Join us for an out-of-this-world day at the Museums! Enjoy astronomy activities and demonstrations on the Museums Grounds and in the Science Museum. Explore our new Space Station Gallery, take a virtual tour of the universe, build constellations and solar system models, and much more. Free with museum admission!
Be among the first to experience all-new shows in the Seymour Planetarium.
Seymour Planetarium Sit back and experience the wonders of the night sky with expert astronomers and educators. Be prepared to open your eyes to a whole new world—or worlds! Our new full-dome video system using Zeiss Velvet projectors covers the dome with images and video, creating immersive experiences in Astronomy and Earth Science. These projectors are the only projectors in the world that have a pure black background, enhancing the beauty of our historic Korkosz projector’s optical star field.
Tour the Universe with STEM Curator Kevin Kopchynski, 1 pm
Using OpenSpace, Kevin will fly us through the known universe and preview astronomical events coming up during the second half of 2023 and make stops along some of his favorite points in our solar system. Seymour Planetarium
Sunspot Viewing, 11 am-3 pm
Look through telescope carefully prepared with filters to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. See the surface of the sun and prominences with the museum’s new solar scope, and see sunspots on the surface with traditional telescopes. Quadrangle Green, weather permitting
Astronomy Day is a national event that was started in 1973 by Doug Berger, the president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California. His intent was to set up various telescopes in busy urban locations so that passersby could enjoy views of the heavens. Over the years, Astronomy Day has grown into an international event, with hundreds of museums, planetariums, and astronomy clubs participating. The Springfield Museums have been celebrating for many years, introducing thousands of people to the stars.
