James S. McDonnell Planetarium ready to reveal $2.5M St. Louis 'glow up'

ST. LOUIS—The James S. McDonnell Planetarium's Bill and Laura Orthwein StarBay Theater reopens to the public Saturday, July 18, following a months-long $2.5 million renovation that the facility says will make it the largest and most advanced hybrid planetarium in the nation.

The facility, at 5100 Clayton Ave. in Forest Park, first opened in 1963. The upgrades include the first GOTO Chiron III Hybrid Star Projector installed in the U.S. and is one of only 20 ever made, and a Cosm Digistar Full-Dome Data Visualization System. The Star Projector is the planetarium’s heart, while the visualization system is its brain, according to the planetarium’s website.

The renovations are the most significant at the facility in 25 years.

Other changes include a 22,000-watt surround sound system in the Orthwein StarBay and a new entryway to the StarBay, along with a hearing assistance system that will be the first of its kind in a St. Louis area public venue.

“The McDonnell Planetarium is a St. Louis gem and has inspired millions of St. Louisans — including myself — to look to the sky,” Science Center CEO and President Dr. Ray Vandiver said in a statement that credits his visits there as a child as an inspiration for his career pursuits later in life. “Science is about continuous discovery and forward progress, and we are thrilled to provide our guests with the most advanced experience to explore the universe like never before.”

“Our live, educator-led shows are uniquely St. Louis, and the upgrades to our presentation systems will elevate our programming to a whole new level,” McDonnell Planetarium Manager Will Snyder said in a statement. “Using the latest imagery collected around the universe and data streamed into the Planetarium each day from satellites above, we’re now able to offer spectacular views from St. Louis outward and from space back toward our planet. Our hybrid planetarium truly presents the best of both worlds, combining the traditional constellation-driven displays our audiences have enjoyed since we opened in 1963 with immersive, real-time rendered elements.”

Saturday’s events include an opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m. During the summer the James S. McDonnell Planetarium is open Wednesday-Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.