rates, groups have the opportunity to schedule exclusive featured shows on Virginia’s largest movie screen.

Groups can add a Dome feature to their visit for just $4 per person. Learn more about our Group Visit Policies.

This astronomy film corresponds with the following Virginia Standards of Learning:

2nd: 2

3rd: 2

4th: 5 and 6

5th: 3

6th: 2

Physical Science: 6, 7, and 8

Earth Science: 2

Physics: 3