List of Fulldome Videos

They lurk in the universe like cosmic dragons, unseen voids with the energy of a million suns. They can devour entire stars, and once in their grasp, nothing, not even light, can escape.

Few mysteries in the universe have the power and awe of the black hole. Only now are we on the verge of understanding their true nature. What are they? How are they made? Is the earth in danger of being pulled into one?

Discover the answers in the Clark Planetarium’s original fulldome production “Black Holes.” Narrated by film actor John de Lancie (“Q” in the Star Trek TV series), this new immersive digital theater program incorporates some of the most visually stunning three-dimensional effects ever created for the dome.

Cosmic Colors will take you on a wondrous journey across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Discover the many reasons for color: like why the sky is blue and why Mars is red. Take a tour within a plant leaf and journey inside the human eye. Investigate x-rays by voyaging to a monstrous black hole and then back at your doctor's office. You will even see the actual color of a dinosaur--based on recent evidence. Get ready for an amazing adventure under a rainbow of cosmic light!

Produced by the Great Lakes Planetarium Association.

Produced by Volkssternwarte Laupheim, this planetarium show seeks to explore dark matter in the universe and help explain its properties to audiences.

As described by Planetarium Volkssternwarte Laupheim:

"What keeps Galaxies together? What are the building blocks of the Universe? What makes the Universe look the way it looks today? Researchers all around the world try to answer these questions. We know today that approximately a quarter of the Universe is filled with a mysterious glue: Dark Matter. We know that it is out there. But we have no idea what it is made out of.

This planetarium show takes you on the biggest quest of contemporary astrophysics. You will see why we know that Dark Matter exists, and how this search is one of the most challenging and exciting searches science has to offer. Join the scientists on their hunt for Dark Matter with experiments in space and deep underground. Will they be able to solve the Dark Matter Mystery? "

Further information about this program can by found at the website: http://shows.planetarium-laupheim.de/

This program explores one of the most enduring questions of humankind — are we alone? For millennia our ancestors watched the stars, questioning the origin and nature of what they saw. Still today we ask these questions, knowing that the Universe is a vast place filled with billions and billions of stars and planets — but yet, Earth is the only planet we know for sure to be inhabited.

"Distant Worlds - Alien Life?", originally "Ferne Welten - fremdes Leben?", is a joint production by the planetariums in Münster, Bochum, Kiel, Mannheim, Osnabrück und Wolfsburg, produced at LWL-Planetarium Münster. It was produced by a consortium of German planetariums, and was directed by Björn Voß from Münster Planetarium.

This planetarium show explores the relationship between the Earth, Moon and Sun with the help of Coyote, an amusing character adapted from Native American oral traditions who has many misconceptions about our home planet and its most familiar neighbors.

His confusion about the universe makes viewers think about how the Earth, Moon and Sun work together as a system. Native American stories are used throughout the show to help distinguish between myths and science.

Earth, Moon & Sun was produced by the Moorehead Planetarium and Science Center

Narrated by Benjamin Bratt and produced by the California Academy of Sciences.

A sweeping geological journey, Earthquake explores the forces that transform the surface of our planet. After a stunning flight over the San Andreas Fault, audiences travel back in time to experience San Francisco's infamous 1906 earthquake. Data-driven visualizations illustrate Earth's story, revealing how subtle motions and sudden ruptures have shaped our planet over eons, and how geological activity influences the course of human history. Finally, we see how scientists and engineers help society prepare for a safer future.

Out of devastating events in the cosmos comes new creation. Explosive phenomena are responsible for the way we see the universe today, and not all of them happen on a grand scale.

When giant stars explode as "supernovas," they seed the galaxies with heavy elements that make planets and life possible. Some collisions we're only just now starting to understand. For example, when Black Holes collide, they can throw off some of the most energetic particles known, ripping and warping space as they go. But other "explosions" have profound effects as well, such as the beauty and power of supervolcanoes which have contributed to the transformation of our world into the life bearing oasis we now enjoy. The smallest of explosions, such as the forced impact of high energy particles, can echo the foundational events of the early universe.

As the universe has transformed into the structure we live in now, even the most elementary particles have endured. This show follows the path of one of these "particles," a proton, as it participates in nature's astounding events of rebirth and renewal.

This program was produced by Clark Productions.

For centuries, humanity has wondered whether we are alone in the Universe. Now, we are finally one step closer to knowing the answer. With the discovery in 1995 of the first planet orbiting another star, we now know that planets are not unique to our own Solar System. In fact, these "extrasolar" planets now appear to be quite common.

No one has yet found an Earth-like world with conditions similar to ours, but it now seems only a matter of time. And as the quest for extrasolar planets continues, the possibility exists that one day we might find life elsewhere in the Universe, born in the light of another sun.

