Capacity: 150 people

The Buhl Digital Dome features one of the most advanced high-def, full-dome projection systems in the world. Listed below are just two of our planetarium shows—we have many more for you to choose from. Call 412.237.3400, then press 7, and one of our staff will help you get started and will discuss your planetarium options.

New! Two Small Pieces of Glass
While attending a local star party, two teenage students learn how telescopes have helped us understand our place in space and how they continue to expand our understanding of the Universe. Join them as they explore the history of the telescope and glimpse the Galilean Moons, Saturn’s rings, and much more.

New! One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure
Available September 17, 2009
Based on the popular children’s show Sesame Street®, One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure provides an exciting introduction to astronomy and other sciences. The cross-cultural planetarium show begins when Elmo and his friend, Hu Hu Zhu, a Muppet from the Chinese co-production of Sesame Street, go on an exciting adventure to discover the Sun, Moon, and stars. At the end of the show, Big Bird, Elmo, and Hu Hu Zhu pick a friendship star to celebrate the idea that even though they live in two different countries, they still share the same sky. A perfect 20-minute show for youngsters ages 4–6.
Made possible by PNC Foundation

More Buhl Digital Dome shows:

The Sky Above Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
Content themes: Solar System
Explore familiar objects in the sky with Mister Rogers and your favorite characters from the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
Time Required: 20 minutes
Grades: PK–1
Anchors: S4.A.3.2, S4.A.3.3, S4.C.1.1, S4.C.2.1. S4.C.3.1
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5

Zeke’s Dazzling Sky
Content themes: Solar System
Join Zeke, the friendly alien, as you look closely at the daytime and nighttime skies and sing songs about the weather, stars, and rainbows.
Time Required: 25 minutes
Grades: PK Level One; 1–2 Level Two
Anchors: S4.A.3.1, S4.A.3.2, S4.A.3.3, S.4.C.1.1, S.4.C.2.1
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5

The Little Star That Could
Content themes: Solar System, Stars & Galaxies
Learn about the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars as you try to discover the identity of a very special yellow star.
Time Required: 38 minutes
Grades: 1–3
Anchors: S4.C.1.1, S4.C.2.1, S4.C.3.1, S4.D.1.1, S4.D.1.3, S4.D.2.1
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 3. 8

Circus in the Stars
Content themes: Solar System, Stars & Galaxies
Using the Big Top as the backdrop, tour the constellations. Watch as major seasonal star patterns are transformed into their circus counterparts. Learn about the structure, formation, and life cycle of stars as they discover the familiar patterns of stars in the night sky.
Time Required: 25 minutes
Grades: 3 Level One; 4–6 Level Two
Anchors: S4.A.3.2, S4.A.3.2
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4

The Christmas Star
Content themes: Stars & Galaxies, Solar System
In this wondrous holiday tradition, students will learn about the structure, formation, and life cycle of stars and discover the familiar patterns of stars in the night sky.
Time Required: 25 minutes
Grades: 1–3 Level One; 4–6 Level Two
Anchors: S4.A.3.2, S4.A.3.3, S4.C.1.1, S4.C.2.1, S4.C.3.1,
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.8, 7.1, 7.2, 8.4

Grades: 7–9 Level Three
Anchors: S8.A.3.2, S8.A.3.3, S8.C.1.1, S8.C.2.1, S8.C.3.1
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.8, 7.1, 7.2, 8.4

Revealing the Universe
Content themes: Stars & Galaxies, Technology
Take an exciting journey of discovery through a remarkable blend of science, art, and entertainment that dramatically communicates the latest breakthroughs in our quest to understand the universe.
Time Required: 30 minutes
Grades: 4–6 Level One
Anchors: S4.A.3.1, S4.A.3.2, S4.A.3.3, S4.C.1.1, S4.C.2.1, S4.C.3.1
Standards: 3.1.3.2, 3.4, 3.7, 3.8

Grades: 7–9 Level Two
Anchors: S8.A.2.2, S8.A.3.1, S8.A.3.2, S8.A.3.3, S8.C.1.1, S8.C.2.1, S8.C.3.1, S8.D.3.1
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.7, 3.8

Grades: 10–12 Level Three
Anchors: S11.A.2.2, S8.11.3.1, S11.A.3.2, S11.A.3.3, S11.C.1.1, S11.C.2.1, S11.C.3.1, S11.D.3.1,
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.7, 3.8

Navigating with Lewis and Clark
Content themes: Stars & Galaxies, Navigation, History
Discover the first great scientific expeditions of our young nation as we explore how Lewis and Clark used both the day and night sky to find their way in the wilderness. Students will learn about the patterns of Earth’s movement, rotation, and revolution.
Time Required: 35 minutes
Grades: 4–6 Level One
Anchors: S4.A.3.1, S4.A.3.2, S4.A.3.3, S4.B.3.1, S4.B.3.3, S4.C.1.1, S4.D.1.2, S4.D.1.3
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.7, 3.8, 7.1, 7.2

Grades: 6–8 Level Two
Anchors: S8.A.2.2, S8.A.3.1, S8.A.3.2, S8.A.3.3, S8.B.3.1, S8.B.3.3, S8.C.1.1, S8.D.1.2, S8.D.1.3
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.7, 3.8, 7.1, 7.2

