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Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium

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The Burke Baker Planetarium allows visitors to experience the wonders of space while still on earth. Recently renovated in December 1998, the dome theatre offers the world's most technologically advanced and realistic views of space and the universe. Giving visitors the feeling that they are traveling in space, high-resolution video technology projects images of planets, stars, meteors, solar systems and entire galaxies on the domed surface. The dome theatre is also used to train Space Shuttle astronauts in identifying starfields.

Opened in 1964, this facility has presented astronomical programs to millions of visitors including school groups and the general public. The computerized SkySkan DigitalSky starfield projector--the most advanced in the world--simulates stars, planets, comets, nebulous objects and other special effects such as three-dimensional flight through space. A digital stereo sound system enhances the Dome Theatre's special effects.

The last five years have brought a revolution in dome theatres, transforming them from rooms with stars on the roof to digital dome theaters able to carry audiences from the Big Bang to the nucleus of a cell. Gradually shows are diverging from pure astronomy themes to immersive experiences on Earth and even into the human body. Unlike IMAX, the digital nature of this medium allows the Museum to develop unique presentations related to exhibits and scientific events. The Museum has also added one upgrade to its full-dome system each year, improving the quality of each successive visit.

At-a-
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Contact Info

Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium

5555 Hermann Park Drive
Houston, TX 77030

Phone: (713) 639-4629 | Official Website
Map

Full map and directions
Parking Info

Paking available in the Houston Museum of Natural Science garage.
Accessibility Services

Current Events

04/26/13- 10/22/13	The X-Planets Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium The X-Planets Presented by Houston Museum of Natural Science at Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium April 26-October 22, 2013 Houston Museum of Natural Science Burke Baker Planetarium presents *The X-Planets. We have found over 700 planets orbiting other stars and life forms on Earth that might survive on these alien worlds. The X-Planets* visits the most famous of these exoplanets and explores 3D artists' renderings of each planet's surface. These are alien worlds around other suns where we are looking for life today - rocky worlds with comfortable temperatures and maybe...
04/26/13- 10/20/13	Life in the Universe Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium Life in the Universe Presented by Houston Museum of Natural Science at Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium April 26-October 20, 2013 Life in the universe - where is it hiding? Houston Museum of Natural Science Wortham IMAX® Theatre presents *Life in the Universe*. 2010 marked the 50th anniversary of the first experiment to search for extraterrestrial intelligence. In 1960, astronomer Frank Drake used a radio telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia to listen to two nearby stars. He heard nothing interesting, but the idea of searching for life beyond Earth was born. Fifty years of searching for signals...
04/26/13- 10/22/13	Dark Side of the Moon Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium Dark Side of the Moon Presented by Houston Museum of Natural Science at Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium April 26-October 22, 2013 Pink Floyd's legendary album returns, enhanced by all of the capacities of the Museum’s high-definition, full-dome video system. Fantastic sound and incredible images create an unforgettable experience. It's not just a laser show, it’s a totally new digital revolution in sight and sound—surrounding you, immersing you, losing you in the *Dark Side of the Moon*. This unique video experience is provided by Starlight Productions.
05/11/12- 10/23/13	Cosmic Collisions Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium Cosmic Collisions Presented by Houston Museum of Natural Science at Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium May 11, 2012-October 23, 2013 Houston Museum of Natural Science Burke Baker Planetarium presents *Cosmic Collisions.* Cosmic Collisions, narrated by Robert Redford, launches visitors on a thrilling trip through space and time to explore celestial smashups that cause dramatic change in the universe. Audiences experience the explosive encounters that shaped our solar system, changed the course of life on Earth, and continue to transform our galaxy. Witness the violent...
12/22/11- 10/22/13	Starry Night Express Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium Starry Night Express Presented by Houston Museum of Natural Science at Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium December 22, 2011-October 22, 2013 The Burke Baker Planetarium at the Museum of Natural Science is offering a show for stargazers of all ages with both live and pre-recorded sections. First the planetarium operator tours the night sky for the night and the upcoming weekend. Audiences can practice finding constellations, planets, the moon, meteor showers and the Milky Way band. Then the show will drop into *Starry Night Express*, a star party led by Laurence Fishburne. From this country setting,...
12/22/11- 10/23/13	Black Holes Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium Black Holes Presented by Houston Museum of Natural Science at Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium December 22, 2011-October 23, 2013 The attraction of Black Holes is more than just gravitational. These mysterious graveyards of dead stars have fascinated generations. The Burke Baker Planetarium’s feature *Black Holes* explores the history, physics, and mystery of black holes. Narrated by actor John de Lancie (“Q” in the Star Trek TV series), this space adventure features rich, expansive panoramas and incorporates several of the latest scientific theories about how black...
05/05/11- 05/31/13	2012: Mayan Prophecies Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium 2012: Mayan Prophecies Presented by Houston Museum of Natural Science at Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium May 5, 2011-May 31, 2013 Houston Museum of Natural Science Burke Baker Planetarium presents 2012: Mayan Prophecies. Explore the Prophecies of the Mayan Astronomers! Visit the Classic Mayan cities of Uxmal, Chichen Itza, Tikal, and Palenque to discover how the Maya aligned their temples to watch their sky gods and used interlocking calendars to record the past and predict the future. Explore pyramids towering above the rainforest, designed as observatories to follow...