In this original production of the Clark Planetarium, we'll explore what makes a planet "Earth-like" in the first place, and take an immersive full-dome tour of several worlds that just might fit the conditions we're looking for. From water worlds to molten landscapes, inhabitable moons to planets with multiple suns, these exotic worlds aren't just science fiction anymore!

"Extreme Planets" was written by Ray Villard, News Director at the Space Telescope Science Institute and author the popular new book "Infinite Worlds." The program is narrated by noted film actor Rene Auberjonois ("Odo" on Star Trek Deep Space 9, "Paul Lewiston" on Boston Legal).

Discover the science of flight through the eyes of a young girl and her grandfather as they explore how birds, kites, planes and models fly. Learn about the history and future plans of flight and how NASA is discovering new and safer ways to travel with the help of future engineers and aviators - like YOU!

This program was produced by the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

The night sky, both beautiful and mysterious, has been the subject of campfire stories, ancient myths and awe for as long as there have been people. To learn about this journey of celestial discovery, from the theories of the ancient Greek astronomers to today's grandest telescopes, we invite you to experience From Earth to the Universe.

Directed by the young Greek filmmaker Theofanis N. Matsopoulos, and featuring a sweeping soundtrack from Norwegian composer Johan B. Monell, viewers can revel in the splendour of the various worlds in the Solar System and the ferocity of the scorching Sun. From Earth to the Universe then leaves our home to take the audience out to the colourful birthplaces and burial grounds of stars, and still further out, beyond the Milky Way, to the unimaginable immensity of a myriad galaxies. Along the way, the audience will learn about the history of astronomy, the invention of the telescope, and today's giant telescopes that allow us continue to probe ever deeper into the Universe.

Find out more about this production at ESO Supernova.

The program Hot and Energetic Universe presents the accomplishments of many of the world's high energy telescopes. Also discussed is the basic principles electromagnetic radiation and the natural phenomena related to the High Energy Astrophysics.

For more information on this program visit the ESO website: http://www.eso.org/public/videos/ahead-xray/

Credit:

Integrated Activities in the High-Energy Astrophysics Domain (AHEAD)/T. Matsopoulos

Join scientists who are investigating the boundary between our Solar System and the rest of our galaxy in IBEX: Search for the Edge of the Solar System.

Designed for visitors with an appreciation for the challenges of space science and a desire to learn more about science research, the show follows the creation of NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX). Audiences will get an in-depth look at the mission and how IBEX is collecting high-speed atoms to create a map of our Solar System’s boundary.

Narrated by two inquisitive teenagers, audiences will hear from the scientists and engineers that developed the IBEX mission and created the spacecraft, and get the latest updates on the mission’s discoveries.

Inside NASA: From Dream to Discovery is a new planetarium show produced by the Museum of Science, Boston as part of a grant they received from NASA.

In this program audiences will experience the challenges of the next generation of space exploration. By using exciting real-life projects like NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and the New Horizons mission to Pluto, the show highlights the extreme nature of spacecraft engineering and the life cycle of a space mission: from design and construction to the rigors of testing, launch, and operations. Blast off and take the voyage with us!

Visit: https://www.mos.org/fulldome/dream to learn more about this program and see the educator guides they have released along with this program. We also have the three supplement modules designed for a live interaction as we build and launch vehicles to explore objects in the solar system.

Our search for the lost continent of Atlantis takes us on a journey through the astronomical knowledge and understanding of the ancient Greeks. How did the constellations get their names? What different patterns did ancient cultures see in the sky? Was Atlantis a real place? Did it really sink into the sea? We will uncover clues to help us solve this age-old mystery.

This program was produced by Evans and Sutherland and is narrated by Terry O'Quinn.

Imagine the ultimate space vacation. Discover our solar system through a different set of eyes – a family from another star system seeking the perfect vacation spot. Fly over the surface of Pluto, our best known Dwarf Planet. Dive over the ice cliffs of Miranda.

Sail through the rings of Saturn. Feel the lightning storms at Jupiter. And walk on the surface of Mars. Which destination would you choose? This is the solar system journey for space travelers of all ages.

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 is a new fulldome planetarium show designed to immerse audiences in the search for dark matter. A collaboration of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, University of Texas at Arlington, Michigan State University, IFIC at University of Valencia, as well as other institutions. It is narrated by Oscar-winning actress, Tilda Swinton.

For more information about the program visit the ESO website.

Production website.

Audiences can enjoy an excursion through one of the most beautiful and majestic planetary systems in space by watching Saturn-Jewel of the Heavens. This production from Clark Planetarium is one of the first fulldome presentations to take actual images from NASA's Cassini-Huygens mission and create a fully immersive 360-degree tour of one of the most amazing planets in the solar system.

