Texas Tech University

Moody Planetarium

Planetarium Icon The Moody Planetarium offers fun and educational astronomy and laser programs for students of various age groups. You may choose the program that you are interested in from the list below.

Reservations are required for all school planetarium and laser shows, and should be scheduled at least two (2) weeks in advance by calling (806) 742-2432. Daycares and summer camps are welcome. The Planetarium will honor group rates for groups 10+.

Please note that the seating capacity is 72 people plus two wheelchair slots. If you have more than 60 students, you will need to schedule two shows.

Information about general public show times is available here.

Group Show Fees

Planetarium fees for school groups PK – 12th grades are $3 for each student or adult. Payment is due the day of the show.

If your group is running late or has to cancel, please notify us as soon as possible.

Planetarium school programs are scheduled:

  • Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday – Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Shows are scheduled to begin on the half hour. Plan to arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before the scheduled show time.

Outside view of Planetarium Nighttime View of Planetarium Inside view of Planetarium View of Planetarium Projector Close up of Planetarium Projector Planetarium Laser Show Planetarium Laser Show

Planetarium and Laser Show Offerings 

Birth of the Solar System (all ages)

22 minutes

How did our solar system originate? What chain of events led to its creation? Just as detectives look for traces of evidence to solve a mystery, astronomers analyze the evidence that points to the formation of the Sun and planets. In particular, they study the influence that impacts and collisions had on the worlds of the solar system. Beginning with the condensation of the initial cloud of gas and cosmic dust, we explore the history of planetary formation and the mechanism of accretion that played an important role in shaping the worlds of the solar system.

Cowboy Astronomer (all ages)

37 minutes

Explore the stars from a cowboy's point of view! This full-dome planetarium show is a skillfully woven tapestry of star tales and Native American legends, combined with constellation identification, star-hopping, and astronomy tidbits — all told from the unique viewpoint of a cowboy astronomer who has traveled the world plying his trade and learning the sky along the way. Narrated by cowboy humorist and poet Baxter Black. 

Realm of Light (all ages)

25 minutes

Realm of Light tells the story of the fascinating history of the universe from its onset to modern man. With stunning special effects, this beautifully animated 360° production shows the early universe, a flight through the Eagle Nebula, an exploding supernova, the early earth, the development of life under water and ashore.

Seasonal Stargazing (all ages)

7 to 15 minutes

Each Seasonal Stargazing show highlights the most prominent and easy-to-find stars and constellations of the season. We've upgraded the old standby green-arrow show, painting the dome with choreographed circles and colorful constellation lines. 

Secret of the Cardboard Rocket (grade 1 & up)

40 minutes

Join two children on a magical journey through the solar system, aided by a talking astronomy book, a cardboard rocket and a vivid imagination. During this show, audiences will land on Venus, fly through the rings of Saturn, and discover the secrets of the universe.

Dinosaur Prophecy (grade 2 & up)

21 minutes

Long before dinosaurs' massive extinction 65 million years ago, many individual species simply disappeared. Visit dinosaur graveyards, study their bones, and reconstruct how these creatures lived and died to solve four famous cold cases from the age of the dinosaurs.

Earth's Wild Ride (grade 2 & up)

20 minutes

Imagine Earth were a distant place you once called home but could never visit again. What would you remember most about the planet, and how would you describe it to your grandchildren? Set on the surface of the Moon in the year 2081, a grandfather and granddaughter watch a solar eclipse from scenic cliffs overlooking their moon colony. Each experience begins with a telescope view of the dynamic Earth in stark contrast with the unchanging lunar landscape.

Black Holes (grade 3 & up)

23 minutes

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? Narrated by John de Lancie (Q in Star Trek: the Next Generation).

Dawn of the Space Age (grade 3 & up)

41 minutes

Re-live the excitement of the early days of space exploration, from the launch of the first artificial satellite Sputnik, to the magnificent lunar landings, and privately operated space flights. Who were these men and women that took part in these death-defying endeavors? Witness their drive, their passion, and their perseverance to explore in Dawn of the Space Age.

Saturn, the Ring World II

22 minutes

After nearly seven years in transit, the two-story Cassini-Huygens spacecraft began orbiting Saturn on July 1, 2004. Cassini continues to explore Saturn and its moons during its extended mission, while the Huygens probe had landed on the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon. See Saturn up-close and all-around-you inside our dome theater. Ring World is narrated by Star Trek's John Billingsley and was produced by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Two Small Pieces of Glass (grade 3 & up)

30 minutes

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 female astronomer enlightens them on the history of the telescope and the discoveries these wonderful tools have made.

