Forget the old model of planetariums, where you craned your neck in the dark to watch dim stars crawl across a domed ceiling. The Arizona Science Centre has tipped that familiar institution and rebuilt it as the Dorrance DOME, a full-throttle, 8K LED experience that’s as much about art and culture as the cosmos.
When the centre opens its doors on 18 October, visitors won’t simply “see” the universe. Instead, they’ll be immersed in 360 degrees of razor-sharp visuals, surround sound, and programming that takes them from the Big Bang to pop art without ever leaving their seats.
“This name change reflects more than just a new look; it’s a reimagining of what a planetarium can be,” said Jacquie Dorrance, whose family foundation is the principal benefactor. “The Dorrance DOME will inspire generations to come, igniting curiosity and wonder in Arizonans through an immersive journey.”
That’s a considerable promise, but walking under the 60-foot LED canopy, it feels believable. The dome glows with the sort of luminosity you usually only see in sports arenas or at the opera. It’s a far cry from the faded projectors and squeaky chairs of planetariums past.
From Planetarium to Powerhouse
Until this year, the facility was the Dorrance Planetarium, which was respected but not exactly revolutionary. Then came a US$16 million renewal and a technological marriage with Cosm’s CX system, the cutting edge of immersive display. The result: a theatre with 112 fixed seats, 88 flexible chairs, five ADA positions, and more ways to configure events than a Broadway stage manager could dream of.
The board’s chair, Robert Miller, was bullish when we spoke on a walk-through. “This will transform the Arizona Science Center into a landmark destination, not just for Arizonans but for visitors from around the world,” he said. His eyes tracked the LED panels being polished for opening day, like a conductor before a premiere.
A Program Worth the Hype
From 18 October to 30 November, the Dorrance DOME will run seven daily shows, a mix that underscores the new philosophy.
At 11:00 a.m. and 1:15 p.m., Orbital launches you from the Big Bang to the edge of low-Earth orbit, simulating the so-called “Overview Effect” astronauts describe when seeing Earth from above. At 11:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m., Black Hole: First Picture plunges into the Event Horizon Telescope’s history-making image, turning radio astronomy into edge-of-the-seat cinema. Midday brings a live Astronomy Tour of Arizona, proof that sometimes the best show is our own night sky. And at 3:30 p.m., Inside Pop Art floods the dome with Lichtenstein, Haring and the rest, a cheeky nod to the power of art in a science setting.
It’s the kind of programming mix that suggests a confident institution, not afraid to put Andy Warhol and Einstein on the same bill.
Events Under the Stars – Indoors
The dome isn’t just a theatre. It’s a venue. Corporate mixers, yoga sessions under an LED Milky Way, even cocktail parties — the Dorrance DOME has been designed with flexible seating, catering partnerships, and production support to handle it all. “We wanted to create a place where science, community and culture meet,” said Tammy Stewart, the centre’s interim CEO. “Dorrance DOME is not only a new chapter for Arizona Science Center but also for the Valley’s cultural and event landscape.”
Patrons can even “adopt” a panel or seat—$100 for a panel and up to $1,500 for a legacy chair—a charmingly old-school gesture in a high-tech space.
The Launch Weekend
Media and VIPs get the first look on 16 October. Members have a private day on the 17th. The public takes over on the 18th. Tickets start at US$14 plus admission, with members enjoying early access. Judging by the buzz, expect sell-outs.
A Model for the Future
It’s easy to shrug off a new planetarium as “just another upgrade.” But the Dorrance DOME points to something bigger. For a generation raised on IMAX and streaming VR, science centres must compete with each other and the digital universe at home. Arizona’s answer is to go deeper, brighter, and make the real-world visit feel irreplaceable.
Perhaps there’s a lesson for us in Australia. Our planetaria at Sydney Observatory, Melbourne’s Scienceworks, or Brisbane’s Museum of Cosmos are part of a proud tradition. But traditions thrive only when renewed. Watching a black hole rendered in 8K on a wraparound LED dome, it’s hard not to imagine what our institutions might do with the same ambition.
The Bottom Line
The Dorrance DOME isn’t content to show you the universe. It invites you inside it. It fuses science with spectacle, heritage with innovation. In an era when attention is the scarcest resource, this is how you win it back by making wonder tangible, again.
If you’re in Phoenix this spring, go. If you’re in the business of science education, take notes. Either way, the Dorrance DOME is proof that even venerable institutions can dare to dream bigger and bring the stars a little closer.
By My Thanh Pham
BIO:
My Thanh Pham has worn more travel hats than most luggage racks could hold. After taking a course in travel and tourism, she found herself deep in the business of arranging itineraries across South-East Asia, matching travellers to temples, beaches, and the occasional night train, with a knack for making the complicated look easy.
Not content with life behind the desk, she joined a Vietnamese airline, juggling reservations one day and the frontline bustle of the airport the next. It gave her a ringside seat to the theatre of travel: the missed flights, the joyous reunions, and the endless stories that airports never fail to serve.
These days, My Thanh has swapped ticket stubs for a writer’s keyboard at Global Travel Media. Her words carry the same steady hand she once brought to bookings, guiding readers through the rich, unpredictable world of travel.
