VBAS

All planetarium shows begin at 7:30pm.

Admission opens at 7:00pm; $5/adult, $3/student, 6 and under free.

Telescope viewing afterwards on clear nights.

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August 3rd – Exploring the Milky Way

On a clear night in August, away from the city lights, a hazy band stretches across the sky. In this presentation, we’ll explore the Milky Way with our eyes, binoculars and a small telescope and discover what we know about our home galaxy.

Presented by Alex Hall

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August 10th – The Moon

A presentation about our natural satellite, the Moon, and how it is unusually large for a small planet like Earth, and how its origin may have been much different from the ~300 other known moons in our solar system. There will also be a discussion of all the various interesting features on the Moon, including impact craters, lava flows, mountains, and volcanic domes, that are even visible even in a small telescope.

Presented by Frank Schenck

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August 17th – Scale of the Universe

What is the biggest object you have ever seen? Is it a building, a geologic structure? Or maybe you have looked into the night sky and marveled at how big it is! Join VBAS as we consider the true scale of the universe with some mind-bending questions such as: “how big is time”?

Presented by Don Reed

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August 24th – Scale of the Universe

What is the biggest object you have ever seen? Is it a building, a geologic structure? Or maybe you have looked into the night sky and marveled at how big it is! Join VBAS as we consider the true scale of the universe with some mind-bending questions such as: “how big is time”?

Presented by Don Reed

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August 31st – The Planets

To our ancestors, they were the wandering stars that moved mysteriously among the fixed stars. Today our space probes send back close ups of these distant worlds. Come and learn how our quest to discover what these wanderers actually are helped reveal the truth about our place in space.

Presented by Alex Hall

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All planetarium shows begin at 7:30pm.

Admission opens at 7:00pm; $5/adult, $3/student, 6 and under free.

Telescope viewing afterwards on clear nights.

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July 6 – Summer Skies

Traveling across the summer sky can be just as much fun as a summer trip! Join retired educator Beth Bero in this family-friendly adventure in the night sky. We will explore summer constellations, legends, motions of the night sky and current sky events.

Presented by Beth Bero

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July 13 – Webb Space Telescope: The Journey So Far

Launched in December 2021, James Webb Space Telescope has revealed many unprecedented details of the universe during its initial two years of operation. Webb’s first images were released on July 12, 2022. Join us in a journey through space and time as we celebrate the anniversary of the first images. We will look at some of the recent images taken by JWST and learn what new things these images teach us about the cosmos.

Presented by Naveen Vetcha

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July 20 – Why is Lunar Science ‘Going South’?

Why does everyone want to go to the moon’s south pole? What’s wrong with the moon’s equator or mid latitudes? Is it cold at the lunar pole? Will there be polar bears? Lunarians? Will they bring penguins for company? Isn’t it more difficult to get to the lunar pole than equator? And what’s wrong with the moon’s north pole? Are the people making these decisions lunatics? Why do scientists ask so many questions?
Don’t you want to come to the show and find out?

Presented by Eric Silkowski

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July 27 – Summer Skies

What are we watching in the night sky this summer? I’m sure you have seen the Big Dipper and Orion, but have you successfully identified any other star patterns? We can help. We’ll be in the planetarium at 7:30 with a cool star projector and a dome shaped ceiling ready to point out summer constellations, tell stories, and just generally have fun looking at tiny points of light. Doors open at 7:00.

Presented by Gena Crook

All planetarium shows begin at 7:30pm.

Admission opens at 7:00pm; $5/adult, $3/student, 6 and under free.

Telescope viewing afterwards on clear nights.

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June 1 – Planetarium Centennial

The concept of a planetarium was started exactly one hundred years ago! We will explore a short history of planetariums through history and make predictions about the planetarium of the future.

Presented by Tom Burleson

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June 8 and June 22 – Life in the Universe

One of the questions which humans have been asking for centuries is, “Are we alone in the universe?” This Saturday we will explore the types of life we might expect to find on other bodies in our solar system. During our presentation you might also learn some surprising facts about creatures here on Earth that are new to you! I hope you will join us.

Presented by Gena Crook

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June 15 – Why is Lunar Science ‘Going South’?

Why does everyone want to go to the moon’s south pole?
What’s wrong with the moon’s equator or mid latitudes?
Is it cold at the lunar pole?
Will there be polar bears? Lunarians?
Will they bring penguins for company?
Isn’t it more difficult to get to the lunar pole than equator?
And what’s wrong with the moon’s north pole?
Are the people making these decisions lunatics?
Why do scientists ask so many questions?
Don’t you want to come to the show and find out?

Presented by Erik Silkowski

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June 29 – Huntsville’s Place in Space

As we prepare to go back to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, the importance that Huntsville

played both back then and right now is something to remember. Join VBAS President Michael Buford for a
look through the history of Huntsville’s amazing contributions in aviation, its massive importance during the
Space Race, and Huntsville’s place in space now and in the future!

Presented by Michael Buford

All planetarium shows begin at 7:30pm.

Admission opens at 7:00pm; $5/adult, $3/student, 6 and under free.

Telescope viewing afterwards on clear nights.

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May 4 – In a Galaxy Far, Far Away

On Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you!), let’s explore some of the real destinations in our universe that resemble key locations in the Star Wars films. Light Sabers allowed, attendance in costume
encouraged!

Presented by Alex Hall

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May 11 – Planetarium Centennial

The concept of a planetarium was started exactly one hundred years ago! We will explore a short history of planetariums through history and make predictions about the planetarium of the future.

Presented by Tom Burleson

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May 18 – The Real Death Star: Neutron Stars… with a helping of Nuclear Pasta

George Lucas gave us the fictional Death Star, but did you know the universe is full of real death stars? Neutron Stars, remnants of supernovas, are the real thing. They can produce beams of energy sweeping through space that can sterilize an entire planet. When first discovered as pulsars they were even thought to be aliens! Join us as we explore these extreme stars where ordinary matter is crushed into a very unappetizing dish called “Nuclear Pasta.”

Presented by Eric Silkowski

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May 25 – Hubble and the Space Telescope

One hundred years ago this year, Edwin Hubble discovered distant galaxies outside our Milky Way.

Thirty-four years ago, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched to begin a spectacular job informing us about the cosmos, including distant galaxies.

Presented by Beth Bero

All planetarium shows begin at 7:30pm.

Admission opens at 7:00pm; $5/adult, $3/student, 6 and under free.

Telescope viewing afterwards on clear nights.

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April 6 – The 2024 American Eclipse

On April 8 the US will be treated to the awesome spectacle of a total solar eclipse. Come learn how and where to safely experience this special solar event.

Presented by Michael Buford

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April 13 – The Magic Carpet

We can use the star projector in the planetarium to pretend to fly anywhere on Earth – like a magic carpet! Gena Crook will demonstrate the motion of the stars across the sky at the equator, the north pole, and the southern hemisphere. We will also watch how the sun changes positions at these locations. You may be surprised if you haven’t actually been to the equator or the north pole in person! This program will put the star projector to work and allow us to see its unique educational capabilities.

Presented by Gena Crook

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April 20 – Edwin Hubble: 100 years since resolving the Great Galaxy Debate

In 1924 Edwin Hubble published an astonishing report—by finding a Cephid Variable star in the Andromeda Nebula, he found that it was an ‘Island Universe’ like our own Milky Way—the first proof that our galaxy was not alone in the Universe ! Come learn about that event and more to commemorate this centennial.

Presented by Beth Bero

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April 27 – Hubble Space Telescope

Now that we know who Edwin Hubble was, we will turn our attention to the amazing space telescope that bears his name. Like its namesake, for over 30 years the Hubble Space Telescope has helped reshape our understanding of the universe.

Presented by Beth Bero