The universe is about to be explored in a whole new way.

The Earth, the moon, the stars and the universe are the focus of four new shows opening this weekend at the Cummins Planetarium in the Rocky Mount Children’s Museum and Science Center, said Steve Schmidt, the center’s space science educator.

The line-up starts with “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure,” a show designed for families with children ages 4 to 7 years, Schmidt said. With the help of some old and new friends, Big Bird learns about the sun, moon and stars.

“The theme is that regardless of where you are on the Earth, we all live underneath the same big sky. As far away as somebody on the other side of the world might seem to live, they really live a lot closer when you think about the much bigger picture of the universe around us,” Schmidt said.

Gather around the campfire to take a look at the sky with storyteller Baxter Black, narrator of “The Cowboy Astronomer,” said Candy McCroskey, museum director. Join narrator Ewan McGregor and discover what it takes to be a space explorer in “Astronaut.” Learn about the Earth’s place in space with narrator Tom Hanks in “Passport to the Universe.”

“I think one of the things that we are able to do here at the museum and science center is take the abstract, the clinical and the sterile and synthesize it into a way that everybody can understand it in a fun way,” McCroskey said.

The planetarium also will feature a different laser show each month, Schmidt said. The schedule will have “Laser Michael Jackson” in January, “Laser Motown” in February, “Laser Beatles” in March and “Laser Floyd” in April.

Tickets regularly are $4 or $3.50 with museum admission.

For information, call 972-1167.