“When the Universe Was Young”
Thu 3 Oct - Tue 26 Nov
Explore why we believe we finally understand what the universe was like when it was young, and learn three tools we use to come to that conclusion. This will include updates from the Webb telescope.
Closed Thursday 28 November
Subjects: early universe; look-back time; spatial dimensions; electromagnetic spectrum; redshift
- Free shows Tuesday & Thursday at 7:00 PM, and Sundays at 2:00 PM
- No tickets, no prior reservations
- Please arrive at least 15 minutes in advance.
AVAILABLE SPECIAL EVENTS
Observatory Nights - @ Hardin Planetarium
On select Tuesday nights of each month at 8:00 PM central, guests may join us to explore the night sky in the observatory next door free of charge. This will follow immediately after the Tuesday night planetarium show, and will depend on weather. Alternative dates are offered in case of cloud cover.
- Tuesday 8 October (Rain date 10/10)
- Tuesday 12 November (Rain date 11/14)
- Tuesday 3 December (Rain date 12/5)
We regularly host school groups and any other group interested in a show. You can
request such an event via the menu at the top of the page.
WKU's Hardin Planetarium has full dome of 40 feet, with a 360° surround view by way
of a Digitalis Epsilon digital projector. All of this is done in a classic 1967 architectural
icon of the WKU campus. We custom design most of our own shows for public education,
and all either are or include live interactive performances.
Affiliations
WKU Hardin Planetarium
1501 State Street
Bowling Green, KY 42101
hardin.planetarium@wku.edu
270-745-4044
Public Parking:
1) Along State Street
2) Two spots in the lot between Ogden College Hall and Kelly Thompson Hall
3) College Hill Lot, up College Heights Blvd. on the right
4) Chestnut Street North Lot, at the corner of Chestnut and 14th Ave, two blocks from the Planetarium
Bus Unloading:
» Download the bus unloading map (PDF)
Wheelchair Accessibility: A ramp from State St. provides access to the building's main floor. The below lots
are only available on weekends or after 4:30 PM.
1) Two spots in a tiny lot behind the building, at the end of a driveway from State St. That lot is lower than the building, so it is an uphill climb.
2) Three spots in the lot between Ogden College Hall and Kelly Thompson Hall.
3) The large parking lots on top of College Heights Blvd. The path from there is down hill.
Mailing List:
Many of our guests prefer to be notified of our events. You can sign up below or at the planetarium.
Some of the links on this page may require additional software to view.