PUBLIC Planetarium Shows
The WVU Planetarium is no longer having in-person shows due to COVID-19. We are doing virtual shows! Head over to our Showtimes tab to see our virtual show schedule. If you have any questions or concerns about us moving online please send them to planetarium@mail.wvu.edu.
Our Fall schedule will consist of Shows
Every Friday at 6:30PM
sHows will alternate Weekly between
"family Friendly" Content and "Intermediate to Advanced" Content
We suggest middle schoolers or above for our "intermediate to advanced" offerings. Our "family friendly" shows will be fun for all ages, however we hope to make the information attainable to elementary or younger aged children. We will try to advertise through our social media and in the descriptions which age range we are aiming to benefit the most for each of our shows. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions about any of our shows.
We have been working hard to determine the best way for us to offer our services during these odd times! We appreciate your patience and flexibility as the WVU Planetarium has and continues to trial different formats to get amazing astronomy knowledge to you all!
| Date | Show and Intended Audience | Time | Link to Register At |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, September 18th | Climate Change from a Planetary Perspective presented by WVU Planetarium staff members Evan and Jessica Join us as we journey though the Solar System to learn about our climate here on Earth. How did Venus become so hot and inhospitable? What about the cold and dusty Mars - could life have ever survived there? Afterwards, we'll share a short video, Dynamic Earth, which describes the complex ecosystems here on Earth! (middle school and up) |
6:30 PM | Click Here to Register |
| Friday, September 25th |
SPOT: Star of Our World presented by SPOT Ambassador Alexandra Bunn and WVU Planetarium direct and WVU SPOT Faculty Advisor Kathryn Williamson Join us as we learn about the relationship between the Sun and our planet beyond night and day. Discover why we have seasons, how the Sun affects weather on Earth and in space, and how the Sun emits light invisible to us like radio waves and UV waves. Also, learn about the research occurring in facilities across West Virginia to uncover more about the star that fuels our world! (middle school) |
6:30 PM | Click Here to Register |
| Friday, October 2nd | Special Fall Family Weekend Show led by WVU Planetarium staff Evan and Jessica As part of Fall Family Weekend, the WVU Planetarium is excited to tell you about the variety of astronomy research that our department is involved in! We’ll tell you about how black holes collide, the cores of dead stars, and mysterious bursts of energy coming from other galaxies. (middle school and up) |
7:30 PM PLEASE NOTE THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM OUR USUAL TIME |
Click Here to Register |
| Friday, October 9th |
SPOT: Climate Change in the Mountain State presented by SPOT Ambassador Journey through Earth’s atmosphere to understand how greenhouse gases keep Earth warm like a cozy blanket. How do greenhouse gases affect the temperature, water cycle, and weather? Is the Earth warmer than usual now? What is the evidence? Learn about the pros and cons of climate change in West Virginia. Practice talking about it and become empowered to take action. (elementary/middle school) |
6:30 PM | Click Here to Register |
| Friday, October 16th | Multi-Messenger Astrophysics presented by WVU graduate student Caitlin Witt | 6:30 PM | TBA |
| Friday, October 23rd | Advanced Research presentation led by WVU graduate student Joseph Kania |
6:30 PM | TBA |
| Friday, October 30th | Special Halloween Show led by WVU Planetarium staff Join us as we take a look into the night sky to find what spooky things might be lurking! We will journey to beautiful astronomical objects that may look a bit like some Halloween decorations we know and love! |
6:30 PM | Click Here to Register |
| Friday, November 6th | Advanced Research presentation led by WVU graduate student Kshitij Aggarwal | 6:30 PM | TBA |
| Friday, November 13th | Astronomy Yoga! | 6:30 PM | TBA |
| Friday, November 20th | Solar Wind presented by WVU postdoc Dustin Madison | 6:30 PM | TBA |
| Friday, November 27th | No Show! Wishing everyone a good Thanksgiving! | ||
| Friday, December 4th | Advanced Research presentation led by WVU graduate student Greg Walsh | 6:30 PM | TBA |
| Friday, December 11th | Special Holiday Show | 6:30 PM | TBA |