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Open daily - 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Science of Speed opens Sat., Aug. 1

Buhl Planetarium Shows

Buhl Planetarium Shows

Prepare Yourself for a Journey Full of Wonder.

Fly to the Moon, journey to Saturn, explore the stars, and travel through distant galaxies—all without leaving Pittsburgh! Buhl Planetarium presents a range of captivating space exploration shows to entertain, educate, and inspire visitors of all ages.

Experience a high-definition, full-dome journey to the galaxy’s outer limits. Learn to spot planets and constellations from your own backyard. The Buhl Planetarium, established in 1939 by The Buhl Foundation, honors Pittsburgh philanthropist Henry Buhl Jr., whose foundation supports education, human services, youth programs, and economic development.

See Daily Schedule for today’s programs
Stars and the Milky Way

Beginner’s Guide to the Universe

Go on a tour of the universe without leaving Pittsburgh! A live presenter will be your guide as you travel beyond our own Milky Way galaxy to the farthest reaches of the cosmos.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Solar System, Stars & Galaxies
  • Grades: 5-8, 9-12
Stars and the Milky Way

Beginner’s Guide to the Universe

Go on a tour of the universe without leaving Pittsburgh! A live presenter will be your guide as you travel beyond our own Milky Way galaxy to the farthest reaches of the cosmos.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Solar System, Stars & Galaxies
  • Grades: 5-8, 9-12
The Earth with the International Space Station!

Big Astronomy

Explore the world-class observatories nestled in northern Chile and learn why the country’s beautiful mountain ranges and clear, cloudless skies create an ideal environment for studying the cosmos. It takes many people with diverse backgrounds, talents, and skills to run an outstanding observatory. Meet a few of these people as they share the wonder of the sky and the excitement of discovery.

Big Astronomy is also available in Spanish.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Research, Solar System, Telescopes
  • Grades: 6-8
The Earth with the International Space Station!

Big Astronomy

Explore the world-class observatories nestled in northern Chile and learn why the country’s beautiful mountain ranges and clear, cloudless skies create an ideal environment for studying the cosmos. It takes many people with diverse backgrounds, talents, and skills to run an outstanding observatory. Meet a few of these people as they share the wonder of the sky and the excitement of discovery.

Big Astronomy is also available in Spanish.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Research, Solar System, Telescopes
  • Grades: 6-8
An SLS rocket launching

Blueprints to Blast Off!

Follow the engineering process from blueprints to blastoff on an important mission to the Moon and beyond. Learn technology and help humanity explore space. The live interactive decisions YOU make will impact the success of our mission.

Development of this experience was supported by NASA Grant No. NNH19ZHA002N.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Engineering, Space Exploration
  • Grades: 3-5
An SLS rocket launching

Blueprints to Blast Off!

Follow the engineering process from blueprints to blastoff on an important mission to the Moon and beyond. Learn technology and help humanity explore space. The live interactive decisions YOU make will impact the success of our mission.

Development of this experience was supported by NASA Grant No. NNH19ZHA002N.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Engineering, Space Exploration
  • Grades: 3-5
Earth with the sun on the horizon as seen from space.

Expedition: Earth

Join Quasi, our lovable robot explorer, on an adventure through our home planet. Fly with the birds and dive into the Great Barrier Reef in this cinematic journey of Earth. Quasi and students will learn how our planet is changing and how to protect it.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Climate Changes, Ecosystem, Solar System
  • Grades: 1-4
Earth with the sun on the horizon as seen from space.

Expedition: Earth

Join Quasi, our lovable robot explorer, on an adventure through our home planet. Fly with the birds and dive into the Great Barrier Reef in this cinematic journey of Earth. Quasi and students will learn how our planet is changing and how to protect it.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Climate Changes, Ecosystem, Solar System
  • Grades: 1-4
The Moon

Expedition: Moon

Join Quasi, our lovable robot companion, on an adventure through the moons of our solar system. Travel through the volcanoes of Io and the icy oceans of Enceladus and follow in the footsteps of the famous Apollo astronauts as Quasi tries to learn whether there could be life in space.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Astronomy, Earth, Robotics, Solar System
  • Grades: 1-4
The Moon

