CHANGING LIVES AND INSPIRING LEARNING THROUGH SCIENCE AND WONDER.

Planetarium

Millholland Planetarium

Shows that are Out of the World!

The Millholland Planetarium is a 65-seat, digital planetarium theater featuring a giant screen, 30 ft dome images, and surround sound to transport visitors beyond the confines of Earth. Journey to the center of a black hole, tour the surface of the Sun, the rings of Saturn, and more! We cannot wait for you to experience shows and programs in the Millholland Planetarium!

Upcoming Showtimes

  • CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING

    Thu, Nov 27 2025

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    In observance of the holiday, CSC is closed.

 

More Showtimes!

Now Playing!

*Planetarium shows are included with admission based on seat availability

The Little Star That Could

35  minutes + Star Talk

The story about Little Star, an average yellow star in search for planets of his own to protect and warm. Along the way, he meets other stars, learns what makes each star special, and discovers that stars combine to form star clusters and galaxies. Eventually, Little Star finds his planets and each is introduced with basic information about our Solar System.

Flight of the Butterflies

40  minutes + Star Talk

The monarch butterfly is a true marvel of nature. Weighing less than a penny, it makes one of the longest migrations on Earth across a continent to a place it has never known. Follow the monarchs' perilous journey and join hundreds of millions of real butterflies in the remote mountain peaks of Mexico. This show is kid-friendly.

Grateful Dead Laser Show

Catch a laser show in celebration of Jerry Garcia's birthday! Show features favorites from the American Rock Band Grateful Dead. ONLY on Saturday, August 2nd at 3 PM!

We are out-of-this-world excited to announce that the Millholland Planetarium has a state-of-the-art digital projector! The new projector still has old favorites, now with brighter and more crisp images, along with new shows!

Features of the new projector include...

  • The ability to 'dome cast' or share live and recorded events from other planetariums!
  • Access to the database of over 400 partners that CSC can use as programmatic elements!
  • The Digistar 7's connectivity will allow CSC to stream live feeds like NASA's Perseverance landing mission control experience!

Thank you to our sponsors

The following sponsors' generosity helps support the Millholland Planetarium:

E. Rhodes & Leona B. Carpenter Foundation

John & Eileen Leach

Kenneth K. & Suzanne G. Millholland Endowment

Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Hickory, NC

TSH Foundation

Underdown Family Foundation

Special Group Shows in the Planetarium

You can book a planetarium show for your group! For more information, contact our Office Staff at info@catawbascience.org or (828) 322.8169

Sam H.

This place was great. We have kids from 8 to 1 and they all had a great time. What I really liked is most of the exhibits are hands on and that really kept them occupied.

– Sam H.

Meredith C.

What a wonderful place to visit! Great environment to learn and the staff is very helpful! Hickory is lucky to have great family education and entertainment.

– Meredith C.

Denise G.

Fabulous and I don’t often give praise. We took our grandson and were there for hours. He loved it and so did we.

– Denise G.

Larry W.

Took the kiddos and they loved it. Employees were nice and helpful. If your looking for something to do with the kids give this place a shot.

-Larry W.

Tiffany F.

We love the Science Center! I take my 2 and 4 year old boys weekly to play and enjoy the exhibits. The staff are wonderful and the classes offered are excellent! We are so blessed to have such an amazing resource in our area.

– Tiffany F.

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