On a recent Saturday I found myself seated at my local planetarium. Previously, I wasn’t aware that our city even had a public astronomical theater, nor did I ever expect to spend an evening at one for entertainment purposes. But a unique planetarium program—a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon—is precisely what drew me to this unconventional weekend outing.
The College of Southern Nevada’s Dale Etheridge Planetarium is showcasing an immersive experience that visualizes the iconic album with celestial sights guaranteed to leave audiences dizzy with curiosity and wonder. And what better way to experience “The Great Gig in the Sky” than underneath a manmade dome with starry projections and a surround sound system that makes the hair on your arms raise?
“I like to keep our programming fresh throughout the year, and add the latest planetarium shows to our catalog whenever possible,” says Lisa Goodman, education coordinator at the planetarium. “Pink Floyd’s immersive planetarium show has really generated a great deal of attendees.”
She’s not wrong. Within the planetarium’s unassuming walls I discovered dozens of attendees, whose ages spanned generations, lining up to find their seats. The English psych-rock band has had a tenacious grip on audiences since its early 1960s debut. The extended mind-bending instrumentals, angelic vocals and thought-provoking lyricism of Pink Floyd transcends the five decades since Dark Side of the Moon, bringing audiences into a timeless realm.
The planetarium’s album-length interstellar adventure not only does the album justice; it also re-sparks the joy of hearing it in its entirety.
While these 42 minutes alone might be enough of a draw for any music lover, Goodman points out that the planetarium has more to offer. Its concept-driven shows rotate monthly. There’s an Astronaut Wall of Fame available for viewing, plus a telescope observatory and ambassadors of astronomy who can answer any burning questions you may have about space.
“The sky is not the limit and the possibilities are endless for the types of live entertainment we can offer inside the planetarium dome,” Goodman says.
The Dark Side of The Moon Immersive Planetarium Show Through March 30; Friday & Saturday, 9 p.m., $10, Dale Etheridge Planetarium, csnplanetarium.square.site.
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