Richmond’s night sky is about to get a lot brighter — indoors, that is. This October, the Science Museum of Virginia unveils its latest attraction: a series of laser light shows set to popular music, all projected onto the massive screen of its signature venue, The Dome.

The new offering promises to transform the museum’s nearly quarter-acre projection surface into a canvas of swirling colors and pulsing patterns, synchronized to tracks from artists like Beyoncé and Pink Floyd. It’s a sensory experience that merges technology with entertainment.

“Laser shows are the perfect blend of technology and entertainment,” said Science Museum Chief Wonder Officer Rich Conti. “Not only are the shows mesmerizing, they also showcase yet another application for lasers, which have been around for more than 60 years. As the largest screen in Virginia and one of the largest all-digital planetariums in the world, you can’t find a better venue for an experience like this than The Dome.”

The Science Museum has 10 laser shows on deck featuring music by Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and others artists from past and present. In addition, there are holiday-themed and seasonal shows the Science Museum will feature during corresponding parts of the year.

  

Adding laser shows to the Science Museum’s offerings was part of the recent enhancement work in The Dome. The programs require specialized projectors and a hazer to produce a very fine water-based mist to make the laser beams sufficiently visible. The Dome’s improved sound system works well with the concert-like music in the laser shows.

The debut laser show will be set to music from Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” on Thursday, Oct. 3. The museum is offering two showings that evening: 6:30 and 8:15 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 to $15. Space is limited to 250 guests each show, and tickets can be purchased at smv.org.