Tissue Engineering for Life: Dr. Allevable’s Unbelievable Laboratory
Content themes: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Technology
Explore how doctors are using the revolutionary new technology of tissue engineering to heal diseased and damaged tissue, and using cell replication to heal bones and heart muscles. Students will learn about the structures in a living cell.
Time Required: 25 minutes
Grades: 4–6 Level One
Anchors: S4.A.3.1, S.4.A.3.2, S.4.A.3.3, S.4.B.1.1, S.4.B.2.1
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8

Grades: 6–8 Level Two
Anchors: S8.A.2.1, S8.A.2.2, S8.A.3.1, S8.A.3.2, S8.A.3.3, S8.B1.1, S8.B.2.1, S8.B.3.1, S8.B.3.1,
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8

Grades: 9–12 Level 3
Anchors: S11.A.21, S11.A.2.2, S.11.3.1, S11.A.3.2, S11.A.3.3, S11.B.1.1, S11.B.2.1, S11.B.3.1
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8

Far Out Space Places
Content Themes: Solar System, Space Exploration
Take a virtual vacation as you visit the most extreme destinations in our cosmic neighborhood. Scale the cliffs of the Mariner Valley on Mars, glide on the winds of Neptune, and visit the original lunar landing site of the Apollo astronauts.
Time Required: 30 minutes
Grades: 4–6 Level One
Anchors: S4.A.3.1, S4.A.3.2, S4.A.3.3, S4.C.1.1, S4.C.2.1, S4.C.3.1
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8

Grades: 6–8 Level Two
Anchors: S8.A.3.1, S8.A.3.2, S8.A.3.3, S8.C.1.1, S8.C.2.1, S8.C.3.1, S8.D.1.1, S8.D.3.1, S8.A.2.2, S8.A.2.1
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8

Grades: 10–12 Level Three
Anchors: S11.C.1.1, S11.C.2.1, S11.C.3.1, S11.A.3.1, S11.A.3.2, S11.A.3.3, S11.C.1.1, S11.C.2.1, S11.C.3.1, S11.D.1.1, S11.D.3.1, S11.A.2.2, S11.A.2.1
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8

Stars Over Pittsburgh
Content themes: Celestial Patterns, Solar System, Stars & Galaxies, Regional Science
Take a live, guided tour through the current night sky. Learn how to locate the planets and constellations in your own backyard, as well as basic astronomical concepts like the phases of the Moon. It’s a dazzling, up-to-the-minute display of the cosmos.
Time Required: 25 minutes
Grades: 4–6, Level One
Anchors: S.4.A.3.2
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4

Grades: 7–9 Level Two
Anchors: S8.D.3.1
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4

Grades: 10–12 Level Three
Anchors: S11.D.3.1, S11.A.3.2
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4

A Traveler’s Guide to Mars
Content themes: Solar System, Space Exploration, Earth
Journey to the once-mysterious surface of the Red Planet, Mars. Get a sneak peek at research that will pave the way for a human expedition to this world. Compare and contrast the geological and watery pasts of Earth and Mars in a search for evidence that microbiotic life may have evolved on Mars in the past.
Time Required: 30 minutes
Grades: 4–6 Level One
Anchors: S4.A.1.3, S4.A.3.1, S4.A.3.2, S4.B.2.1, S4.C.1.1
S4.D.1.1, S4.D.1.3
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8

Grades: 7–9 Level Two
Anchors: S8.A.3.1, S8.A.3.2, S8.B.2.1, S8.C.1.1, S8.D.1.1, S8.D.1.3, S8.D.3.1
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8

Grades: 10–12 Level Three
Anchors: S11.A.1.3, S11.A.3.1, S11.A.3.2, S11.B.2.1, S11.C.1.1, S11.D.1.1, S11.D.1.3, S11.D.3.1
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8

Journey into the Living Cell
Content themes: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Technology
Tour the inner structure of the cell in a virtual cell biology laboratory. Encounter organelles, explore mitochondria and nuclei, and observe cell division.
Time Required: 25 minutes
Grades: 6–8
Anchors: S8.A.3.1, S8.A.3.2, S8.A.3.3, S8.B.1.1, S8.B.3.1, S8.C.1.1, S8.C.2.1, S8.A.2.1, S8.A.2.2
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8
Grades: 9–12
Anchors: S11.A.3.1, S11.A.3.2, S11.A.3.3, S11.B.1.1, S11.B.3.1, S11.C.1.1, 2, S11.A.2.1
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8

Digital Universe
Content themes: Earth, Solar System, Stars & Galaxies, Microorganisms
Human beings exist at the midpoint between the infinitesimally small atom and incomprehensibly large universe. Using the stunning graphic capabilities of the Buhl Digital Dome, travel this continuum from tiny to huge in powers of ten, from the nuclear core of an atom to the edges of the universe.
Time Required: 25 minutes
Grades: 6–8 Level One; 9–12 Level Two
Anchors: S4.A.3.2, S8.A.3.2, S8.D.3.1, S11.D.3.1, S11.A.3.2
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.4

Laser Magic
Content themes: Light, Technology
Treat your group to an informative and dynamic demonstration of the technology behind laser light. From DVD players to dental drills to the barcodes used on products, lasers play an important part in our daily lives. This show concludes with an educational laser light extravaganza that you won't soon forget.
Time Required: 40 minutes
Grades: 4–6 Level One
Anchors: S.4.2.2, S.4.C.1.1, S.4.C.2.1
Standards: 3.6, 3.7