Last weekend, Buffalo State University’s Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium premiered its latest program, featuring “Jewels of the Winter Sky,” “Laser David Bowie Music Experience,” and “Laser Beatles: Across the Universe.”
The new trifecta of shows ropes in audiences of all ages, offering the beauty of a winter night in Buffalo from the comfort of the indoors, to immersive laser-light trips to the past – soaking in iconic ballads from a few of music’s most influential figures.
Since the installation of a state-of-the-art laser projection system in 2022, as part of a $100 million renovation, Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium director Kevin Williams, Ph.D., has prioritized laser-light show events, which have now become a staple of the planetarium’s monthly programming.
“It’s a way to bring people to the planetarium that have never been there before,” Williams said when I had the opportunity to sit down with him this week. He described it as “a cool audio-visual experience.”
On Friday nights, starting at 8:30, let David Bowie classics like “Space Oddity” and “Ziggy Stardust” wash over you, and then return the next evening, starting at 5:30, to rock out to The Beatles’ hits, such as “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and “Twist & Shout.”
And if astronomy is what you’re looking for, a member of the planetarium will take you on a journey like no other – answering all the questions you may have about winter constellations and the night sky. Showings begin at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
These breathtaking shows are playing through March 14, so don’t miss out on what everyone is clamoring to experience – plan your visit to the planetarium today. You can purchase tickets and find important information regarding each show here.
