PROJECTION: 2D

Experience the challenges of the next generation of space exploration in this brand-new Planetarium show.  By using exciting real-life projects like NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and the New Horizons mission to Pluto, the show highlights the extreme nature of spacecraft engineering and the life cycle of a space mission — from design and construction to the rigors of testing, launch, and operations.  Blast off and take the voyage with us!

Develop a renewed appreciation for our fragile planet through the lens of astronomy as Sigourney Weaver guides audiences on an immersive excursion that explores a universe filled with the possibility of life.

Fragile Planet starts with an astronaut’s view highlighting Earth’s unique regions.  The journey then continues to the Moon, Mars, and beyond the Milky Way to search for habitats that might host extraterrestrial life.  The show’s theme — that Earth is the only known haven for life, and thus is important to protect — echoes the themes of biodiversity and sustainability.

The foundation of the show lies in scientific visualization, utilizing observed data as the starting point for the imagery.  More than three dozen researchers and institutions provided data in support of Fragile Planet; their contributions range from high resolution satellite imagery of Earth to the positions of galaxies more than 50 million light years away.

From the three-dimensional terrain of Valles Marineris on Mars to the locations of extrasolar planetary systems in interstellar space, everything audiences see in Fragile Planet is based on astronomers’ best understanding of the universe.  Scenes requiring extrapolation from known observations were developed with the assistance of researchers with expertise in the relevant topics.

Fragile Planet was written and produced by the visualization studio of the California Academy of Sciences.  For two sequences in the show, they collaborated with the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  The spectacular visuals are augmented by an evocative, multi-dimensional sound environment by renowned giant-screen composer Michael Stearns.

They are everywhere.  Flowers by the billions.  They drink, move, compete and some even eat bugs.  A brilliantly colorful and bright adventure through the science of flowers.  You will fly over some of the world’s largest flower fields and see how this amazing life-form covers our fields and gardens while simultaneously cleaning our air and tickling our senses.

What weighs half a gram and travels thousands of kilometers every year?

Every winter, the remote and mountainous volcanic forests of Mexico are home to one of nature’s greatest gatherings – hundreds of millions of migrating monarch butterflies weathering the winter.  For centuries this miracle was hidden from all but a few.  When it was revealed to the world it was hailed as one of the greatest discoveries in nature.  It also unveiled the longest insect migration on Earth.

We follow the captivating story of Dana (Danaus Plexippus) and her descendants as they make the perilous return journey from Mexico to Canada.  How do these tiny and iconic creatures travel so far and know where to go each year to a place they have never been?  This epic natural history saga is interwoven with the fascinating detective story and a determined scientist’s almost 40 year search to find their amazing overwintering sites.

Flight of the Aquanaut is set against startling undersea vistas and tells a gripping tale of a diver’s voyage into danger.  Equipped with a self-propelled, one-atmosphere “hard suit,” the aquanaut sweeps viewers along on a dramatic science adventure.

In 2015 Nigel embarked on a journey with a group of friends to realise a dream of laying down a record at the DLRA salt flat speed trials on Lake Gardiner, South Australia.  Flats captures the passion, persistence, adventure, and heartache that played out during their journey, against the backdrop of some of the most beautiful and rugged landscapes of Australia.  Offering stunning 4K production values and a story that is guaranteed to inspire, enlighten and entertain audiences.

Based on a novel by the popular author Ryu Murakami, this drama comprises five separate stories about five middle-aged persons trying to make a fresh start.  Finding spouse, re-entering the workforce, and family breakups; these are ordinary events in the lives of ordinary people as they face their anxieties and take action toward finding a new path.

Fermentation is the theme of this work of dome art, produced with the help of choreographers and contemporary dancers. The phenomenon of fermentation is one in which tiny microorganisms, invisible to the naked eye, enable life to flower its hidden potential after death.  This work abstracts this invisible phenomenon through dance, and expresses the creativity and energy that lies beyond death.  If the living body of a dancer represents ‘life,’ the body of the dancer seen on film embodies ‘death.’  The body of the dancer, appearing amid the darkness of the dome, evokes not only death but also what lies beyond: the birth of a new life.

The impulse to strike out into the unknown, to see what’s over the horizon is as old as humanity.  Today, a whole new horizon beckons.  Scientists now believe that our galaxy is filled with solar systems, including up to 9 billion Sun-like stars with planets similar to Earth.

Astronomers are racing to find habitable worlds, including any that might exist in the neighborhood of our Sun.  But if we find one, how will we ever get there?  How long will it take?  What rocket designs might one day conquer the voids of space?

Faster Than Light! The Dream of Interstellar Flight will dazzle audiences with virtual rides aboard spacecraft of the future.  They are based on whole new technologies designed to achieve ultra-high speeds, using exotic next generation rocket fuels and breakthrough concepts in physics.  How far can our technology take us?

A fascinating journey to the motherland of spirituality: India – an ancient civilization, mythical and mysterious, infinitely rich in tradition, architecture, culture, and religion.

Fascinating India spreads an impressive panorama of India’s historical and contemporary world.  The film presents the most important cities, royal residences, and temple precincts.  It follows the trail of different religious denominations which have influenced India up to the present day.

The film deals with the highlights of everyday life in India.  In Varanasi, people burn their dead to ashes.  At the Kumbh Mela, the biggest religious gathering of the world, 35 million pilgrims bathe in holy River Ganges.  This is the first time India is presented in such an alluring and engaging manner on screen.