Wildest Weather in the Solar System (grade 3 & up)

25 minutes

Join us on a spectacular journey to witness the most beautiful, powerful, and mysterious weather phenomena in the solar system. From a storm the size of a 100-megaton hydrogen bomb, to a 400-year-old hurricane, to a dust tempest that could engulf entire planets, you'll be glad you live on Earth! 

Lucy's Cradle: The Birth of Wonder (grade 5 & up)

21 minutes

Learn how changes in the Earth's geography and atmosphere paired with Lucy's upright posture converge to allow creatures to first observe the skies. Explore the Solar System to see the other worlds in our solar neighborhood. Why is intelligent life only found on Earth? Could any other planet or moon harbor primitive life? Travel back into time to ancient Africa, home of the world's most famous fossil. Watch her come alive with her family, and see how changes in her environment drove hominid migration.

Extreme Planets (grade 6 & up)

33 minutes

Just over a decade ago there were no known planets orbiting sunlike stars outside our own solar system. Since 1995, however, fast-paced developments in detection techniques have revealed hundreds of extrasolar planets--with the pace of discovery increasing all the time. Though it will be years before we have direct images of the surfaces of these worlds, this show gives us an idea of what they might look like - up close and personal! In this original production we'll explore the idea of what "Earth-like" even means, and take an immersive journey to several worlds that may stretch the imagination, but aren't science fiction anymore. 

Laser Shows (all audiences)

Educational Shows

Legends of the Night Sky: Perseus and Andromeda (19 minutes)

Paradigm Shifts (6 minutes)

Laseropolis

48 minutes

  1. Karn Evil 9 - Emerson, Lake and Palmer
  2. Head Over Feet - Alanis Morrisette
  3. Rock Lobster - the B-52's
  4. Firestarter - Prodigy
  5. Under the Milky Way - the Church
  6. Papua New Guinea - Future Sounds of London
  7. Spiderwebs - No Doubt
  8. Foreplay - Boston
  9. Champagne Supernova - Oasis
  10. End of the World (As We Know It) - REM
  11. Torn - Creed
  12. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
  13. One of These Days - Pink Floyd

Laser Magic

45 minutes

 

  1. Santorini - Yanni
  2. Godzilla - Blue Oyster Cults
  3. Love Gets Me Every Time - Shania Twain
  4. Men In Black - Will Smith
  5. My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
  6. Storms in Africa - Enya
  7. Money - Pink Floyd
  8. Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
  9. Time Warp - cast of Rocky Horror Picture Show
  10. Diana (Candle in the Wind '97) - Elton John
  11. Don't Speak - No Doubt
  12. The Hunter - Bjork
  13. I Love Rock & Roll - Joan Jett
  14. Rock Lobster - the B-52's
  15. Tub Thumping - Chumbawamba

iPop

41 minutes

 

  1. Baby - Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris
  2. All the Way Up - Emily Osment
  3. Naturally - Selena Gomez
  4. Can't Be Tamed - Miley Cyrus
  5. ABC - Jackson 5
  6. Telephone - Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé
  7. The Grid - Daft Punk
  8. Halfway There - Big Time Rush
  9. Freak the Freak Out - Victorious featuring Victoria Justice
  10. Masquerade - Ashley Tisdale
  11. I Gotta Feelin' - Black Eyed Peas
  12. Rocketeer - Far East Movement with Ryan Tedder
  13. Firework - Katy Perry

Laser Pop

30 minutes

 

  1. Pop - N'Sync
  2. Get This Party Started - Pink
  3. Beatles Medley - The Beatles
  4. I'm A Believer - Smashmouth
  5. Desert Rose - Sting
  6. Beach Boys Medley - The Beach Boys
  7. Cosmic Thing - The B52's
  8. Digital Get Down - N'Sync
  9. Kryptonite - 3 Doors Down

Laser X: The Alternative Experience

47 minutes

 

