The Cox Science Center and Aquarium is home to the first and only public planetarium in Palm Beach County. The Dekelboum Planetarium presents daily shows utilizing brand new state-of-the-art "Digital Sky Skan" full-dome video presentations on a variety of scientific topics.
Planetarium shows are in addition to general admission to the Science Center. The cost per show is $5.00 for non-member adults, $5.00 for non-member children, and always FREE for our members. Please call in advance to verify the schedule. Due to dark conditions in the Planetarium, there is no late seating. Visitors must be present 15 minutes prior to show time to guarantee seating.
Planetarium Schedule (as of December 13, 2021):
New safety guidelines: To keep our guests and staff safe, we have implemented social distancing measures throughout our Science Center, including the Planetarium. This includes spacing parties out appropriately and thoroughly sanitizing the theater after every show.
*Shows are subject to change, please call to verify the schedule.
**The Planetarium will be closed on Friday, January 14th for a private rental**
| | Monday - Friday | Saturday - Sunday |
| 11:00 AM | Let It Snow | Let It Snow |
| 12:00 PM | | Earth and Me |
| 1:00 PM | One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure | One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure |
| 2:00 PM | Night Skies Above the Palm Beaches | Night Skies Above the Palm Beaches |
| 3:00 PM | Habitat Earth | Habitat Earth |
| 4:00 PM | Laser Holiday | Laser Holiday |
| 5:00 PM | | Dynamic Earth |
Show Descriptions:
Astronaut (25 min.) - The exploration of space is the greatest endeavor that humankind has ever undertaken. What does it take to be part of this incredible journey? What does it take to become an astronaut? Experience a rocket launch from inside the body of an astronaut. Explore the amazing worlds of inner and outer space, from floating around the International Space Station to maneuvering through microscopic regions of the human body. Meet the animated test astronaut Chad and discover the perils that lurk in space from his viewpoint! Astronaut is narrated by Ewan McGregor and produced by the National Space Centre.
Black Holes (25 min.) - Zip through other-worldly wormholes, experience the creation of the Milky Way Galaxy, and witness the violent death of a star and subsequent birth of a black hole. Can you feel the pull? Narrated by Liam Neeson.
Bugs: A Rainforest Adventure (22 min.) - Highlighting the extraordinary world of insects, Bugs! focuses on the life cycles of a praying mantis and a butterfly from their birth to their inevitable encounter in the tropical rainforest of Southeast Asia, where predator meets prey.
Dinosaurs Alive! (40 min.) - Experience a global adventure of science and discovery as the earliest creatures of the Triassic to the monsters of the Cretaceous are reincarnated. Journey with renowned paleontologists as they hunt for fossilized clues, uncovering evidence that dinosaur descendants may still walk (or fly) among us today.
Dynamic Earth (24 min.) - Audiences will ride along on swirling ocean and wind currents, dive into the heart of a monster hurricane, come face-to-face with sharks and gigantic whales, and fly into roiling volcanoes. Narrated by Liam Neeson.
The Life of Trees (20 min.) - This show demonstrates the importance of plants for life on earth, how trees grow, how they transport water against gravity to the top of the crown and enabled diverse life on earth by producing oxygen. The story is presented by two quirky animated characters: a ladybug called Dolores and a firefly called Mike.
Night Skies Above the Palm Beaches (30 min.) - Rain or shine! Come view breathtaking planetarium images of the starry skies above Palm Beach, Florida.
One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure (27 min.) - Follow Sesame Street's Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a Muppet from Zhima Jie, the Chinese co-production of Sesame Street. Together they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon, where they discover how different it is from Earth.
Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure (40 min.) - Viewers accompany modern and historical fossil hunters to remote locations as they excavate the remains of some of the most awe-inspiring creatures of all time. The film follows a curious and adventurous dolichorhynchops – familiarly known as a ‘dolly’ – as she travels through the most dangerous oceans in history.
Solar System Odyssey (30 min.) - BLAST OFF! Go on a futuristic journey through our Solar System. With Earth’s resources being rapidly depleted, a tycoon sends our hero, Jack Larson, on a mission to discover a new home to colonize. This character-driven show is perfect for middle-school field trip groups and aligns with national science curriculum objectives! Audiences age 10 and up.
Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope (30 min.) - Produced to engage and appeal to audiences of all ages. The film traces the history of the telescope from Galileo's modifications to a child's spyglass — using two small pieces of glass — to the launch of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the future of astronomy. It explores the wonder and discovery made by astronomers throughout the last 400 years.
The COX Science Center and Aquarium is located at 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach, Florida (561) 832-1988. Open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
