Seeing the Stars in a Whole New Way

Stuff We Love

Feb. 17, 2024

Look up! Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has added an inflatable planetarium dome to their Interpretation and Education division to create immersive night sky experiences, plus other learning opportunities. How does it work? A laser projector projects 360-degree images and video inside the dome, which measures 17 feet wide by 12 feet tall. Educators can now sign up for a team of park rangers to visit their school (for free!) with two initial offerings: “Sharing Star Stories,” a night-sky themed program that features nocturnal animals, constellations, Anishinaabe night-sky oral traditions, and light pollution; and “Great Lakes from Below,” with underwater footage of the Great Lakes in the dome as well as stations on aquatic food webs, invasive species, and microplastics. To learn more, visit nps.gov/slbe/learn/education/classrooms/index.htm.