Buhl Planetarium Shows

Looking to enhance your field trip experience with an out-of-this-world opportunity? Blast off on a galactic adventure in Buhl Planetarium! The whole universe is your classroom when you book a 30-minute planetarium show.

Explore available offerings:

Story Time Under The Stars

For Grades Pre-K–1 (Content themes: Astronomy, Space Exploration)
Early learners and their grown-ups are invited to enjoy science-themed stories under a starry sky! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the stars and the storytelling, under a bright and beaming Moon in our planetarium.

Expedition Solar System

For Grades 1–4 (Content themes: Astronomy, Robotics, Solar System)
Join Quasi the Robot, your loveable 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!

Two Small Pieces of Glass

For Grades 3–5 (Content themes: Engineering, History, Telescopes)
The film traces 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. It explores the wonder and discovery made by astronomers throughout the last 400 years.

Stars Over Pittsburgh

For Grades 3–12 (Content themes: Celestial Patterns, Stars & Galaxies)
Take a guided tour through the current night sky in this live presentation. Students will learn how to locate the planets and constellations in their own back yard, as well as the phases of the Moon.

Blueprints to Blastoff

For Grades 4–8 (Content themes: Engineering, Design, Lunar Phases, Forces, Energy)
In this interactive experience, students become engineers and design a lunar base for NASA’s Artemis program.

Development of this experience was supported by NASA Grant No. 80NSSC20M0031

Big Astronomy

For Grades 6–8 (Content themes: Solar System, Telescopes, Research)
Explore the world-class observatories nestled in northern Chile’s mountains and learn why Chile, with its 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 a world-class observatory. Meet a few of these people as they share the wonder of the sky – and the excitement of discovery.

Beginner’s Guide to the Universe

For Grades 5–12 (Content themes: Solar System, Stars & Galaxies)
Travel beyond our own Milky Way Galaxy to the farthest reaches of our cosmos.

Phantom of the Universe

For Grades 5–12 (Content themes: Astronomy, Physics, Solar System)
Showcases the exploration of dark matter, from the Big Bang to galaxies to the Large Hadron Collider.

Laser Shows

Available at any grade level!
It is a music, light, and sound experience! Contact our Reservations Team to see what show is available!

Contact us to discuss which option is best for your group!

You can fill out this form!  with all your needs and we’ll connect with you to work through your reservation. You can also call us at 412.237.3400 between the hours of 9 am–5 pm, Monday–Friday. Our team will help you book the trip that fits your schedule!