The Denver Museum of Nature and Science hosts multiple laser shows in the Gates Planetarium on select evenings. On Friday, Jan. 16 2026, they displayed Pink Floyd’s music accompanied by a multitude of colors and designs through laser artwork.
Since the late 1960s, Pink Floyd has experimented with light projectors, smoke and strobes to accompany their live music. Laser art was not a technological advancement yet but their performances were still a sensory experience.
In the 1970s, after the explosion of “Dark Side of the Moon” and “Wish You Were Here,” laser technology was becoming more developed and the band began incorporating them into their shows.
The lasers began to be choreographed into certain songs such as “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” and “Money.” The band became one of the first to use lasers in their storytelling performances.
After the band stopped performing, their legacy continued in many historical ways. By the 1990s, planetariums began creating laser shows dedicated to Pink Floyd’s music. With themes of space, time and emotional consciousness intertwined in their music, laser art brought these themes to life in a visual manner.
“I was completely immersed in the experience, it almost felt like a sound bath,” said University of Denver sophomore Kira Nikolauss.
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science does Pink Floyd’s music justice with true laser artistry. The Gates Planetarium has a full 360-degree dome view with high-resolution lasers and a surround-sound system that transports you.
From the opening song, “Breathe,” to “Money,” and many more iconic sounds from the band, this show brings a variety of shapes, colors and patterns that move around the dome allowing viewers to become lost in the band’s music.
A fan favorite was “Breathe” with an emotion of purple and blue color patterns accompanied by moving spirals that matched the beat of the music. This forces people to focus on their own breath and relaxation.
This show allows you to put everyday life out of mind and focus on the sounds, shapes and colors in front of you. Abstract animations and jaw-dropping movements driven by textured harmony allowed the viewer to become submersed in the cosmic soundscape that is Pink Floyd.
The planetarium hosts shows set to the music of a variety of artists, including Bob Marley, The Grateful Dead, Metallica, Bad Bunny, Led Zeppelin and others are featured on other weeknights.
Whether students are looking for an activity with friends or just a place to enjoy music and lights, this is the perfect atmosphere.
This show proved that Pink Floyd’s legacy is still thriving and evolving. In the dome, the music becomes larger than sound and more of a world you step into. The Gates Planetarium keeps a decades-long tradition alive for a new generation of listeners.
