The INTUITIVE Planetarium at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center has been named the No. 1 planetarium in the country in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
The annual rankings are determined through a four-week public voting period after nominations by a panel that includes USA TODAY editors and subject matter experts.
“We are thrilled with this recognition of our INTUITIVE Planetarium and the team of people who work so hard to create visually stunning and fascinating shows for our visitors and Space Camp students,” said Brenda Perez, the Rocket Center’s interim CEO and CFO. “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.”
The planetarium opened Feb. 28, 2019, with support from Intuitive Research and Technology, which continues to partner with the Rocket Center to provide state-of-the-art visualization systems.
“Rocket City deserves the very best, and that’s why we invested, and continue to invest, in the INTUITIVE Planetarium,” said Harold Brewer, co-founder and chairman of Intuitive Research and Technology. “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.”
Arlee Holmes, vice president of operations and communications at the company, said the recognition reflects Huntsville’s commitment to education and innovation.
“This honor speaks to the spirit of Rocket City and to a community that values education and discovery,” Holmes said. “Our goal has always been to help create something worthy of Huntsville’s legacy of innovation and exploration.”
The INTUITIVE Planetarium ranked first among the following top 10 planetariums:
INTUITIVE Planetarium at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center
McDonnell Planetarium at Saint Louis Science Center
Clark Planetarium
Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium
Adler Planetarium
Fels Planetarium at The Franklin Institute
Strasenburgh Planetarium at Rochester Museum & Science Center
Center of Science and Industry
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Harvey M. Meyerhoff Digital Planetarium
Rocket Center officials and representatives from Intuitive Research and Technology held a news conference Wednesday in the planetarium lobby to celebrate the ranking. The event included an excerpt from “Black Holes: Cosmic Abyss,” the planetarium’s newest show.
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is home to Space Camp, Space Camp Robotics, Aviation Challenge, U.S. Cyber Camp and the Space Camp Institute. The center displays artifacts including the National Historic Landmark Saturn V rocket, the Apollo 16 capsule and the Pathfinder space shuttle full stack display. It also serves as the official visitor center for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
