Clark Planetarium
Front entrance | |
Former name | Hansen Planetarium |
|---|---|
| Established | 1965, 2003 |
| Location | 110 S 400 W Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 |
| Coordinates | 40°46′03″N 111°54′11″W / 40.76750°N 111.90306°W |
| Type | Planetarium |
| Director | Duke Johnson, MS |
| Owner | Salt Lake County |
| Public transit access | Planetarium station |
| Website | saltlakecounty |
The Clark Planetarium is a planetarium and science museum situated within The Gateway at the intersection of 400 West and 100 South in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The Clark Planetarium opened in April 2003, replacing the historic Hansen Planetarium under a grant from the Clark Foundation in cooperation with Salt Lake County.
History
The original Hansen Planetarium opened in 1965 and remained open through 2002. The Clark replaced it in 2003 with a new operating and budget structure.[1][2] The planetarium underwent updates and expansion in 2015-2016 and 2023-2024, during which their well-known moon rock, on loan from NASA since 1975, was secured off site.[3][4][5][6]
Building
The planetarium is home to the Hansen Dome Theater, a 55-foot (16.8 m) perforated aluminum dome, and an IMAX certified big screen theater. The Clark Planetarium features 10,000 square feet (930 m2) of free exhibits including "Science on a Sphere," a computer animation globe by NOAA, "Newton's Daydream", the most ambitious audio-kinetic sculpture ever created by artist George Rhoads.
See also
References
- ^ Davidson, Lee (November 21, 2015). "Clark Planetarium celebrates 50 'Out of this world' years". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ McFarland, Sheena (April 2, 2013). "Clark Planetarium celebrates 10 years of inspiring awe". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Stilson, Ashley. "Lunar rock escorted to downtown vault for Clark Planetarium renovation". www.ksl.com. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Apgar, Blake (July 25, 2023). "More room to learn and chow down: Inside Clark Planetarium's expansion". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Nelson, Bob (February 6, 2015). "Salt Lake County Announces $2 Million Update at Clark Planetarium". KUER. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Stephenson, Kathy (May 29, 2016). "Utah's famed moon rock on lunar lockdown for planetarium exhibit remodel". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2025.