  1. Lost - Stabbing Westward
  2. Bulls on Parade - Rage Against the Machine
  3. Zero - Smashing Pumpkins
  4. Park Avenue - Girl Against Boys
  5. Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters
  6. Would - Alice in Chains
  7. Push It - Garbage
  8. Sunshower - Chris Cornell
  9. Guilty - Gravity Kills
  10. Shame - Stabbing Westward
  11. Block Rockin'Beats - the Chemical Brothers
  12. Du Hast - Rammstein
  13. More Human Than Human - White Zombie

Hypnotica

50 minutes

 

  1. Trip Like I Do - the Crystal Method
  2. Love Island - Fat Boy Slim
  3. Insomnia - Faithless
  4. Narayan - Prodigy
  5. Joga - Bjork
  6. Silence - Delerium
  7. Music: Reponse - the Chemical Brothers
  8. Acid 8000 - Fat Boy Slim
  9. Comin' Back - the Crystal Method
  10. Setting Sun - the Chemical Brothers

Laseretro

49 minutes

 

  1. Lunatic Fringe - Red Rider
  2. Everybody wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears
  3. Message in a Bottle - the Police
  4. Blue Monday - New Order
  5. Rio - Duran Duran
  6. Life in a Northern Town - the Dream Academy
  7. Never Let Me Down Again - Depeche Mode
  8. Sweet Dreams (are made of this) - Eurythmics
  9. Just Like Heaven - the Cure
  10. She Blinded Me with Science - Thomas Dolby
  11. Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) - Icicle Works
  12. New Sensation - INXS
  13. Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Laser Mania

42 minutes

 

  1. Mortal Kombat Theme - the Immortals
  2. Blue - Eiffel 65
  3. Smooth - Santana
  4. Men in Black - Will Smith
  5. Man, I Feel Like a Woman - Shania Twain
  6. That's the Way It Is - Celine Dion
  7. Time Warp Medley - Various
    1. Blue Suede Shoes
    2. Yakity Yak
    3. Satisfaction
    4. Stop, In the Name of Love
    5. Whole Lotta Love
    6. Staying Alive
    7. What I Like About You
    8. Let's Go Crazy
  8. Desert Rose - Sting
  9. Attack of the Radioactive Hamsters - Weird Al Yankovic
  10. Mixed Bizness - Beck
  11. Under the Milkyway - The Church
  12. Livin' La Vica Loca - Ricky Martin
  13. All the Small Things - Blink 182

Laser Vinyl

45 minutes

 

  1. Back in Black - AC/DC
  2. Karn Evil 9 /See the Shaw - ELP
  3. Jump - Van Halen
  4. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
  5. Carry on my Wayward Son - Kansas
  6. Rock-n-Roll All Night - Kiss
  7. Dream On - Aerosmith
  8. Separate Ways - Journey
  9. One of these Days - Pink Floyd

Laser Country

40 minutes

 

  1. Ain't Going Down - Garth Brooks
  2. Me and My Gang - Rascal Flatts
  3. Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash
  4. All-American Girl - Carrie Underwood
  5. Always on My Mind - Willie Nelson
  6. Devil Went Down to Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band
  7. Good Lord Willing - Little Big Town
  8.  All my Ex's - George Strait
  9. Crazy - Patsy Cline
  10. How Am I Doin'? - Dierks Bentley
  11. Chicken Fried - Zac Brown Band
  12. God Bless the USA - Lee Greenwood

ElectroPop

40 minutes

 

  1. Applause - Lady Gaga
  2. Turn Down for What - Lil Jon & DJ Snake
  3. Pompeii - Bastille
  4. Red Lights - Tiësto
  5. Royals - Lorde
  6. #SELFIE - The Chainsmokers
  7. This is How We Do - Katy Perry
  8. Happy - Pharrell Williams
  9. Tongue Tied - Grouplove
  10. Get Lucky - Daft Punk
  11. Neon Lights - Demi Lovato
  12. Ten Feet Tall - Afrojack & Wrabel

Laser Spirit

47 minutes

 

  1. Summon the Heroes - John Williams
  2. Beautiful Day - U2
  3. Music - Madonna
  4. Beatles Medley - The Beatles
  5. Reach - Gloria Estefan
  6. Santorini - Yanni
  7. Rock Lobster - the B52's
  8. Birds Fly - Icicle Works
  9. Patriotic Medley - Aaron Copeland & Lee Greenwood
    1. Fanfare for the Common Man
    2. America the Beautiful
    3. God Bless the USA

Fright Light

49 minutes

 

