Clevelanders often find themselves staring at the sky. Whether we’re watching the sun setting into Lake Erie or stargazing at a national park, we’re a wistful people that love to dream about the bigger picture. There’s one place in the city, however, that’ll bring you closer to the cosmos than ever before. Prepare yourself, because you are about to go on a journey that’ll take you lightyears away.

Since 1920, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History has introduced locals to some of the most perplexing topics science can explore.
David Ellis/Flickr
From archaeology to astronomy, this incredible museum brings it all to Cleveland. They have pioneered many studies and made fascinating discoveries, all of which they share with the world... after Clevelanders get a glimpse first-hand.
Its campus, located just five miles outside of Downtown, has a large metallic structure that seems absolutely out of this world.
AJHalliwell/Wikimedia Commons
The truth is that this strange structure will take you to infinity and beyond. The Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium & Ralph Mueller Observatory function as an astronomical instrument and the slanted roof helps to locate specific stars in the night sky.
This gorgeous, titanium-coated structure sparkles with the splendid mimicry of fiber-optic lighting, appearing much like the sky that its theater takes visitors to.
Cleveland Museum of Natural History Website
All sorts of epic shows and presentations take place at this unbelievable destination (you can find the calendar of events and showtimes here). From digital projections that make it seem like the cosmos are at your fingertips to the 3D texturing, displays at this destination are mind-boggling.

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In addition to the daily shows at the planetarium, the museum's observatory - complete with an impressive telescope - is open to the public from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday evenings.
Cleveland Museum of Natural History/Facebook
From September through May, visitors can admire the night sky through the Warner & Swasey Co. telescope, a Cleveland-produced instrument with a 10.5-inch refracting lens.
Whether you're gazing at the stars or learning about them in the domed planetarium theater, you are in for a visual treat.
The Cleveland Institute of Art/Facebook
The mysteries of celestial phenomena are made less mysterious with the expertise of the museum staff. Locals and visitors alike will delight in the colors and wonder of this incredible destination.
Earth may be a mysterious place, but its inhabitants work every day to unravel its wildest questions.
Cleveland Museum of Natural History/Facebook
This special place in Cleveland truly out of this world.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Can’t wait to experience this fascinating planetarium? Capture some of the magic in the comfort of your own home by watching this video presented by The Cleveland Museum of Natural History:

As the planetarium shows are special events, they are not included in general admission tickets to the museum, but at just $3 for museum members and $6 for non-members, they are an affordable (and definitely worth it) add-on to your visit.

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is located at 1 Wade Oval Dr., Cleveland, OH 44106. For more information, including a calendar of planetarium showtimes and online ticket sales, click here. To learn more about the whole museum and all of its extraordinary exhibits, visit their website here.

For more local history, check out Cleveland’s crumbling astronomy tower.

Here is a list of Cle’s 27 top-rated attractions that you should visit.

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