Barlow Planetarium

Barlow Planetarium is a wonderful, wonderful place to have in the Fox Valley. Thank God for UW-​Fox Valley! I’m from Chicago where we have the Adler Planetarium, so I really missed having a resource like that when I moved to Appleton for college. And then, all my planetarium separation anxiety woes melted away when I found the Barlow Planetarium in Menasha.
At the Barlow, there really is something for everyone, as it has programs that cater to all ages and demographics. For just $ 7 a pop ($ 6 for students, $ 5 for children and seniors), you can see a really cool Planetarium show! We went to see the «More than Meets the Eye» show is both artistic and scientific. You get a artistic, yet realistic-​looking view of the the deep-​sky, as well as a view of what the night sky looks like in Wisconsin right at that moment. The person narrating the show and guiding us through the night sky was both well-​informed and had a great sense of humor. Fun!
The Barlow also offers laser shows that play rock music accompanied by lasers. This sounds like the absolute coolest thing ever and I am determined to see at least one of these shows! The Pink Floyd double feature ($ 12/​ticket) sounds the best. What a fun, creative way to use the awesome technology available here.
Tip: If you get nauseous easily, I recommend that you close your eyes when the ceiling re-​orients itself to the current night sky coordinates. The guy giving the show will warn you beforehand!