  1. Thriller - Michael Jackson
  2. Godzilla - Blue Oyster Cult
  3. Monster Medley 
    1. Monster Mash - Boris Pickett
    2. Purple People Eater - Warren Zevon
    3. Boris the Spider - the Who
  4. Enter Sandman - Metallica
  5. Men In Black - Will Smith
  6. Attack of the Radioactive Hamsters - Weird Al Yankovic
  7. Firestarter - Prodigy
  8. Dead Man's Party - Oingo Boingo
  9. Another Brick in the Wall - Pink Floyd
  10. Push It - Garbage
  11. Frankenstein - Edgar Winters Group
  12. Devil Went Down to Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band
  13. Feed My Frankenstein - Alice Cooper

Laser Holidays

39 minutes

 

  1. Sleigh Ride - LeRoy Anderson
  2. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - Tchaikovsky
  3. Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer - Burl Ives
  4. Winter Wonderland - Eurythmics
  5. Deck the Halls - Philharmonic Orchestra
  6. Jingle Bell Rock - Randy Travis
  7. White Christmas - Bing Crosby
  8. Christmastime - Smashing Pumpkins
  9. Oiche Chiun (Silent Night) - Enya
  10. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Ronnie Spector/Darlene Love
  11. Frosty the Snowman - Cocteau Twins
  12. Carol of the Bells - David Foster
  13. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
  14. All I Want for Christmas is You - Mariah Carey
  15. We Wish you a Merry Christmas - James Galway

Laser Beatles

35 minutes

 

  1. Magical Mystery Tour
  2. I Wanna Hold Your Hand
  3. Twist and Shout
  4. A Hard Day's Night
  5. Nowhere Man
  6. Help!
  7. Yesterday
  8. Octopus' Garden
  9. Revolution
  10. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band
  11. A Day in the Life

Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon

44 minutes

 

  1. Speak to Me
  2. Breathe
  3. On the Run
  4. Time
  5. The Great Gig in the Sky
  6. Money
  7. Us and Them
  8. Any Colour You Like
  9. Brain Damage
  10. Eclipse

Pink Floyd's The Wall

52 minutes

 

  1. In the Flesh
  2. The Thin Ice
  3. Another Brick in the Wall (Part I)
  4. The Happiest Days of Our Lives
  5. Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)
  6. Mother
  7. Goodbye Blue Sky
  8. Empty Spaces
  9. Young Lust
  10. Another Brick in the Wall (Part III)
  11. Hey You
  12. Comfortably Numb
  13. Stop
  14. The Trial
  15. Run Like Hell

Laser U2

50 minutes

 

  1. Where the Streets Have No Name
  2. I Will Follow
  3. Beautiful Day
  4. Sunday, Bloody Sunday
  5. October
  6. The Fly
  7. Mysterious Ways
  8. Pride
  9. Zoo Station
  10. With or Without You
  11. Desire
  12. New Year's Day

Laser Metallica

52 minutes

 

  1. For Whom the Bell Tolls
  2. Ain't My Bitch
  3. Fuel
  4. One
  5. Nothing Else Matters
  6. Master of Puppets
  7. Unforgiven II
  8. Sad but True
  9. Enter Sandman

Laser Zeppelin

52 minutes

 

  1. Song Remains the Same
  2. Over the Hills and Far Away
  3. Good Times, Bad Times
  4. Immigrant Song
  5. Quarter
  6. Black Dog
  7. Livin', Lovin' Maid
  8. Kashmir
  9. Stairway to Heaven
  10. Whole Lotta Love
  11. Rock-n-Roll

Laser Michael Jackson

60 minutes

 

  1. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
  2. The Way You Make Me Feel
  3. ABC 
  4. Black Or White
  5. Human Nature
  6. Thriller
  7. Man In The Mirror
  8. Dirty Diana
  9. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
  10. Billie Jean
  11. Bad

Laser Queen

60 minutes

 

  1. We Will Rock You
  2. Bicycle Race
  3. Another One Bites the Dust
  4. Best Friend
  5. Flash
  6. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
  7. Somebody To Love
  8. I Want It All
  9. Stone Cold Crazy
  10. Princes of the Universe
  11. Killer Queen
  12. Bohemian Rhapsody
  13. We Are the Champions

Museum of Texas Tech University

© 2023  Texas Tech University Nov 16, 2022 12:29 PM