Reviewed by: Michael Seale
Best in the U.S.—INTUITIVE Planetarium wins top spot
Reading time: 3 minutes
The INTUITIVE Planetarium at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center took the top spot in USA TODAY’s 2026 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards, USSRC officials announced today in a celebration and news conference at the planetarium.
Read on to learn how the nominees and winners were selected and what’s new at the planetarium.
About the INTUITIVE Planetarium
Opened on Feb. 28, 2019, the INTUITIVE Planetarium is a top attraction at USSRC, a Smithsonian Affiliate and the largest space museum in the world. Intuitive Research and Technology (INTUITIVE) partners with the USSRC to provide state-of-the-art visualization systems for the planetarium.
INTUITIVE Co-Founder and Chairman Harold Brewer says his company has continued to support the planetarium because “Rocket City deserves the best,” with this accolade an acknowledgement of that belief and commitment.
“This is more than a venue. It is a place where families gather, students discover new possibilities and our community comes together around a shared sense of wonder. Being named the No. 1 planetarium in the country affirms what we have believed from the start: When you combine technology with purpose and a commitment to excellence, you can create something truly world-class.”
Harold Brewer, Co-Founder and Chairman of INTUITIVE
USSRC Interim CEO & CFO Brenda Perez credited the planetarium’s team of producers, praising their work in creating “visually stunning and fascinating shows for our visitors and Space Camp students.”
“Since opening seven years ago this month, our INTUITIVE Planetarium has taken more than 750,000 people across the universe, providing an unforgettable experience billions of light years in the making.”
USSRC Interim CEO & CFO Brenda Perez
See the 2026 ranking
After a panel of editors and subject matter experts narrowed the list to 20 nominees, voters weighed in to determine this 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards planetariums ranking:
- INTUITIVE Planetarium at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, Alabama 🚀🎉
- McDonnell Planetarium at Saint Louis Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri
- Clark Planetarium, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, Tucson, Arizona
- Adler Planetarium, Chicago, Illinois
- Fels Planetarium at The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Strasenburgh Planetarium at Rochester Museum & Science Center, Rochester, New York
- Center Of Science and Industry, Columbus, Ohio
- Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Harvey M. Meyerhoff Digital Planetarium, Baltimore, Maryland
Context: Last year, the INTUITIVE Planetarium was voted No. 2.
What’s new at INTUITIVE Planetarium
Following Wednesday’s announcement and celebration, attendees viewed an excerpt of the planetarium’s latest show, “Black Holes: Cosmic Abyss,” which opened on Tuesday.
Here’s all you need to know to go and experience the country’s No. 1 planetarium yourself!
- What: INTUITIVE Planetarium
- Where: 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 35805
- Hours: Daily, 10AM-3PM | Extended hours Fridays, 6-8:30PM
- More Info: Website | Instagram | Facebook
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