Expedition: Moon

Join Quasi, our lovable robot companion, on an adventure through the moons of our solar system. Travel through the volcanoes of Io and the icy oceans of Enceladus and follow in the footsteps of the famous Apollo astronauts as Quasi tries to learn whether there could be life in space.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Astronomy, Earth, Robotics, Solar System
  • Grades: 1-4
The solar system

Expedition: Solar System

Join Quasi, our lovable robot sidekick, on a theatrical adventure through the solar system. Travel to the International Space Station, the canyons and mountains of Mars, the rings of Saturn, and even the heart of Pluto. Meet the fleet of NASA robots expanding our knowledge!
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Astronomy, Robotics
  • Grades: 1-4
The solar system

Expedition: Solar System

Join Quasi, our lovable robot sidekick, on a theatrical adventure through the solar system. Travel to the International Space Station, the canyons and mountains of Mars, the rings of Saturn, and even the heart of Pluto. Meet the fleet of NASA robots expanding our knowledge!
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Astronomy, Robotics
  • Grades: 1-4
Saturn shown on the ceiling of the Buhl Planetarium.

Guide to the Autumn Sky

A live presenter will be your guide as you travel beyond our own Milky Way galaxy to the farthest reaches of the observable universe.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Solar System, Stars & Galaxies
Saturn shown on the ceiling of the Buhl Planetarium.

Guide to the Autumn Sky

A live presenter will be your guide as you travel beyond our own Milky Way galaxy to the farthest reaches of the observable universe.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Solar System, Stars & Galaxies
NASA’S INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

NASA’s International Space Station

For more than 25 years, people from all over the world have lived together among the stars aboard the International Space Station. Explore the famous spacecraft and orbiting laboratory where astronauts and cosmonauts from 15 nations work together for a brighter future.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
NASA’S INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

NASA’s International Space Station

For more than 25 years, people from all over the world have lived together among the stars aboard the International Space Station. Explore the famous spacecraft and orbiting laboratory where astronauts and cosmonauts from 15 nations work together for a brighter future.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
Stars and galaxies

Phantom of the Universe

From the journey of protons racing through the world’s largest particle collider in Europe to up-close views of the Big Bang and emergent cosmos, Phantom of the Universe immerses audiences in the search for dark matter.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
Stars and galaxies

Phantom of the Universe

From the journey of protons racing through the world’s largest particle collider in Europe to up-close views of the Big Bang and emergent cosmos, Phantom of the Universe immerses audiences in the search for dark matter.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
An inactive volcano

Space Volcanoes

Travel from Pompeii to Pluto on a planetarium tour of volcanoes on Earth and in space! Explore the mighty mountains of Mars and Venus, and even visit the ice volcanoes of Enceladus and Pluto.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Solar System
An inactive volcano

Space Volcanoes

Travel from Pompeii to Pluto on a planetarium tour of volcanoes on Earth and in space! Explore the mighty mountains of Mars and Venus, and even visit the ice volcanoes of Enceladus and Pluto.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Solar System
Stars and the Milky Way

Speed of Space

Human exploration has pushed the boundaries of speed, allowing us to reimagine our perception of the cosmos.
  • Early Learners
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Astronomy, Space Exploration
  • Grades: Pre-K-1
Stars and the Milky Way

Speed of Space

Human exploration has pushed the boundaries of speed, allowing us to reimagine our perception of the cosmos.
  • Early Learners
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Astronomy, Space Exploration
  • Grades: Pre-K-1
A young man looking up at a colorful starry sky in a planetarium.

Stars Over Pittsburgh

Take a guided tour through the current night sky in this live presentation. You will discover how to locate the planets and constellations in your own backyard, as well as learn to identify the phases of the Moon.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Celestial Patterns, Regional Science, Solar System, Stars & Galaxies
A young man looking up at a colorful starry sky in a planetarium.

Stars Over Pittsburgh

Take a guided tour through the current night sky in this live presentation. You will discover how to locate the planets and constellations in your own backyard, as well as learn to identify the phases of the Moon.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Celestial Patterns, Regional Science, Solar System, Stars & Galaxies
Stars and the Milky Way

Storytime Under the Stars

Early learners and their grown-ups are invited to enjoy science-themed stories under a starry sky. Sit back, relax, and enjoy stars and stories under a bright and beaming Moon in our planetarium.

