Walt & Marita Babula Planetarium
Grand Opening
Saturday, April 25, 2026
11 am- 4 pm
Join us for an out-of-this-world experience! Be among the first to experience North America鈥檚 northernmost planetarium. Enjoy a guided tour of the Alaska night sky and preview immersive fulldome shows. Discover space through hands-on activities, explore galleries with a scavenger hunt, and more!
Free admission.
Planetarium seating is limited. First come, first served. All planetarium entries will be ticketed. Tickets will be available beginning at 11am.
If you have need for accommodations for this event, please contact us at 907-474-7505 or ua-museum-planetarium@alaska.edu.
The universe comes to Fairbanks
Step inside the Walt and Marita Babula Planetarium 鈥 a new immersive theater where you can explore the night sky above Alaska, experience the northern lights, and travel across the universe without leaving your seat.
Be Part of the Planetarium
The planetarium is more than a space, it鈥檚 a place for discovery, storytelling, and connection. Your support of the Planetarium Excellence Fund helps bring immersive shows to life, create opportunities for students, and expand access to science and culture across our community.
Where Alaska's sky tells a bigger story
Experience the universe from one of the best aurora-viewing locations on Earth. Fairbanks offers a perspective on the night sky you won鈥檛 find anywhere else.
Explore discoveries from Arctic researchers and the Geophysical Institute, bringing real Alaska science directly into the planetarium experience.
Created in collaboration with the Geophysical Institute, the planetarium transforms cutting-edge Alaska research into immersive experiences for the public.
Inside the dome
The Walt and Marita Babula Planetarium is a 65-seat immersive theater beneath an 11-meter tilted dome. Using high-resolution projection and surround sound, the space transforms into a fully immersive environment where audiences are surrounded by the universe.
Whether you鈥檙e exploring distant galaxies or learning to navigate the Alaska night sky, every show is designed to be both educational and awe-inspiring.
What to expect:
Building the planetarium
The planetarium is currently in its final stages of construction and installation. From the dome structure to projection systems, each step brings us closer to opening day.
Planetarium project page
The 麻豆原创 Museum of the North now has a planetarium, and as planetarian Omega Smith said when she first came to the museum in the fall of 2025, 鈥淲e can move the stars.鈥
In this episode we discuss the new facility with Omega Smith, Director of the new Walt and Marita Babula Planetarium, about coming on board, building partnerships, and designing programs.
Plan your visit
The planetarium is located inside the 麻豆原创 Museum of the North on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus.
Public shows will be offered throughout the day, providing opportunities for visitors of all ages to experience the universe in a new way.
More details on show schedules and ticketing will be available soon.
Thanks to Walt and Marita Babula for making the planetarium a reality!
Additional donors to the project include the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, 麻豆原创F Geophysical Institute, Sarah and Cary Keller, the Michael and Lynn Rice Estate, Davis Constructors & Engineers, Inc. and RESPEC.
Photo credits: 麻豆原创MN exterior, courtesy 麻豆原创F University Relations; Dome photos courtesy 麻豆原创MN; Aurora over the Poker Flat Research Range, NASA Goddard /Terry Zaperach; Hunter's supermoon, 麻豆原创F photo by Eric Engman; Aurora over Pedro Dome, 麻豆原创F photo courtesy Isabella Colello; Aurora over 麻豆原创MN, 麻豆原创F photo by Eric Engman; Space Camp at 麻豆原创MN, 麻豆原创MN photo by E. Padilla; Sunset and 麻豆原创MN, 麻豆原创F photo by Maureen McCombs.