Spotlight: Salt Lake City - The Clark Planetarium

Spotlight: "Clark Planetarium's mission is to create and present enlightening experiences that inspire wonder in learning about space and science, and to promote greater public awareness of the science in our daily lives." Having experienced the Planetarium first hand, I'd have to say that they succeeded.

Location: The Planetarium is located within the boundaries of the Gateway Mall at the corner of 100 South and 400 West in Salt Lake City.

Cost: Free admission. The shows cost: $7/child (2-12); $7/adult (before 5 pm); $9/adult (after 5 pm).

Time: 1-4 hours per visit; Daily schedule: 10:30 am - 7 pm (Sunday-Wednesday); 10:30 am - 10:00 pm (Thursday); 10:30 am - 11:00 pm (Friday-Saturday).

Description: The Planetarium has a variety of interactive exhibits in which visitors can learn about a wide variety of science related issues: the moon, stars, telescopes, weather, black holes, meteorites, our solar system, clouds, gravity, and much more. Find out your weight on different planets. Learn about how black holes are created. Examine different types of meteorites - including the largest specimen this side of the Mississippi. About half of the exhibits allow visitors to do simple experiments to better understand the concepts being taught.

cloud exhibit

heat signature display

     They have a special exhibit room that is currently displaying an exhibit on IO - one of Jupiter's moons. It has an IO landscape and allows guests to drive around RC moon rovers. My daughter loved it.

     In addition to the free exhibits, visitors can purchase tickets to one of the movies or shows. The IMAX theatre shows several 3D movies about various themes. The Hansen Dome Theatre uses 3D computer animation and digital projection to teach visitors about a variety of space related topics ranging from constellations, to black holes, to astronauts, etc. The Gateway to the Stars show is the first Saturday of every month and is an absolutely fabulous presentation on stars, constellations, and space in general. Perhaps the best aspect is that they encourage the audience to ask questions. They also host several Cosmic Light Shows for those who prefer their science lessons to have a bit of pizzazz.

Rating: 4 billion stars (out of 5 billion)

Things You Should Know: - If you park in the Gateway parking garage, you can get your ticket stub validated giving you 3 hours for only $1.
- The Planetarium is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- The Trax trolley line has a stop right in front of the Planetarium.
- The Planetarium shows a variety of movies and interactive shows. For show listings, go to http://clarkplanetarium.org/shows-and-exhibits/
- If you purchase a membership, you gain free admission to a year's worth of shows in both the Hansen Dome Theatre and the IMAX Theatre. You can also get discounts for your guests.

Nearby: Energy Solutions Stadium, Mystery Escape Room, Temple Square, Salt Palace