How old is the Earth? Our ancestors tried to answer that in very different ways than
we do now. Explore these methods, and why the answer kept changing. Finally, learn
why we look to rocks--even from the Moon--to answer the question.
NGSS standards: MS-ESS1-4, HS-ESS1-6, HS-ESS1-5, HS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-3, HS-PS1-8, MS-PS1-1,
5-PS1-1, 4-ESS1-1, 3-LS4-1, MS-ESS1-2
“Celebrations for a Long Winter's Night”
The long cold winter nights of December are well suited for celebrations. This festive
show illuminates the meaning of the winter solstice, and shares some history behind
our holiday customs. Photo: Kevin Willis (WKYU)
Learn how and why the Sun, the Moon, and the stars appear to move across the sky each
day. Explore the difference between how they appear to move from Kentucky and how
they move from the Equator or the North Pole!
Subjects: Earth's rotation; measuring time passage
“Hubble Space Telescope’s 30th Anniversary”
The Hubble Space Telescope was launched thirty years ago, on April 24th, 1990. Enjoy
beautiful images captured by HST with no narration and a specially composed soundtrack
inspired by HST’s legacy. Questions about HST, its images, and astronomy and astrophysics
will be answered at the conclusion of each show.
Hardin Planetarium has worked hard to create an environment safe for everyone. Properly
worn masks and appropriate distancing are required while in the planetarium.
We learn about the cosmos by analyzing the light that shines across space, but visible
light is only a tiny portion of the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Only recently
have we invented the kinds of telescopes needed to see the rest of the universe: infrared,
radio, ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma-rays.
Subjects: electromagnetic spectrum; astronomical discoveries
“Lives of the Stars”
A highly interactive experience where you will point to a star in the sky, we we will
all learn its name, it's distance, and more. Through this we will explore the life
cycles of stars: how they form, what they do, and how they end.
The search for life beyond Earth leads us to the surprisingly diverse array of moons
in our very own solar system. What places in a solar system are likely locations for
life as we understand it?
Subjects: extraterrestrial life; Solar System structure; moons; the role of water
for life; radiation shielding
“Motions in the Sky”
Why does the Sun rise and set? How does the path change throughout the months? How
does the Moon move through the sky? Where are the other planets in the sky?
Subjects differ by grades: elementary - noon Meridian (AM/PM); Movement of Sun, moon and planets; time zones | high school - Retrograde motion; time zones; Daylight Savings Time; celestial clock
A film viewing the universe through music and mathematics, showing off the sound system
provided to us by the WKU Sisterhood.
A spectacular up-close look at our Sun and how it affects our world. And because the
Sun is our nearest star, we learn a lot about stars by studying it.
“Perseverance to Reach Mars”
NASA’s Perseverance Rover will reach Mars on 18 February 2021, to begin its search
for signs of ancient microbial life, and characterizing environmental conditions that
could affect future astronauts living and working on Mars. Perseverance will be only
the fifth rover to attempt landing on Mars – when less than 50% of the missions ever
sent to Mars by any space agency have been successful.
“Phantom of the Universe”
Follow protons through CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, and descend a mile beneath the
ground searching for dark matter. Evidently it makes up 85% of the total mass of the
universe, yet it has so far been detected only by its gravitational effects. Film
narrated by Tilda Swinton.
Closed Thanksgiving Day
“PlanetQuest: Discovering Worlds Around Other Stars”
The first planet around another star was discovered in 1992, and since then we've
discovered many more. Learn how we discover planets, and what kinds of planets we
tend to find. How do we know which planets might have life, and are any close to us?
And see real photos of planets previously only imagined.
“Saturn's 'Young' Rings”
Explore the young age of Saturn's rings in context of our lives, the formation of
our Solar System, and the birth of our Universe to understand what "young" actually
means from a cosmic perspective.
Subjects: Geologic time line; age of the Earth, the Universe, Saturn's rings; ring
structure and formation
Where we stand in the cosmos: a perspective. Learn how everything in the universe
spins and orbits, and how the universe is, indeed, expanding.
Subjects: planetary, solar, and galactic astrophysics
Find your way around night skies in this highly interactive experience. Examine star
patterns in the current sky and create your own stories--as your ancestors did--to
help remember these patterns.
Suitable for all ages. Subjects: pattern recognition; storytelling; constellations
“Two Small Pieces of Glass”
Combining a full-dome movie and highly interactive lessons, students learn how telescopes
work, and learn their role in expanding human understanding.
Suitable for grades 3 to adult. Subjects: Galileo, Huygens, Newton, Hubble; physics
of light and planets; reflection & refraction
“When the Universe Was Young”
Explore why we believe we finally understand what the universe was like when it was
young, and learn three tools we use to come to that conclusion.
Subjects: early universe; look-back time; spatial dimensions; electromagnetic spectrum;
The below shows are not available until the public health situation changes.
“First Steps on the Moon”
The challenges of traveling as far as the Moon were achieved in 1969, and we explore
this in a film. We also learn--interactively--how to target a moving object, how far
away the Moon really is, and how to time a landing.
Subjects: Earth-Moon system; Moon features and behavior; space travel
1) Along State Street
2) Two spots in the lot between Ogden College Hall and Kelly Thompson Hall
3) College Hill Lot, up College Heights Blvd. on the right
4) Chestnut Street North Lot, at the corner of Chestnut and 14th Ave, two blocks from
» Download the bus unloading map (PDF)
Wheelchair Accessibility: A ramp from State St. provides access to the building's main floor. The below lots
are only available on weekends or after 4:30 PM.
1) Two spots in a tiny lot behind the building, at the end of a driveway from State
St. That lot is lower than the building, so it is an uphill climb.
2) Three spots in the lot between Ogden College Hall and Kelly Thompson Hall.
3) The large parking lots on top of College Heights Blvd. The path from there is down
Many of our guests prefer to be notified of our events. You can sign up below or at