East Kentucky Science Center and Varia Planetarium

09/01/2026

September at the EKSC!

Come visit us Thursday–Saturday afternoons to experience our dual digital and optical-mechanical planetarium system, toe-tapping laser light shows, and immersive exhibit hall!

In the Varia Planetarium:
2:00 Thurs–Sat

Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity
Journey into one of the universe’s greatest mysteries! Explore the formation of the early universe, the birth and death of stars, the collision of galaxies, and the incredible forces of gravity surrounding black holes. Experience a simulated journey toward the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way Galaxy through stunning, immersive scientific visualizations.

Sunstruck
Explore our magnificent Sun and discover the star at the center of our solar system! Travel through the story of the Sun’s birth, learn how its energy has supported life on Earth, and discover how solar activity affects our world. Journey into the distant future to learn about the eventual fate of our star.

From Earth to the Universe
Journey through space and time to discover humanity’s quest to understand the cosmos! Travel from the ancient theories of Greek astronomers to today’s most powerful telescopes as you explore our Solar System, the birthplaces and burial grounds of stars, the Milky Way, and the immense universe of distant galaxies.

3:00 Thurs–Sat

Laser Country
Put on your boots and enjoy a country music celebration under the lasers! Sing along to country favorites like “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash, “Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band, and “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels, all paired with dazzling laser effects for a toe-tapping experience under the dome.

Laser Magic
Get ready for an eclectic musical journey under the lasers! Enjoy favorites ranging from Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” to Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll” and “Tubthumping,” paired with colorful laser effects for an unforgettable full-dome experience.

Laser Vinyl
Turn up the volume for a classic rock celebration under the lasers! Rock out to legendary hits including AC/DC’s “Back in Black,” Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and Van Halen’s “Jump,” paired with spectacular laser artwork for an immersive dome experience.

General Information:
• EKSC is open to the public Thursday–Saturday afternoons.
• Thursday and Friday we are open 1:00–4:00 p.m. (planetarium show at 2:00 p.m., laser show at 3:00 p.m.).
• Saturday we are open 12:00–4:00 p.m. (live planetarium show at 1:00 p.m., full-dome show at 2:00 p.m., laser show at 3:00 p.m.).
• Tuesdays and Wednesdays all day, and Thursday–Friday mornings, are available for private bookings and school groups. Contact us for more details!
• Birthday parties can be scheduled on Saturdays from 12:00–4:00 p.m., pending availability. Contact us for more information!

Sky Stuff:

🌙 LUNAR PHASES
• New Moon (Sept 10 at 10:27 PM CDT): Dark skies around the new moon provide excellent conditions for stargazing. (Source: EarthSky)
• Full Moon (Sept 26): The Full Harvest Moon arrives in September, near the autumnal equinox. (Sources: EarthSky, Sky & Telescope)

🌙✨ MOON & VENUS
On Monday, September 14, look toward the western sky shortly after sunset for a thin waxing crescent Moon near brilliant Venus! The pair will appear close together low in the western sky, making for a beautiful evening skywatching opportunity. (Sources: EarthSky, Space.com)

🔭 FALL ASTRONOMY WEEK & ASTRONOMY DAY
September 14–20 is Fall Astronomy Week, with Fall Astronomy Day celebrated on Saturday, September 19! Join us in celebrating the wonders of astronomy with our regular Saturday programming, including our 1:00 p.m. Star Talk and plenty of opportunities to explore the universe in the Varia Planetarium. Keep looking up! 🌌

🍂 AUTUMNAL EQUINOX
Fall officially arrives in the Northern Hemisphere on Tuesday, September 22! The autumnal equinox marks the moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving southward. On the equinox, the Sun rises due east and sets due west, marking the astronomical beginning of autumn. (Sources: EarthSky, Space.com, Sky & Telescope)

Look up this September and see what the night sky has in store!

Visit us at the Varia Planetarium to learn how to find these fall sky treasures!

08/30/2026

We love seeing young scientists get curious, ask questions, and discover something new! Thank you to Troop #2411 for spending the day with us! 💙✨

08/28/2026

08/28/2026

The partial lunar eclipse is happening now!

It’s a bit of an overcast night, but there are enough cloud breaks to get some decent pics! (Even from my porch with my camera phone)

What kind of photos have you taken?

Share them with us here!

08/24/2026

QUEEN LASER NIGHT IS TOMORROW! 🎸👑

Get ready to rock under the stars with an unforgettable night of Queen at the East Kentucky Science Center & Varia Planetarium!

📅 Tuesday, August 25th, 2026
🚪 Doors open: 6:00 PM
🌟 Show starts: 6:30 PM
🎟️ Admission: $5 per person

Grab your friends, bring your love of Queen, and experience their legendary music accompanied by a mesmerizing laser show!

We can't wait to see you tomorrow night!

08/06/2026

The EKSC will be closed tomorrow, August 7, 2026 for college meetings. We apologize for the inconvenience!

We will reopen for regular business hours and programming on Saturday, August 8, 2026!

08/06/2026

🔌 Update: The charging stations outside the Science Center are now back in service and available for use.

Thank you for your patience during the temporary closure. We appreciate your understanding and are happy to have the charging stations up and running again!

08/04/2026

Well, that's cool...

An unusual space event is happening on the moon eeearrrlyyyy (2:34 a.m. EDT) tomorrow morning (August 5th)!

An unexpected event is about to provide scientists with a rare opportunity to study the Moon in real time. A spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage, which completed its mission years ago, is expected to impact the lunar surface early tomorrow morning. Because astronomers know the rocket stage's size, speed, and trajectory with remarkable precision, they can use this unplanned event to better understand how impacts create craters and ejecta on the Moon. NASA, along with professional and amateur astronomers around the world, will be watching closely in hopes of learning more about our nearest celestial neighbor. https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/commercial-space/nasa-will-attempt-to-observe-rocket-parts-lunar-impact/

A spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage is expected to impact the Moon.
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2026

🕝 Time (Eastern): Approximately 2:34 a.m. EDT (give or take a few seconds).

🌕 The impact will occur near the Einstein Crater on the Moon's western limb (edge as seen from Earth).

💥 The rocket stage will strike the Moon at about 2.43 km/s (5,400 mph).

👀 The actual impact flash is unlikely to be visible, but astronomers are hopeful the ejecta plume (dust and rocks blasted above the lunar surface) may be visible through telescopes.

🔭 Both professional and amateur astronomers around the world are planning to observe the event.

🧪 The event provides a rare opportunity for scientists to study how impacts create craters and eject lunar material, helping improve our understanding of the Moon and future lunar missions.

🌎 There is no danger to Earth from this impact.

💭 This wasn't a planned experiment. The rocket stage completed its mission years ago and eventually wandered into a collision course with the Moon.

Whether or not the plume is visible, it's not every day we know exactly when a human-made object is going to crash into the Moon! 🌕✨

Using ground-based telescopes and space-based assets, NASA and SpaceX are tracking a used Falcon 9 upper stage from a commercial mission expected to impact

08/04/2026

🚧 Update: The charging stations outside the Science Center remain temporarily closed.

The earliest anticipated reopening date is Wednesday, August 5. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.