Upcoming Events

05/24/13-
10/23/13

Stars of the Pharaohs
Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium

NOTE: We do our best to ensure all information is accurate. However, it's a good idea to visit the website or call the venue to verify the information.

Current &
Upcoming Events

Current Events

04/26/13- 10/22/13	The X-Planets Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium The X-Planets Presented by Houston Museum of Natural Science at Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium April 26-October 22, 2013 Houston Museum of Natural Science Burke Baker Planetarium presents *The X-Planets. We have found over 700 planets orbiting other stars and life forms on Earth that might survive on these alien worlds. The X-Planets* visits the most famous of these exoplanets and explores 3D artists' renderings of each planet's surface. These are alien worlds around other suns where we are looking for life today - rocky worlds with comfortable temperatures and maybe...
04/26/13- 10/20/13	Life in the Universe Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium Life in the Universe Presented by Houston Museum of Natural Science at Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium April 26-October 20, 2013 Life in the universe - where is it hiding? Houston Museum of Natural Science Wortham IMAX® Theatre presents *Life in the Universe*. 2010 marked the 50th anniversary of the first experiment to search for extraterrestrial intelligence. In 1960, astronomer Frank Drake used a radio telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia to listen to two nearby stars. He heard nothing interesting, but the idea of searching for life beyond Earth was born. Fifty years of searching for signals...
04/26/13- 10/22/13	Dark Side of the Moon Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium Dark Side of the Moon Presented by Houston Museum of Natural Science at Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium April 26-October 22, 2013 Pink Floyd's legendary album returns, enhanced by all of the capacities of the Museum’s high-definition, full-dome video system. Fantastic sound and incredible images create an unforgettable experience. It's not just a laser show, it’s a totally new digital revolution in sight and sound—surrounding you, immersing you, losing you in the *Dark Side of the Moon*. This unique video experience is provided by Starlight Productions.
05/11/12- 10/23/13	Cosmic Collisions Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium Cosmic Collisions Presented by Houston Museum of Natural Science at Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium May 11, 2012-October 23, 2013 Houston Museum of Natural Science Burke Baker Planetarium presents *Cosmic Collisions.* Cosmic Collisions, narrated by Robert Redford, launches visitors on a thrilling trip through space and time to explore celestial smashups that cause dramatic change in the universe. Audiences experience the explosive encounters that shaped our solar system, changed the course of life on Earth, and continue to transform our galaxy. Witness the violent...
12/22/11- 10/22/13	Starry Night Express Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium Starry Night Express Presented by Houston Museum of Natural Science at Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium December 22, 2011-October 22, 2013 The Burke Baker Planetarium at the Museum of Natural Science is offering a show for stargazers of all ages with both live and pre-recorded sections. First the planetarium operator tours the night sky for the night and the upcoming weekend. Audiences can practice finding constellations, planets, the moon, meteor showers and the Milky Way band. Then the show will drop into *Starry Night Express*, a star party led by Laurence Fishburne. From this country setting,...
12/22/11- 10/23/13	Black Holes Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium Black Holes Presented by Houston Museum of Natural Science at Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium December 22, 2011-October 23, 2013 The attraction of Black Holes is more than just gravitational. These mysterious graveyards of dead stars have fascinated generations. The Burke Baker Planetarium’s feature *Black Holes* explores the history, physics, and mystery of black holes. Narrated by actor John de Lancie (“Q” in the Star Trek TV series), this space adventure features rich, expansive panoramas and incorporates several of the latest scientific theories about how black...
05/05/11- 05/31/13	2012: Mayan Prophecies Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium 2012: Mayan Prophecies Presented by Houston Museum of Natural Science at Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium May 5, 2011-May 31, 2013 Houston Museum of Natural Science Burke Baker Planetarium presents 2012: Mayan Prophecies. Explore the Prophecies of the Mayan Astronomers! Visit the Classic Mayan cities of Uxmal, Chichen Itza, Tikal, and Palenque to discover how the Maya aligned their temples to watch their sky gods and used interlocking calendars to record the past and predict the future. Explore pyramids towering above the rainforest, designed as observatories to follow...

