Ahead of its 50th anniversary, Flandrau shines in USA Today rankings

Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium has been ranked among the top planetariums in the country in USA Today's 10Best Reader's Choice Awards. The planetarium, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this fall, was ranked No. 4 nationally.

"Flandrau is a unique venue that allows the university to communicate the science that's happening here to the general public," said Kellee Campbell, Flandrau's executive director. "It allows the public to come to campus, interact with scientists and hear directly about the impact of their research on our lives.

The publication cited Flandrau's wide variety of exhibits, including an immersive shark exhibit and a large-scale model of the surface of Mars. It also praised the 146-seat EOS Foundation Planetarium Theater, which boasts 4K resolution and 18,000 watts of Dolby 5.1 sound. The theater is home to Flandrau's popular slate of laser light shows, including "Laser Taylor Swift," "Laser Beastie Boys" and "Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon.'"

Campbell said a planetarium is a rare asset for a university.

"Only a small percentage of universities in the United States have planetariums, and many of those focus primarily on educational purposes," Campbell said. "It's rare to find a university planetarium that also offers extensive public programming."

In the ranking, USA Today described Flandrau as "the cherry on top of any visit to Tucson, Arizona."

Flandrau continues to expand its offerings with its newest feature, "Universe of Science," which opened in February. The interactive exhibit invites visitors to step into the shoes of scientists as they explore the worlds of astronomy, neuroscience, Tucson's mountain landscapes and more. Highlights include the "Inner-Scientist Mirror," where visitors can see themselves as digital avatars of scientists in different fields, and a nearly 17-foot model of the James Webb Space Telescope's primary mirror.

Attracting nearly 70,000 visitors annually, including about 14,000 K-12 students on field trips, Flandrau's diverse offerings are designed to engage a broad range of interests, Campbell said.

"People are interested in different things," Campbell said. "It's not all space sciences. People who are interested in ocean sciences can come here and check out our 'Undersea Discovery' and shark exhibits. We have all sorts of exhibits for different areas of interest."

The 10Best Readers' Choice Awards span travel categories including restaurants, entertainment venues and lodging, with a panel of travel experts selecting nominees. Winners are determined by public vote.