Tampa has been home to the second-largest digital dome in the country since April. And it’s right across the street from USF Tampa at the Museum of Science and Industry.

I visited MOSI this week to see the Saunders Planetarium and Digital Dome Theater, and I was not disappointed.

The price for adult general admission to MOSI was $20 and included one free show at the digital dome planetarium. Each additional movie costs $5. 

Sadly, MOSI does not offer discounts for USF students. Bold of MOSI to assume I have even $20 to spare. However, I would say it was worth every penny in the end.

MOSI’s new cutting-edge planetarium is a must-see for anyone who has not visited the museum yet. There, scientific storytelling meets sensory immersion, resulting in a moving experience for all viewers.

Related: USF students say MOSI’s new dome is immersive

Of course, I went there with friends, which made the experience all the merrier. 

While at MOSI, we decided to give attention to its other attractions and fun science exhibitions laid out for children, such as lying on a bed of nails just to see what would happen.

But the time finally came for the star of the show, the digital dome.

We arrived at the planetarium 15 minutes early, as seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Arriving a little early helped secure the best seats, all of which fully recline, allowing visitors to get a complete immersion during the showing.

The best seats for viewing tend to be the middle rows, especially in a dome where viewers have to look up at the screen — a tip I gathered from visiting the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

I recommend arriving 10 to 15 minutes before the start to ensure the best view.

Throughout the day, various shows are scheduled to play at different times. My friends and I were really set on seeing Solar Superstorms, because in our minds, this one sounded the most action-packed.

Before the show even started, it truly felt like the most comfortable stargazing I had done in a while.

Luckily, the movie began right as I started to worry that this was going to be less of a fun trip with friends and more of an astronomy lecture. 

When the show began, it occupied only a portion of the large screen. Then slowly, more of the screen began to fill up, until viewers were surrounded by the screen.

And that’s what makes the MOSI digital dome so immersive — its 360-degree screen makes you feel as if you’re not in Tampa anymore, but in space. 

Related: Hillsborough County to explore building sports complex at MOSI site

I realized this was as close as I would ever get to space. The feelings of awe and wonder that hit me during the viewing were immeasurable.

Some of the other shows offered were Oasis in Space, Edge of Darkness, Perfect Little Planet and Forward! To the Moon.

In addition to the featured films, the digital dome also offers typical planetarium experiences, such as walking viewers through the solar system and the night sky.

All shows are approximately 45 minutes long, which, personally, is the best amount of time possible, as someone who doesn’t get too excited over science, or movies for that matter.

And being able to rest my feet for that long was such a relief after walking around MOSI all day.

The only thing that could have made my trip better was if I had brought a jacket. While it was a nice escape from Tampa’s heat, it would be beneficial if MOSI considered its audience when setting the thermostat in the dome.

Additionally, food and beverages are not allowed in the theater. For me, this was a letdown because the best part about seeing a show is the snacks.

Still, if you don’t plan on making it to Las Vegas anytime soon, no worries. Tampa has its own version of the Sphere, located right across from USF — for only a fraction of the price, too.