An immersive look at the Montana night sky

The Taylor Planetarium is a 40-ft, 104-seat domed theater located to the right of the Museum’s front desk in the lobby. The Planetarium provides a unique look at the Montana night sky and has a variety of educational shows year-round.

Visitors can explore science and the world around us through in-house productions such as “The Dinosaur Chronicles” and “Lewis & Clark and the High Frontier." These shows have run in other planetariums throughout the country, serving an even greater audience outside Montana.


The Taylor Planetarium uses an Evans and Sutherland Digistar Two digital planetarium projector and is in the initial stages of an upgrade to the projection system and planetarium equipment that is slated for 2013.

Building Bigger Skies

A new Taylor Planetarium will open in March 2013

Last year we asked Museum members about the planetarium in an online survey, and 485 responded. The bottom line was that although our members value the planetarium as a benefit of membership, it was time to update the technology and offer fresh, current programming. Teachers had been suggesting the same thing and since 88% of the schools that visit the Museum want to see a planetarium show, we took their concerns seriously, too.

The new planetarium is going digital, meaning that you will be able to see the same shows that visitors to any big city planetarium could see. We will acquire a collection of new shows that reflect current research and update our K-12 school shows to the digital format. For those of you who love “Season of Light,” we promise to bring it back for the holidays in 2013 with new visuals to accompany Charles Kuralt's narration. You’ll see other changes, too, including new and expanded seating, sound system, lighting, and a face-lift for the facility.

As 2012 unfolds, you will have the opportunity to help the Board of Trustees with its "Building Bigger Skies" $1.5 million fundraising effort. Together, we can ensure that this exciting opportunity for Museum members, visitors, and schoolchildren from throughout Montana comes to fruition. Thanks in advance for your help!

2012 Winter schedule:

• January 2 - May 27, 2012
• Show and show times are subject to change without notice

Main Features:

Stars of the Pyramids

• Monday-Friday at noon and 3pm
• Saturday at 11am, 1, 2 and 4pm
• Sunday at 1, 2 and 4pm

Come explore the night skies of the ancient Egyptians and learn how their amazing contributions to science continue to influence us.

Current Sky: Star Signs

• Saturday & Sunday at 3pm
• Learn how our early ancestors interpreted their universe through the astrological signs of the zodiac, to our modern day view, as well as constellations and celestial objects in our current night sky. Shows are updated for each season.

Saturday Morning Kids Show: Mystery of the Missing Season

• Saturday at 10am
• Join young Angelo as he helps a pair of visitors from the planet Dipnot figure out why their world does not have seasons, while ours does. This is our show for younger viewers and their families.