Southwest Minnesota State University Planetarium

04/17/2026

Free Planetarium Show & Laser Light Show followed by Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream (complements of the Chemistry Club). The show begins Thursday, April 30th 7:30 p.m. Ice cream will be served following the show at 8:45 p.m.! The planetarium show will feature a simulated trip to the moon following the Artemis II trajectory. The laser show will include many favorite hit songs set to brilliant laser light! This show is part of Finish Strong Week at SMSU. Arrive early to get a good seat!!

01/05/2026

Thanks for the shout out Mpls.St.Paul Magazine! The SMSU Planetarium is a cool spot for Minnesota Super Kids and their adults! Follow our page for details on upcoming events! And yes, liquid nitrogen ice cream prepared by the SMSU Chemistry Club is a regular pairing to our planetarium shows.

Minnesota is bursting with supersized ways to have fun.

12/10/2025

Planetarium Christmas show series starts this weekend!

12/01/2025

Planetarium Christmas & Light Show Dates:

Sat. December 13th 7 p.m.
Sun. December 14th 2 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. (Free Ice Cream sponsored by Chemistry club between shows)
Sat. December 20th 7 p.m.
Sun. December 21st 2 p.m.

Arrive early to get a good seat! The planetarium is located in the Science & Math building at SMSU. Tickets are $5 and are only sold at the door (cash or check). Shows run 1 hour. Free for current SMSU students with ID.

10/16/2025

Spooky Space Halloween Planetarium Show Thursday Oct 30th 6-7 p.m. Includes a laser light show! Admission is $5. Arrive early to get a good seat! Current SMSU students with an ID get in free. Good for all ages!

09/26/2025

SMSU Planetarium Announces TWO Free Homecoming 2025 Shows:

Saturday, Oct 11 2-3 p.m. PLANETARIUM STAR SHOW where you'll learn what's up in the night sky from your backyard this time of year. We will also leave the Earth and travel into space to visit some exoplanets (planets around other stars!). Our feature fulldome film is A-Z Astronomy followed by a brief laser light show. If you like the lasers, come back tonight at 8 p.m.!

Saturday, Oct 11 8-9 p.m. PLANETARIUM LASER LIGHT SHOW: WOMEN THAT ROCK: Trailblazing women pushed the envelope of rock music as artists like Joan Jett and the Wilson sisters made a splash in the male-dominated rock world. Pat Benatar said she wanted to be like Robert Plant instead of Linda Ronstadt. Bands like the Runaways showed the way. This laser show features artists like those and more recent bands like "The Pretty Reckless" and "Halestorm" who carry on the hard rockin' tradition. You won't want to miss this epic show in brilliant laser light, brilliant color, and phenomenal fog beam effects!

09/11/2025

Free planetarium show: "From Earth To The Universe" followed by a short laser light show Friday, September 19th 7-8 p.m. Immediately after the show liquid nitrogen ice cream will be served by the Chemistry Club. Show description: Embark on an exhilarating journey through the cosmos in our planetarium star show! Starting from the comfort of your backyard, you'll gaze up at the twinkling stars and vibrant planets that light up the night sky. As we lift off, you'll soar through the solar system, visiting the majestic rings of Saturn and the red surface of Mars. But the adventure doesn't stop there! We'll travel beyond our solar neighborhood, gliding through the vastness of space, where you'll witness the breathtaking beauty of distant galaxies and the awe-inspiring edge of the observable universe. Prepare to be captivated by the wonders of the cosmos as we explore the infinite possibilities that lie beyond our world!

06/24/2025

01/22/2025

Did you know there is a direct relationship between a star's temperature and its color? This app let's you adjust the temperature of a star while observing the star color change. Which color is hotter, red or blue?

Star Color, Temperature and Blackbody Curve