Celebrate the Global Centennial of Planetariums with us with a special live programs beginning September 2023!

Centennial Celebration of Modern Planetariums (live 10-month series)
Every visit to a planetarium stimulates the imagination like no other venue can. We are celebrating the impact of planetariums and astronomy with a 10-month series of live talks showcasing the evolution of planetariums from across the globe. Join us every second Friday of the month at 6 p.m. through June 2024 as we learn how planetariums have evolved through time from 1781 to the present.
Jena Planetarium of 1924: October 13, 2023 at 6 p.m.
Germany's Groundbreaking Jena Planetarium of 1924

We are celebrating the impact of planetariums and astronomy with a 10-month series of live talks showcasing the evolution of planetariums from across the globe starting Friday, September 8, 6 p.m., at Longway Planetarium. Although the start of the Centennial Celebration of Planetariums is officially marked by the first public night sky lecture using an optical-mechanical projector, planetariums have been used in varying fashions since the time of the Greeks. In this prelude to the Centennial Celebration you’ll learn about the origins of the planetariums ranging from tents with pinholes to the Royal Eise Eisinga Planetarium in The Netherlands - the first working orrery to use Kepler and Newton's models of planetary motion.
Admission & Discounts
Out of County Visitors
$8 adults, $6 seniors 60+, and $6 youth ages 2-11
Children 1 and younger: Free
Combo Tickets: Add admission to Sloan Museum and SAVE!
$17 Adults, $12 Senior, and $10 Youth 2-11
Genesee County Residents
All Longway Planetarium shows are 50% off for Genesee County residents:
$4 adults, $3 seniors 60+, and $3 youth ages 2-11
When you arrive, please present your driver’s license or ID with your address on it to confirm your residency. Longway Planetarium shows are funded in part by the Genesee County Arts Education and Cultural Enrichment Millage. Your tax dollars are at work.
Members
All Longway Planetarium shows are free for members
Please login to reserve your member tickets. Member discounts are automatically applied at checkout. When you arrive, please present your membership card and driver's license or ID to confirm your membership level.
UPCOMING TOPICS
PAST TOPICS
Eise Eisinga Planetarium - The Netherlands
The First Planetarium of 1781 | Eise Eisinga
Date: Friday, September 8, 2023
Time: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: Longway Planetarium, 1310 E. Kearsley St. Flint, MI 48503
Although the start of the Centennial Celebration of Planetariums is officially marked by the first public night sky lecture using an optical-mechanical projector, planetariums have been used in varying fashions since the time of the Greeks. In this prelude to the Centennial Celebration you’ll learn about the origins of the planetariums ranging from tents with pinholes to the Royal Eise Eisinga Planetarium in The Netherlands - the first working orrery to use Kepler and Newton's models of planetary motion.