$15.99 ages 10 and under
Have you ever looked up at a clear night sky, marveled at all the stars, and then wondered which ones you were seeing? Would you like to view the rings of Saturn or the moons of Jupiter? Are you intrigued by the idea of seeing a galaxy or nebula? If you answered yes to any—or all—of these questions, then Stargazer’s Nights are for you. These programs are led by creation astronomer Dr. Danny Faulkner.
This event is designed for older children and adults. Tickets are $19.99 per person, but budding astronomers ages 6–10 can attend for only $15.99. Please note that ticket prices do not include tax, and tickets are refundable up to three days prior to the event. Due to the rigorous content and complexity of activities, program attendees must be at least 6 years old.
Come join us for an evening of astronomy, fellowship, and worship on a journey through the universe. The program will begin in the Planetarium with an astronomy-themed devotional.
After a few instructions on how to get the most out of your viewing experience, you’ll head out to the Observatory, where several telescopes will be set up. Depending on the time of the year, you’ll be treated to a variety of heavenly views. There will be binary stars, nebulae, globular clusters, galaxies, and planets. You may even be treated to an iridium flare as a satellite passes by or a view of the space station as it races overhead. It’s amazing to actually see the colors of stars; one favorite is a binary pair of stars, one yellow and one blue.
You can find answers to common questions on the Stargazer’s Night FAQ page.
For more information about this program, or if you have any questions, please email the programs team.
Exclusive workshops can be booked for groups (subject to availability). Please email our Programs Team for more information.
Program dates are selected based on several factors to provide for the best possible viewing of interesting night sky phenomena including planets, globular clusters, binary stars, galaxies, and nebulae. Exclusive programs can be scheduled at any time, but please be aware that some astronomical marvels may not be easily visible based on the date of the program and the phase of the moon.
Dr. Danny R. Faulkner: Dr. Danny R. Faulkner earned graduate degrees in physics and astronomy and is distinguished professor emeritus at the University of South Carolina Lancaster, where he taught over 26 years.