MOSI to host Artemis II watch party
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Photo: Courtesy of MOSI
Tampa's Museum of Science and Innovation will air the launch of Artemis II in its Saunders Planetarium on Wednesday.
Why it matters: You can watch NASA's first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years inside an eight-story, 360-degree planetarium, among the largest theaters of its kind in America.
Driving the news: The watch party coincides with the planetarium's one-year anniversary, part of the museum's broader push to transform itself into a full-day, multivisit destination.
- The museum has, for months, positioned itself as a standout venue to watch the launch — now serving alcohol and having shown "Forward! To the Moon," a film about Artemis II, since last April.
- MOSI's watch party will feature a live broadcast of the launch, with experts to answer audience questions. VIP tickets include food, drinks and access to the dome's rooftop and telescope.
Inside the room: I caught a showing of the Artemis II documentary in the planetarium last year — and I can't overstate how cool it was.
- Before the film began, the planetarium showed us the night skies above Tampa, while an attendant pointed out constellations with a laser pen and explained the history behind each.
- I found the visuals stellar (😉).
If you go: General admission is $30 for adults, $15 for children. VIP tickets are $45, and are only available to those 21 years or older.
- You can buy tickets here.