Visit Haile Planetarium

Located in the Natural Science Center 409 at Northern Kentucky University. Parking is directed to the Kenton Garage or Welcome Center Garage. There will be a fee for parking. Visit https://map.nku.edu/ for campus maps and driving directions.

Please select the program(s) which you would like to attend, the number of seats you will need, and then enter your contact information.

Free Fridays: For the Fall 2024 season, we will offer shows at 7:00 p.m. each Friday. These programs are free and family friendly. Reservations can be made below. There will be room for a few walk-ins.

Special Events & Laser Shows: Other programs and special events are generally geared toward mixed audiences, unless otherwise noted. For programs with ticket fees, you will be asked to enter credit card information on the final page of registration. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. These special events require reservations. Laser shows are only offered periodically. If no dates are listed below, none are currently scheduled.

RSVPs will open on a continuous schedule. If you don't see the date you wish to attend, come back two weeks prior to that date.

Please add connect@nku.edu and mail@eventsairmail.com to your safe email senders list, as those are the addresses that will be sending confirmations and reminders about these events.

There are NO PHYSICAL TICKETS to the Haile Planetarium. Your name and your selections will be on a RSVP list when you arrive. Please check in with staff upon arrival.  The Haile Planetarium is general admission and there are no reserved seats.  We do offer handicap accessible seating upon request. The planetarium is wheelchair friendly. 

If you would like to more details, visit https://inside.nku.edu/artsci/departments/pget/planetarium/calendar.html.

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July 11, 2025: 100 Years of Eternity

Friday, July 11 at 7 p.m.

Join us for "100 Years of Eternity," a show about humanity's preoccupation with space and the history of the planetarium.
Hardly anything has shaped the history of civilization as much as man’s confrontation with the heavens. Megalithic stone circles bear witness to this, as do the astronomical origins of science in ancient Greece or the technical principles of modern high-seas navigation. Even prehistoric sites tell of the important role the heavens have always played for people, whether in their practical everyday lives or as a repository for mythological imaginings spanning the generations.
The planetarium is the latest representation in a long series of sites and inventions reaching far back into human history that served our preoccupation with the starry heavens and the cosmos surrounding us. On the occasion of the centennial of the invention of the projection planetarium, we embark on a journey which begins with the early cultures of mankind and leads along an ever-changing view of the heavens to the modern star theater.

July 18, 2025: Treasure of the Milky Way

Friday, July 18 at 7 p.m.

Come watch a new show with us! This show teaches kids and adults both how to use a star chart and find your way around the summer sky.

Join the crew of the Sky Raider under the command of Beardless Red to hunt for the glittering treasures buried among the stars of the Milky Way. This summer show provides information on how to read a simple monthly star map, how to find faint objects by "star hopping" from bright stars, and a history of the Messier Catalog.

Beardless Red welcomes the audience on beard the Sky Raider, then explains that the search begins after sunset. In his cabin, Beardless Red shows some of the resources that will help in the search. Under the night sky, the process of orientation using the Big Dipper and North Star is demonstrated. Use of a monthly star chart is demonstrated. It ends with finding bright stars that trace the path of the Milky Way across the summer sky. The use of more detailed star maps and the technique of star hopping is demonstrated. As objects are located, a brief description of what they are and their astronomical significance is presented.

Beardless Red offers a short history of how the Messier catalog came to be, then continues with the star hop.

July 25, 2025: Big Astronomy

Friday, July 25 at 7 p.m.

A great deal of astronomy is done in the nation of Chile, due to its special climate and location, which creates stable, dry air. With its high, dry, and dark sites, Chile is one of the best places in the world for observational astronomy. The show takes you to three of the many telescopes along Chile’s mountains.

Can you help us reach for the stars? 

Give to the Haile Planetarium: https://supportnku.nku.edu/Planetarium  

Summary

Terms and Conditions
If you need to cancel your reservation, please email connect@nku.edu. There are NO REFUNDS for canceled reservations.

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Thank you for making reservations at the Haile Digital Planetarium. You will receive an email receipt of your reservations. If you have any questions or need to make changes to your reservations, please call Melanie Hartzel at 859.572.1432 or email hartzelm@nku.edu.


Thank you for your reservation to the Haile Planetarium at Northern Kentucky University. Please add mail@eventsairmail.com to your safe email senders list, as those are the addresses that will be sending confirmations and reminders about these events.

There are NO PHYSICAL TICKETS to the Haile Planetarium. Your name and your selections will be on a RSVP list when you arrive. Please check in with staff upon arrival.  The Haile Planetarium is general admission and there are no reserved seats.  We do offer handicap accessible seating upon request. The planetarium is wheelchair friendly. 

The Haile Planetarium is located in the Natural Science Center 409, off of Kenton Drive. Parking is directed to the Kenton Garage. Visit https://map.nku.edu/ for campus maps and driving directions. There will be a fee for parking. 
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