Upcoming Events

05/24/13-
10/23/13

Stars of the Pharaohs
Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium

Past
Events

Past Events

04/18/13- 05/17/13	Force 5 Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
01/17/13- 05/09/13	Passport to the Universe Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
12/13/12- 05/17/13	Earth's Wild Ride Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
11/30/12- 12/30/12	Star of Bethlehem Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
11/30/12- 02/08/13	Secret of the Cardboard Rocket Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
11/16/12- 12/30/12	Let it Snow - A Holiday Music Journey Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
08/07/12	Passport to the Universe Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
06/15/12- 08/01/12	Earth's Wild Ride Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
05/22/12- 08/28/12	Led Zeppelin Light Show Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
03/20/12- 04/24/12	Led Zeppelin Light Show Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
03/16/12- 12/31/12	Night of the Titanic Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
03/15/12- 03/21/13	Experience The Aurora Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
02/17/12- 05/22/12	Secret of the Cardboard Rocket Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
01/02/12- 05/17/12	Earth's Wild Ride Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
12/22/11- 12/31/12	Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
12/22/11- 03/22/13	We Choose Space! Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
12/22/11- 06/11/12	Life in the Universe Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
12/01/11- 01/01/12	Star of Bethlehem Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
07/01/11- 11/30/11	Led Zeppelin Light Show Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
05/14/11	Expanded Cinema Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
05/04/11- 05/20/11	The Body Code Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
04/15/11- 09/02/11	Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
04/11/11- 03/08/12	Stars Over Texas Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
03/12/11- 09/02/11	The Dinosaur Prophecy Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
02/23/11- 09/02/11	Secret of the Cardboard Rocket Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
01/05/11- 05/31/12	The New Force Five! Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
11/19/10- 01/04/11	Star of Bethlehem Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
10/30/10- 03/27/11	Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
09/03/10- 01/04/11	Force 5 Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
06/29/10- 07/20/10	Zula Patrol Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
06/18/10- 08/13/10	Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
06/18/10- 08/13/10	Rock On! Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
05/28/10- 09/02/10	The Dinosaur Prophecy Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
05/28/10- 01/20/12	Passport to the Universe Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
01/15/10- 12/21/11	Life in the Universe Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
01/08/10- 03/02/10	Passport to the Universe Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
01/01/10- 12/21/11	Black Holes Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
01/01/10- 12/21/11	Earth's Wild Ride Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
01/01/10- 12/21/11	Starry Night Express Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
11/20/09- 01/04/10	Star of Bethlehem Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
07/17/09- 05/27/10	Dawn of the Space Age Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
05/28/09- 09/02/10	Ice Worlds Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
05/23/09- 09/05/09	Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
05/05/09- 09/02/10	Secret of the Cardboard Rocket Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
05/01/09- 05/27/10	Impact Earth Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
02/06/09- 03/11/09	The Amazing Astronomers of Ancient Rome Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
01/13/09	Special Lecture: Polar-Palooza National Tour: Stories from a Changing Planet Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
01/09/09- 09/07/09	Invaders of Mars! Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
11/21/08- 01/08/09	Star of Bethlehem Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
10/06/08- 04/09/09	The Body Code Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
07/04/08- 05/31/09	Ice Worlds Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
05/26/08- 05/27/09	Zula Patrol Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
01/04/08- 08/02/11	Night of the Titanic Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
01/05/07- 07/01/10	Black Holes Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
06/03/06- 07/01/10	Earth's Wild Ride Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
06/02/06- 09/07/09	Passport to the Universe Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
06/02/06- 07/01/10	Starry Night Express Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
06/02/06- 09/07/09	The Dinosaur Prophecy Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium
01/01/06- 09/25/11	Visit the Burke Baker Planetarium Houston Museum of Natural Science - Burke Baker Planetarium