The EYE - Science Museum of Western Virginia

The Eye Planetarium

Welcome to The Eye @ SMWV!

Roanoke's premiere planetarium

Whether it's an interactive star show or one of our SIGHT + SOUND or Stars Over Star City series installations, special event, or a licensed Full-Dome experience, we have something for everyone!

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Now Open!

Welcome to The Eye Planetarium at the Science Museum of Western Virginia–Roanoke’s premiere planetarium.

Here, with a full dome, theater, and state-of-the-art creative technologies, art and science are in constant interplay to enrich experiences both educational and entertaining.

Under the dome, the mysteries of the cosmos come alive–from microorganisms to magnetic fields, from sound waves to light spectrums–all becomes visible to the naked eye.

Our planetarium offers a variety of shows and interactive experiences, including breathtaking astronomical journeys, immersive full-dome films, educational programs tailored to all ages, and special events and series. Our state-of-the-art technology ensures each visit is unique, making The Eye a must-visit destination for families, educators, and anyone curious about the universe.

From Past to Present

The Science Museum of Western Virginia’s Eye Planetarium reopened in February 2024 following a ten-year development and renovation project. The redefined planetarium is a venue unlike any other on the east coast, where innovative advances in technology intersect with ultramodern visual arts.

The Eye offers something for everyone with daily public shows, special events, premiere events, and private rentals. With a dual projection system capable of rendering vivid imagery and an immersive full dome screen, the space is designed to transform any given moment into an experience.

Schedule

Stay for a show at The Eye Planetarium, open Tuesday through Sunday. During the month of November, the Eye offers two public daily shows Monday through Saturday at 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM, and one show on Sunday at 3:30 PM with the exception of closures and special events.

Admission to standard public daily shows can be obtained through purchase of an Ultimate ticket. Ultimate tickets grant access to the full museum, the Eye, and one Parakeet Garden feeding time. Ultimate members can access an unlimited number of public daily shows per month.

Tickets for premiere and special event content will be available in advance. Be sure to visit our social media and website for latest show and event schedules, as our lineup is always evolving with new and exciting experiences.

*If the Eye is closed for a private event, advance notice will be posted on our website and social media. Ultimate ticket holders visiting during these events can receive an Eye pass for free entry on a return date.

Additionally, The Eye warmly welcomes school groups every Tuesday to Friday morning. Schools and private groups interested in exploring the universe with us can arrange their exclusive experience by contacting scheduler@smwv.org. Prepare for an astronomical adventure at The Eye.

Day

Time

Tuesday – Saturday

Sunday

11:30 AM

3:30 PM

Tickets

Purchase an Ultimate ticket for a visit to the museum, which includes access to daily Eye shows and one (1) Parakeet Garden feeding time.

Upcoming Special & Premiere Event Tickets

The Eye special events can typically be expected to be held on Friday evenings at 6 PM or later. Special events are full dome experiences with works created in-house by The Eye creative team. Advanced ticket purchases can be made below to reserve a seat. Premiere content features full dome experiences in partnership with local artists, researchers, organizations, and groups. Updates regarding premiere events will be provided well in advance to ensure your access.

November 22 | 7 – 9 PM | Guest $18.00 | Member $15.00

SIGHT+SOUND Presents: SYNESTHESIA
November 22, 2024 | 7 - 9 PM | Ages 18+

Presenting a night of multisensory exploration and immersion…SYNESTHESIA! This 18+ event features immersive visuals, interactives, and mind-bending experiments with the senses designed to enhance your sense of the world like never before. Explore synesthesia—the phenomenon where senses collide and combine—and see, hear, and taste in ways that simulate multisensory experience. Tickets include experiences such as:

Making sound beats from color with Sphero Specdrums
Sipping your way through the “Flavor Spectrum” beer flight traveling the spectrum from tangy sours to rich stouts.
“Taste tripping” with miracle berries—a fruit from West Africa that naturally transforms flavors from sour to sweet (completely safe and widely used in science classrooms for a fun sense test).

Don’t miss this unique sensory journey at The Eye! Grab your tickets for an evening of science, flavor, and experimentation—guaranteed to be like nothing you’ve experienced before.

Tickets include admission, immersive short-form dome shows, a live jam session with our Synesthesia music visualizer, interactive experiments, and one (1) “Flavor Spectrum” flight.