A presenter addresses a crowd during a showing of Astronomy Tours: Arizona.
New Dorrance DOME Opens Door to Collaboration with Lowell Observatory
Arizona Science Center has just unveiled a newly refurbished planetarium, paving the way for future partnership opportunities between the popular downtown Phoenix attraction and Lowell Observatory. The former Dorrance Planetarium, now rebranded as the Dorrance DOME, uses technology similar to that of the iconic Sphere in Las Vegas, but on a smaller scale.
Like the screen in Lowell’s Universe Theater, the planetarium’s 8K dome is built with LED panels that act as their own light source rather than a projection surface, allowing the screen to display a bright, rich spectrum of colors.
Alec Warren, Director of the Dorrance DOME, joined the Arizona Science Center after serving as Director of the Frost Planetarium in Miami, Florida. He now leads a team of Dorrance DOME Experience Pilot Specialists, including Cameron Piotti, a former Public Program Educator at Lowell.
Piotti, a self-proclaimed space enthusiast, is the creative mind behind Astronomy Tours: Arizona, a new live show celebrating the state’s extraordinary contributions to astronomy. He helped craft both the show’s script and the software that drives its immersive, interactive experience.
The show takes viewers on a tour across Arizona’s landscape, with stops in Flagstaff to admire its celebrated dark skies and Apollo astronaut training grounds.
“I wanted a show that focuses on Arizona, our backyard, and all the ways this state has shaped astronomy,” says Piotti.
Drawing from his time as a public educator at Lowell Observatory, Piotti built the show’s narrative around key moments in Arizona’s scientific history:
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- Lowell Observatory’s discovery of Pluto and the pioneering work done with the Clark Telescope.
- Flagstaff’s designation as the world’s first International Dark Sky City.
- Apollo mission training at Cinder Lake crater fields and Meteor Crater, where astronauts practiced lunar navigation, geology field techniques, and simulated missions.
- Modern Mars missions led by Arizona institutions, from the Phoenix Lander to Perseverance.
- The Artemis program, linking today’s lunar exploration efforts to Arizona’s aerospace industry through Northrop Grumman in Gilbert.
- Lowell Observatory’s discovery of Pluto and the pioneering work done with the Clark Telescope.
It’s a story of place and purpose, reminding visitors that Arizona’s distinction as an astrotourism destination was earned through its role as a cornerstone of modern space exploration.
“Working at Lowell was one of the best jobs I ever had,” says Piotti. “The people, the community; it was just fun. Some of my favorite moments were people seeing Saturn for the first time.”
That experience, he says, deeply influenced the creation of Astronomy Tours: Arizona.
“If I hadn’t worked there, I wouldn’t have known all the history or how to tie it all together. Lowell really shaped the way I tell these stories.”
What’s Next in the Dorrance DOME
Piotti hopes that Astronomy Tours: Arizona will continue to evolve with new visuals, updated scripts, and even more opportunities for live interaction and collaboration with Lowell.
“All we’re trying to do is inspire guests to go home and look things up,” he says. “That spark is what matters.”
To learn more about what the Dorrance DOME has to offer, visit https://www.azscience.org/experience/dorrance-dome/.