'I always tell people it’s like a movie theatre, but the entire sky is the movie screen,' says astronomer and director of Astronomy In Action A fun, family outing that will be out of this world is heading to Barrie. Astronomy in Action is set to launch its 2025 Planetarium Tour later this month, including a stop in Barrie on June 21 at Collier Street United Church with its Dragon Dome — a giant inflatable dome that provides participants with an immersive 4K planetarium experience. “It’s always been a dream, talking about and sharing space with others, and that’s always been what the slogan has been — Space for Everyone,” said Ryan Marciniak, company director and astronomer. Marciniak and the team have spent the last decade travelling to schools with the domes or providing education at the Ontario Science Centre, and last year launched public programming. “We just want to see as many people as possible and share the wonders of the universe with them. That is the dream,” he said, noting the new Dragon Dome includes comfortable inflatable seating for guests of all ages. “I always tell people it’s like a movie theatre, but the entire sky is the movie screen," Marciniak added. "It’s not like a traditional movie where you’re just sitting there and watching. It fills the entire sky. It fills your whole peripheral vision and makes it feel like you are immersed in whatever experience you are doing.” While in Barrie, Astronomy In Action will offer families the chance to purchase tickets to any of three shows. The Wanderers show, which is recommended for children five and up, is a 40-minute visual journey through the solar system, where guests can explore the latest discoveries from telescopes and spacecraft that shape our understanding of the planets, as well as captivating stories of discovery that changed our perspective forever. The Great Cosmic Journey show, which runs 50 minutes and is recommended for children five and up, helps bring guests closer to the wonders of the cosmos. They will travel far from Earth, surf the rings of Saturn, see new stars blazing into existence, and explore the most incredible structures of the cosmos as we transcend time and space. Their What is in the Sky? show is recommended for children up to the age of four. The 25-minute show is described as a fun and welcoming show where kids and their families can explore the sky above. From rainbows to rockets, kids and parents explore the many things that can be found in the sky during the day and night. “In most cases, we are travelling to other planets, exploring deep space. We are doing things that human beings can’t do without a lot of technology and money backing us as astronauts," said Marciniak. "We are giving this experience where you get to enjoy the wonders of the universe and what things really look like out in space." The presentations are often led by a live presenter. “There is a real opportunity for engagement back and forth," he added. During the Cosmic Journey show, guests are able to express their curiosity (and) there is a lot of freedom for people to feel like they have some ownership over the program.” Marciniak said the team always tried to show families things they can look for in the sky that evening or in the next couple of weeks. “We really want to encourage families to go out and explore space together,” he said, calling the experience half-education, half-entertainment. “We want people to be entertained and enjoy the stunning experience. We want people to reconnect with the cosmos. If they come out with two or three really cool facts they didn’t know before or something they can look for that night — that’s mission accomplished for us," said Marciniak.