Daniel M. Soref Planetarium

Posted by Kelly Whitt Jan 21, 2007

The Daniel M. Soref Planetarium has been a long time in coming. It was slated to open in January 2006, but funding problems at the museum pushed it off. On November 10, 2006, the planetarium finally opened in the existing IMAX theater. Our family made our first visit there this weekend, one year after its original scheduled opening.

The planetarium boasts a full-color Digistar 3 projection system, digital imaging and surround sound. The planetarium shows play approximately every two hours, with IMAX space-themed movies in between. Planetarium shows and IMAX movies are purchased separately.

Stars of the Pharoahs and Wonders of the Universe are the space shows, with SonicVision, a music planetarium show, late on Friday and Saturday nights. SonicVision may be shown in the planetarium, but it is not related to astronomy -- it is strictly a music and lights show.

We chose to see Wonders of the Universe. The first half of the show is narrated by the live host, who shows you what the sky will look like above Milwaukee tonight and points out constellations, planets, and stars. The guide moves us outward from Earth, and it really feels like we are moving off in a spaceship. My daughter became dizzy during the journey, and for a moment I think she really thought we were leaving Earth. She refused to leave my lap for the entire show and told me, "I don't like space." She is three years old, and I think that her age is the threshold for as young as I could recommend the show. She did manage to sit through it, but it was a little too "real" for her.

My 6-year-old son enjoyed the show a lot and loved seeing all the things pointed out to him that he has seen in the sky. He didn't seem too bothered by the feeling of motion that accompanies the planetarium show. I admit I felt a little dizzy myself, but I found it entertaining and not frightening. It felt a little like a ride at Disneyworld.

As you back away from Earth, you are taken outward past all the planets, past constellations (and you get to view them as three-dimensional objects), past the known position of stars in the database, out past the edges of our galaxy. It is easy to feel small and insignificant, or awed and humbled.

The second half of the show is a recorded journey through space. We are taken all the way back to the moment of the Big Bang, and watch the formation of the stars and galaxies, get to fly into nebulae, watch galaxies collide, and see stars explode. The show is 45 minutes, which gets to be a bit longer for some of the viewers, but not so long that everyone wasn't able to sit through it.

We paid $5.50 for each children's admission and $8.00 for each adult admission. We didn't stay to watch any more of the IMAX movies, although I wouldn't mind going back some day to see them. Aliens of the Deep and Roving Mars both looked like interesting shows. But it was time to stretch our legs and view the butterfly and dinosaur exhibits in the museum.

The planetarium show was an enjoyable time and I would recommend it to anyone. It was educational for those who are new to the science of astronomy, fun for those who enjoy IMAX movies and feeling a bit dizzy, and a surreal trip for space-fans who would like to take the impossible journey to the edge of space and time.

Daniel M. Soref Planetarium / 800 W. Wells Street / Milwaukee, WI 53233 / Phone: 414-278-2702 and 888-700-9069