The Louisiana Art & Science Museum’s planetarium is back and better than ever. To celebrate its new high-tech equipment improvements, the museum is hosting a Planetarium Grand Reopening Film Festival this weekend.

Over the summer, the planetarium had a series of major technical upgrades that introduced the 4K digital video projection system and a 15,000-watt digital surround sound system to the museum. An already state-of-the-art building with 171 seats and a 60-foot dome screen, the newest upgrade makes this planetarium well worth a visit.

“This is just a way for everyone to see the beautiful upgrades,” audience engagement and public relations manager Hayley Westphal said. “Everything is clearer, everything is crisp. The color is just fantastic.”

The museum’s planetarium films will show all day long Saturday and Sunday . The movies range from viewings for children such as “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure,” to “Dream Big: Engineering Our World,” an uplifting film about how engineers solve problems around the world.

With the reopening of the planetarium, there are also a few exhibits closing on Sunday.

“Faces of the Flood,” a photography exhibit showing photos from the 2016 flood, depicts the resilient spirit of the people of Baton Rouge Westphal said.

The exhibit features images of damaged homes, churches and businesses with personal anecdotes from the flood’s victims.

Another exhibit closing this weekend is “Polymers in Art Through the Centuries.” Designed with the assistance of University chemistry professor John Pojman, the exhibit explicates on how polymers are found in the materials and substances used to make art.

University students get free admission for a year with a student ID and become a museum member for $8 on their first visit. 

With the end of the two displays nearing, a new museum tradition is also beginning: admission to the museum will be free on the first Sunday of each month, and admission to the planetarium is $6.

The film festival runs Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Normal admission prices are $9 for adults and $7.50 for children and senior citizens.