The Sun: Our Living Star

Discover the secrets of the Earth’s star in this planetarium show and experience never-before-seen images of the Sun’s violent surface in immersive fulldome format.

The Sun has shone for four and a half billion years. Its light has been felt by every person who has ever lived. It is the Earth’s nearest star and the planet’s powerhouse, the source of the energy that drives winds, weather and all life. The passage of the Sun’s fiery disc across the sky — day by day, month by month — was the only way to keep track of time for countless past civilizations. Don’t be fooled by the terminology; although it is a typical dwarf star, the Sun consumes 600 million tons of hydrogen each second and is 500 times as massive as all the planets combined.

Each show is followed by a live presentation of the night’s sky.

Admission is $8 for adults; $5 for senior citizens ages 60 and up, kids ages 3-12 and University of Minnesota Duluth students; and free for kids age 2 and under. Tickets are available at tickets.umn.edu or at the door. UMD students are required to show their student identification for the discounted admission.

Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Food and drinks are not allowed in the planetarium. Proof of purchase must be ready to show at the door.