Penske Planetarium
Michigan Science Center
5020 John R Street
June 20, 2026
A major philanthropic gift to the Michigan Science Center means blast-off for upgrades at their planetarium.
Now known as the Penske Planetarium thanks to an undisclosed gift, this seamless dome is a must-see for anyone who hasn’t been to the science center in a while. That means you if you don’t have kids. If the last time you went was a school field trip, now it’s time to return.
In a time of uncertainty surrounding major financial support for cultural institutions, the injection of cash from the Penske family is a big deal. It means stunning 8K digital projection, 5.1 digital surround sound, inclined seating and new shows to test all the fancy tech specs.
I actually snuck in to the ribbon cutting for this a couple months ago and have been back several times since to convert doubters, non-nerds and anyone who hasn’t been here since high school.
All of them were equally impressed and turned back into a kid by stepping into this planetarium, sitting back and watching “Hyperspace: Race Through the Universe,” the freshest show on the marquee here, plus staples like “What’s Up? Your Guide to the Night Sky!”
On both of these shows, the 8K digital projections allow you to feel like you’re floating through space. It’s truly immersive.
At one point, my stomach churned as we zipped around the galaxy in “Hyperspace.” sS if you deal with motion sickness on the regular, be warned.
I’ve got to tip my hat to the presenters who put on these shows, introducing audiences to basic science concepts and shuttling them off into space. There’s a sense of enthusiasm with each show, even though they’ve repeated this information over and over again. I’d put it on par with the docents you’ll get at the Motown Museum, who clearly care about their craft. It’s a bit infectious at the Michigan Science Center, one of the reasons I’ve returned several times this spring to experience it again.
There will always be something nostalgic about heading back into the planetarium as an adult, especially if you get to share that sense of wonder with your kid. It’s a complete throwback experience that Michigan Science Center is banking on as a big draw (and Penske is agreeing with, since they footed the bill). There’s a lot of reasons to visit this gem in Detroit’s cultural center and the newly dubbed Penske Planetarium is the main one.