Storytime Under the Stars is a 15-minute program.
  • Early Learners
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Astronomy, Space Exploration
  • Grades: Pre-K-1
Stars and the Milky Way

Storytime Under the Stars

Early learners and their grown-ups are invited to enjoy science-themed stories under a starry sky. Sit back, relax, and enjoy stars and stories under a bright and beaming Moon in our planetarium.

Storytime Under the Stars is a 15-minute program.
  • Early Learners
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Astronomy, Space Exploration
  • Grades: Pre-K-1
The solar system

Symphony of the Planets

Experience the beauty and majesty of the cosmos in this stunning planetarium show set to The Planets, Gustav Holst’s iconic orchestral masterpiece. Journey through the wonders of our Solar System as breathtaking visuals and powerful music come together to reveal the beauty, mystery, and harmony of the planets.

Featuring musical performances by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, this immersive experience is presented in partnership with WQED.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Astronomy, Robotics
  • Grades: 1-4
The solar system

Symphony of the Planets

Experience the beauty and majesty of the cosmos in this stunning planetarium show set to The Planets, Gustav Holst’s iconic orchestral masterpiece. Journey through the wonders of our Solar System as breathtaking visuals and powerful music come together to reveal the beauty, mystery, and harmony of the planets.

Featuring musical performances by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, this immersive experience is presented in partnership with WQED.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Astronomy, Robotics
  • Grades: 1-4
a 3D model of constellations, a nebula, and a topographic map

Touch the Stars

Designed for audiences who want a more tactile/sensory accessible program, join our star pilot for a tour of the constellations and nebula in the wintertime sky.

Uses tactile star globes, verbal descriptions, and auditory enhancements for a truly unique experience.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission, Includes Tactile/Auditory/Accessible Elements
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Astronomy, Earth, Solar System
a 3D model of constellations, a nebula, and a topographic map

Touch the Stars

Designed for audiences who want a more tactile/sensory accessible program, join our star pilot for a tour of the constellations and nebula in the wintertime sky.

Uses tactile star globes, verbal descriptions, and auditory enhancements for a truly unique experience.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission, Includes Tactile/Auditory/Accessible Elements
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Astronomy, Earth, Solar System
The Sun coming over the horizon of Earth as seen from outer space.

Two Small Pieces of Glass

While attending a local star party, two teenage students learn how the telescope has helped us understand our place in space and how telescopes continue to expand our understanding of the universe. Their conversation with a local astronomer enlightens them on the history of the telescope and the discoveries these wonderful tools have made. The students see how telescopes work and how the largest observatories in the world use these instruments to explore the mysteries of the universe.

While looking through the astronomer’s telescope, the students, along with the planetarium audience, explore the Galilean moons, Saturn’s rings, and the spiral structure of galaxies. During their conversation with the astronomer, they also learn about the discoveries of Galileo, Huygens, Newton, Hubble, and many others.

Two Small Pieces of Glass is also available in Spanish.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Engineering, Human Endeavors, Telescopes
  • Grades: 3-5
The Sun coming over the horizon of Earth as seen from outer space.

Two Small Pieces of Glass

While attending a local star party, two teenage students learn how the telescope has helped us understand our place in space and how telescopes continue to expand our understanding of the universe. Their conversation with a local astronomer enlightens them on the history of the telescope and the discoveries these wonderful tools have made. The students see how telescopes work and how the largest observatories in the world use these instruments to explore the mysteries of the universe.

While looking through the astronomer’s telescope, the students, along with the planetarium audience, explore the Galilean moons, Saturn’s rings, and the spiral structure of galaxies. During their conversation with the astronomer, they also learn about the discoveries of Galileo, Huygens, Newton, Hubble, and many others.

Two Small Pieces of Glass is also available in Spanish.
  • All Ages
  • Included with General Admission
  • 2nd Floor, Buhl Planetarium
  • Content Themes: Engineering, Human Endeavors, Telescopes
  • Grades: 3-5
A helix strand in green with a shadow.

Ready to start your journey through space?

An experience full of new upgrades to create the best planetarium shows in Pittsburgh

These new tools launch a new era of planetarium shows, offering features including: