October 10 8-9 PM | From Earth to the Universe

Nielsen Physics Building Room 108

The night sky, both beautiful and mysterious, has been the subject of campfire stories, ancient myths, and awe for as long as there have been people. A desire to comprehend the Universe may well be humanity’s oldest shared intellectual experience. Yet only recently have we truly begun to grasp our place in the vast cosmos. To learn about this journey of celestial discovery, from the theories of the ancient Greek astronomers to today’s grandest telescopes, we invite you to experience From Earth to the Universe. The screening is free for all ages, but with limited seating in our planetarium, we kindly ask that you register in advance.

September 12, 8-9 PM | Firefall Replay!

Nielsen Physics Building Room 108

Throughout Earth’s violent history, impacts from comets and asteroids have mercilessly shaped its surface. The ancient barrage continues today, from harmless meteors (those brilliant streaks in the night sky) to mountain-sized boulders wandering perilously close to our home planet. This ceaseless Firefall is our only tangible connection to the universe beyond and is an ever-present reminder of our own humble beginnings in the hostile environment of space. The screening is free for all ages (under 18 with parent or legal guardian), but due to limited seating kindly register in advance.

August 8, 8-9 PM | Firefall

Nielsen Physics Building Room 108

Throughout Earth’s violent history, impacts from comets and asteroids have mercilessly shaped its surface. The ancient barrage continues today, from harmless meteors (those brilliant streaks in the night sky) to mountain-sized boulders wandering perilously close to our home planet. This ceaseless Firefall is our only tangible connection to the universe beyond and is an ever-present reminder of our own humble beginnings in the hostile environment of space. The screening is free for all ages (under 18 with parent or legal guardian), but due to limited seating kindly register in advance.

July 18, 8-9 PM | Messengers of Time and Space

Nielsen Physics Building Room 108

Messengers of Time and Space illuminates the imminent revolution in astronomy driven by time-domain and multi-messenger observations. This free, immersive experience invites audiences to explore the dynamic cosmos and witness the transformative impact of real-time data on our understanding of the Universe. The event is free for all ages (under 18 with parent or legal guardian), but due to limited seating we’d appreciate it if you’d please sign up beforehand.

May 9, 8-9 PM | The Incredible Sun

Nielsen Physics Building Room 108

Every second, the Sun emits a million times more energy than the world consumes every year. Where does such a huge amount of power come from? Discover our star through the breathtaking time lapses. Thanks to the real images taken by the Solar Dynamics Observatory and processed by advanced mathematical methods, you will experience the true nature of the Sun and find out that it is far from being as calm as it seems at first glance. The event is free for all ages, but due to limited seating we’d appreciate it if you’d please sign up beforehand.

April 11, 8-9 PM | Phantom of the Universe: the Hunt for Dark Matter

Nielsen Physics Building Room 108

Phantom of the Universe is an exciting exploration of dark matter, from the Big Bang to its anticipated discovery at the Large Hadron Collider. The show will reveal the first hints of its existence through the eyes of Fritz Zwicky, the scientist who coined the term “dark matter.” The event is free for all ages but seating is limited, so please sign up beforehand.