Join the Fairy’s Balloon Race!  Get in a turbo charged Hot Balloon and speed through fantastic snow mountain with mysterious passages and caves.  You are not alone, you will meet amazing creatures all along the way!

Extreme combines incredible extreme sport action with narration by the athletes and an eclectic, contemporary soundtrack.  Extreme features 6 nature based sports; Big Wave Surfing, Ice Climbing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Windsurfing, and Rock Climbing.  The best extreme sport athletes in the world facing the most intimidating elements of nature provide a unique glimpse into the relationship between nature and humanity.

Taken into an incredible journey aboard a nanotechnologiacal vessel, the spectator finds himself into a human lung and there he can watch the fight of the white globules against a starting tumor.  Then, from the vessel a tiny module goes loose, carrying a reporter commenting “live” from the heart, the duplication of a cell the duplication of the DNA and the birth of 2 cells.  After lively adventures the module rushes back among the globule.

ExoPlanets: Worlds Of Wonder follows mankind’s first space probe as it journeys outside our solar system to the many new worlds astronomers are discovering beyond.  Audiences will visit gas giants caught in a deadly dance with their host stars, frozen rogue planets hurling through space, molten rocky worlds now known to science, and new planets drifting comfortably within the Goldilocks Zone.

ExoPlanets: Worlds Of Wonder covers the National Earth and Space Science Standards for grades K-9, not only educating about other worlds, but also teaching audiences about how special Earth and our solar system truly are.  It combines the best of hand-crafted animation with state-of-the-art visual effects to educate audiences in a fascinating way.

Dr. Geoffrey Marcy, world-leading astronomer in Extra Solar Planet Discoveries, described the screenplay as, “Absolutely glorious.  It artfully captures the science, the beauty, and the wonder of the new worlds we are discovering.”

A major eight-part series following experts using the latest research and modern techniques to unravel Egypt’s greatest mysteries.  With special access to sites across the country, the series travels from the pyramids and Sphinx in Giza and Saqqara down to the Valley of the Kings near Luxor and the great rock temples of Abu Simbel in southern Egypt.  The series investigates the origins of Egyptian civilisation and the real history behind the legend of the Scorpion King, uses CT scans and facial reconstruction to try to identify the Screaming Man mummy, and reveals new insights into Egypt’s great figures including Ramses II, Alexander The Great, and Cleopatra.

Travel through space and time in a fulldome production that makes you look at Earth in a whole new way.

A sweeping geological journey, Earthquake: Evidence of a Restless Planet explores the forces that transform the surface of our planet.

Fly along the San Andreas Fault before diving into the planet’s interior.  Journey back in time to witness the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, and the break-up of Pangaea 200 million years ago.  Visit the sites of historical earthquakes from the Mediterranean Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

Learn how scientists and engineers collaborate to help society prepare for a safer environment — and a safer future.

Data-driven visualizations illustrate Earth’s story, revealing how subtle motions and sudden ruptures have shaped our planet over eons — and how geological activity influences the course of human history.

Earthquake: Evidence of a Restless Planet was written by Ryan Wyatt and produced by the visualization studio of the California Academy of Sciences.

Dynamic Earth explores the inner workings of Earth’s great life support system: the global climate.  With visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations, this cutting- edge production follows a trail of energy that flows from the Sun into the interlocking systems that shape our climate: the atmosphere, oceans, and the biosphere.  Audiences will ride along on swirling ocean and wind currents, dive into the heart of a monster hurricane, come face-to-face with sharks and gigantic whales, and fly into roiling volcanoes.

Discover the mystery of flight with Leonardo da Vinci, Montgolfier brothers, Wright brothers and other inventors.  Experience the adventure and find out how this immense and challenging dream for which mankind has strived since the beginning of history came true.

Dream to Fly is a poetic story about the history of aviation.  The aim of the film is to present the development of aviation through the ages in an interesting an innovative way.  It presents the milestones on our route to conquering the skies – both in terms of technological breakthroughs, as well as our perceptions on flying itself.

Rich fulldome visuals, beautiful music composed for the show and a poetic narration makes this show an exceptional artwork.  The message to the viewers is to be open to new ideas and to pursue our dreams.

Dive into a new immersive and highly emotional adventure with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Dolphins and Whales 3D.  This awe-inspiring documentary film narrated by Daryl Hannah will take you from the dazzling coral reefs of the Bahamas to the warm depths of the waters of the exotic Kingdom of Tonga for a close encounter with the surviving tribes of the ocean.

Through the powerful IMAX(R) theatre medium and stunning images captured for the very first time in 3D, view their lives and habitats as never-before-seen.  You will come so close to wild dolphins and belugas you will virtually touch them.  You will witness the profound love of a Humpback mother for her newborn calf, and will come eye-to-eye with singing Humpback males.  You will meet an orca, the mighty King of the ocean, and enjoy a wonderful moment with the gentle manatee.

Explore many little-known aspects of these fascinating and fragile creatures capable of sophisticated communication and social interaction.  Join the expert team of ocean explorers that brought you Sharks 3D and Ocean Wonderland 3D in an unforgettable diving experience that documents the life of these graceful, majestic yet endangered sea creatures.

From the dazzling coral reefs of the Bahamas to the wind-swept seas of Patagonia, Dolphins takes audiences under the water’s surface for a romp with inquisitive Atlantic spotted dolphins, acrobatic dusky dolphins, and the familiar bottlenose dolphin of Flipper fame.  From rarely seen fish-herding behavior to a close-up look at complex communication activities, Dolphins will give audiences a fascinating new perspective on the lives of dolphins and their remarkable intelligence.