Full-Dome Theater
Exhibits
Explore the Fleischmann Planetarium
Immerse yourself in a faraway galaxy. Experience Full-Dome Theater shows and engaging educational exhibits at one of Nevada's historic landmark science centers.
Best of Sierra Nevada: Vote for the Fleischmann Planetarium!
Vote once per day through June 20, 2025
Exciting news! The Fleischmann Planetarium has been nominated for the 2025 Best of Sierra Nevada competition in the museum category. Visit the Best of Sierra Nevada voting website and navigate to the THINGS TO DO category and select MUSEUM. From there, choose "Fleischmann Planetarium & Science Center" and submit your vote! We greatly appreciate your support.
Nighttime in Nevada: Cowboy Songs and Poetry
Friday, June 6, 2025 | Event begins at 6 p.m.
Don't miss this chance to be regaled with songs and poetry by a real Nevada cowboy! Renowned performer and authentic cowboy poet Larry Maurice will be filling the dome at Fleischmann Planetarium with his songs and stories on First Friday. Then, we'll take flight with this month's featured full-dome experience, the award-winning project "Dream To Fly." Whether you're an aspiring pilot, a lover of Nevada, horses and cowboy culture or an armchair "Space Cowboy," here's your chance to savor stars, stories and songs when it's nighttime in Nevada.
Creatures and Constellations: Summer Stargazing at Animal Ark
Multiple dates in Summer 2025 | 9 p.m.
Fleischmann Planetarium astronomers will take you on an in-depth tour of the spring and summer night sky. We’ll discover the 12 labors of Hercules; the birds, bears and lions above; and even a crown where a nova may be appearing for the first — and only — time in 80 years! Learn to find the constellations, discover the most astonishing objects in the universe, and hear the stories that bring the nighttime sky to life.
Plus, we’ll be using high-tech, cutting-edge telescopes that allow you to see the galaxy’s greatest sites live — with details and colors you could never see with traditional telescopes from the light-filled skies of a city. You will even be able to collect the objects on this nighttime sky safari, with complimentary digital images provided of all the objects we discover during our exclusive, private session.
Space is limited. Tickets for these exclusive nights must be purchased in ADVANCE from the Animal Ark or Fleischmann Planetarium website. Stargazing and stories at this evening event will be geared toward adults and older students.
Sponsor a Panel Program
On Giving Day 2025, the Fleischmann Planetarium officially launched the Sponsor a Panel Program, which offers community members, alumni, teachers, families and small businesses the opportunity to play a vital role in the Planetarium’s upcoming transformation. With a $250 donation, supporters can ‘sponsor’ a panel in the new George W. Gillemot Dome and have a name of their choice displayed during the pre-show presentation at every Planetarium showing. Sponsor name examples include “The Smith Family,” “John Doe” or “Mrs. Fields’ 3rd Grade Class.”
Upcoming events
Learn more about upcoming events hosted at the Fleischmann Planetarium.
Jun
20
Jun
27
Creatures and Constellations: Stargazing at Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary at Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center
09:00 PM
Academic Lectures and Seminars
Our mission at the Planetarium is to engage, educate and explore. We get to engage people with the adventure of space and stars and planets. We get to explore the Universe. And in the process, we get to educate ourselves about our place in space and time.
Director of the Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center
This is definitely the coolest place in Reno. It makes me want to go to the University of Nevada, Reno and learn even more about science and the world in which we live.
Student in Reno, NV
The Planetarium has an amazing world-class building, fascinating little display areas and fantastic shows. But, best of all, it has the friendliest and most knowledgeable staff we’ve ever met.
Recent Visitor in 2022
Meet the Planetarium Director
Paul McFarlane is the Director of the Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center. An educator, Paul taught for more than 25 years in the Washoe County School District.
He has studied astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Nevada, Reno’s Department of Physics, doing coursework and research using the MacLean Observatory telescopes at the Redfield Campus. McFarlane also trained at Johnson and Kennedy Space Centers with aerospace and NASA experts in astronomy, engineering and planetary science.