Once a place of great mystery and beauty, Saturn has finally given up some of its long held secrets. Thanks to our modern robotic pioneers, we now know more about this ringed planet and its amazing system of rings and moons than ever before. This fulldome production incorporates information from the Cassini spacecraft's Saturn mission and creates a three-dimensional photo-realistic tour of the planet, its rings and moons.

New information learned about Saturn and its system includes:

• Ice geysers exist on one moon and lakes of ethane exist on another
• Saturn's ring system reshapes itself over time as billions of icy particles collide with each other and miniature moons carve out new gaps
• Cyclonic storms in Saturn's atmosphere rage at 350 miles per hour, with central eyes over 50 miles deep.

While Saturn does include some of the best the best imagery from the Cassini-Huygens mission, it is far more than a slide show. This original 37-minute Clark Planetarium Production will provide audiences an immersive experience that explores one of one of the most amazing and dynamic planetary collections of our solar system.

Not all stars are created equal. Some are massive. Others are tiny; almost insignificant. The specific characteristics of a star will determine what type of life it will lead, how long it might live and even the type of death it will die. We will witness the amazing variety of stars and peer into their secret lives.

This program was produced by Evans and Sutherland and features narration by Sir Patrick Stewart.

One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure, featuring Big Bird, Elmo and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu is aimed at children ages 4 to 6.

One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure begins on Sesame Street when Elmo's friend, Hu Hu Zhu, visits from China. Together, Big Bird, Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu locate the Big Dipper, the North Star and the Moon in the night sky. Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu want to learn more about the Moon, so Big Bird suggests that they use their imagination to travel there. Once on the Moon, Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu quickly learn that the Moon has a very different environment than Earth. They discover there is no air on the Moon and learn that without air there can be no trees, animals, flowers or, to their disappointment, flying kites or playing soccer. Realizing this makes them homesick, so they use their imagination to take them back to Sesame Street. Back on Earth, Big Bird, Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu realize that even though they live in two different countries, they still share the same sky.

One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure was created as part of a global partnership between the Adler; Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street; the Beijing Planetarium and the Liberty Science Center (Jersey City, NJ). Representatives from all four international partners spoke at a press conference held here today to discuss the unique partnership and the project's main goals: to provide young children in China and the U.S. with an age-appropriate introduction to astronomy; promote positive attitudes toward science; foster cross-cultural appreciation and establish a successful and lasting bi-national collaboration among informal science educators and institutions in China and the U.S.

This project, which was more than seven years in the making, received major funding from the National Science Foundation and the PNC Foundation with additional support from the W.L.S. Spencer Foundation, China Association for Science and Technology and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch

A fury is building on the surface of the Sun, high-velocity jets, a fiery tsunami wave that reaches 100,000 kilometers high, rising loops of electrified gas. What's driving these strange phenomena? How will they affect planet Earth? Find the answers as we venture into the seething interior of our star.

Solar Superstorms explores related content including:

• The Earth-Sun relationship
• Importance of magnetic fields in space
• The nature of polar auroras
• Space weather and the threat to communications and power networks
• Monitoring solar behavior

For more information on this program visit the Spitz Information page.

Travel back to the beginning of time and experience the birth of the sun. Discover how it came to support life, how it threatens life as we know it, and how its energy will one day fade away.

Topics in this presentation include the electromagnetic spectrum, fusion, magnetic fields, coronal mass ejects, surface features of the sun, and how Earth is able to retain an atmosphere. Stellar evolution is also discussed.

This program was produced by the Michigan Science Center.

Tales of the Maya Skies immerses viewers in the wonders of Maya science, cosmology and myth, as we are taken back in time to the jungles of Mexico and to the cities and temples of the ancient Maya.

The beautifully illustrated story reveals how the Maya scholars developed a sophisticated understanding of astronomy, architecture, and mathematics that enabled them to predict solstices, solar eclipses, weather patterns adn planetary movements, and through this knowledge make sense of the world around them.

Producer: Konda Mason.

Discover the secrets of our star in this planetarium show and experience never-before-seen images of the Sun's violent surface in immersive fulldome format.

For more information about this program visit the ESO website.

General, 

Grades 3 and higher

"Two Small Pieces of Glass - The Amazing Telescope" show follows two students as they interact with a female astronomer at a local star party. Along the way, the students learn the history of the telescope from Galileo's modifications to a child's spyglass using 'two small pieces of glass' to the launch of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the future of astronomy. Aiming to engage and appeal to audiences of all ages, the show explores the wonder and discovery made by astronomers throughout the last 400 years.

Imiloa Astronomy Center, Buhl Planetarium at the Carnegie Science Center, and Interstellar Studios partnered on this program which was produced in 2009. Mirage IIID provided the computer graphics, animations, and compositing for the program. The soundtrack was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.