Now Showing

microcosm poster

Microcosm:The Adventure Within

At the Center of Miniaturized Medicine in the year 2053, you'll shrink down to the size of a microbe and get injected into a patient who is suffering an infection from a mysterious virus. Produced in cooperation with the University of Utah Medical School, this high-speed immersive adventure is not only exciting, but educational as well. Traveling from the base of the eye to the interior of the heart, you'll explore exotic ports of call in CMM Probe Alpha with its robotic outboard scout vehicle. As you piece together the clues the virus has left behind, you'll race against time to save the patient on your roller-coaster ride through the body. Laser battles, genetic weapons, and lots of surprises along the way, make this a show audiences will want to experience again and again. (17 minutes)
Ice Worlds poster

Ice Worlds

The delicate balance between ice, water and the existence of life has been a topic of exploration and discovery in science for generations. In travels to the Arctic and Antarctic regions of our planet, we'll examine the ecosystems that live and thrive there and see how their survival is connected with our own. Beyond Earth, we'll see how the existence of ice shapes the landscape and the natural systems on other planets and moons in our solar system. (30 minutes)


Free Shows For The Public Presented On Saturdays

The Wells Planetarium will offer free shows for the public on Saturdays through Dec. 12. The shows will be held at 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. While the shows are free, tickets are required due to limited seating. Tickets can be obtained by calling the Warren Hall Box Office at (540) 568-7960 until 4 p.m. the day before the show. Tickets can be picked up at the Warren Hall Box Office. Tickets may also be reserved and picked up at the planetarium door at the time of the show. Any tickets not reserved by 4 p.m. the day before a show will be handed out on a first come, first served basis at the planetarium door 10 minutes before show time.

Each show is followed by a 25-minute "star talk" that provides visitors with updates about the night sky, inlcuding constellations, planets and any comets that might be visible.

School Groups

For information and to make reservations for school groups, send e-mails to planetarium@jmu.edu.

Please be aware: The John C. Wells planetarium strives to bring cutting-edge science to JMU as well as to the community at large. To this end, the staff presents well-established science that is based on consensus from the scientific community. We acknowledge there are differing opinions on topics such as evolution, the big bang, age of the Earth, and global warming, but we will present the scientific perspective of these topics. Our faculty, presenters and interns will not alter their presentations when discussing what some consider controversial science topics.