Leave Earth behind at the Burke Baker Planetarium. On the grounds of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Houston planetarium features a captivating lineup of films, where audiences can explore both the vast marvels of the universe in immersive detail right here on our home planet.
Since 1964, millions have journeyed through the universe at Houston’s iconic Burke Baker Planetarium. Projected onto a massive domed screen, state-of-the-art technology and high-resolution video deliver a vivid, fully immersive journey into deep space.
“We focus on presenting emerging technologies in our newest planetarium films, because today’s kids will live in the future,” said Carolyn Sumners, Ed.D., vice president of astronomy for the Houston Museum of Natural Science, “Showing them the fascinating possibilities science can generate excites students about helping to create that future.”
In 1998, the Burke Baker Planetarium produced the first full-dome computer-animated show in the United States. It has since created a wide array of films, ranging from interstellar explorations to historical features like Lucy’s Cradle: The Birth of Wonder (2007)—set in Africa millions of years ago—and Night of the Titanic (2008).
It remains one of the few U.S. planetariums that produces original virtual content, distributing its shows to a global network of theaters.
A major upgrade in early 2007 equipped the Burke Baker Planetarium with a projection system that is five times brighter and delivers double the resolution. With twice the pixels per image, the system covers the entire dome in crystal-clear detail.
The Burke Baker Planetarium features 11 different shows on rotation. Arguably the most popular production is the Dark Side of the Moon. Synchronized to Pink Floyd’s seminal album, the show offers an incredible – some might even say “transcendent” – audiovisual experience that envelops visitors in wraparound digital imagery.
The Burke Baker Planetarium is located at the Houston Museum of Natural Science at 5555 Hermann Park Dr. Check the planetarium’s calendar here for showtimes.
