Visitor Center Experiences

To enhance your self-guided experience, our staff and volunteers will occasionally conduct special “pop-up” programs and activities for guests of all ages to explore science topics and NASA missions. All experiences are free of charge. 

Gallery Programs

Look for an informal educator and our curiosity cart in the main exhibit hall to complete a challenge or engage in fun, hands-on science demonstrations.

Science On a Sphere Solar System Tour

Take a self-guided tour of our local solar system and explore past, present, and future NASA planetary missions.

Special Events and Programs

Join us in one of our upcoming events or programs to explore a special STEM topic. All programs are free; those requiring advanced registration will be noted in the event description.

February

AstrOlympics

February 14, 21, & 28 – 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

What do Olympic athletes and objects in space have in common? The answer is matter in motion, often in extreme examples. Whether it is a human body moving at the fastest speeds possible or the debris from a star going Supernova blasting through space, the physics of that motion is, in many ways, the same.

The AstrOlympics project explores the spectacular range of science that we can find both in the impressive feats of the Olympic Games as well as cosmic phenomena throughout the Universe. By measuring the range of values for such things as speed, mass, time, pressure, rotation, distance, and more, we can learn not only about the world around us, but also about the Universe we all live in.

The Olympics are an opportunity to behold the limits of human abilities in athletics. After all, the Olympic motto is Latin for “faster, higher, stronger.” The AstrOlympics enables us to appreciate the feats of the Olympic athletes and then venture far beyond into the outer reaches of space. 

Join us at the Visitor Center Feb. 14, Feb. 21, and Feb. 28 from 10 a.m. to noon to explore how these amazing feats of athletics and astronomy continue to bring home the gold!

March

Exoplanet Explorers

March 14 – 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Step into the role of a real space investigator with Exoplanet Explorers, an adventure designed for curious minds ready to explore worlds beyond our own. Participants will dive into the science behind how astronomers discover planets around distant stars, analyze strange and extreme alien environments, and imagine what life might look like on worlds with boiling oceans, double sunsets, or skies full of storms. Explorers will uncover the secrets of planets light‑years away and learn how today’s discoveries shape the future of space exploration. It’s the perfect mix of science, imagination, and cosmic mystery.

April

Artemis’ Legacy (Homeschool event)

April 14 – 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Homeschool groups are invited to register for Artemis’ Legacy: The Next Giant Leap, a special on-site event specifically for homeschool-aged students. 

Hunt for ice, navigate craters, and master space survival in this epic homeschool adventure.

Pack your gear and prep the lander—we’re heading to the most mysterious territory on the lunar surface. In this session, students won’t just learn about the Moon; they’ll join a simulated mission to the Lunar South Pole, a region of jagged peaks and craters that haven’t seen sunlight in billions of years.

Replicate the Artemis mission with these hands-on stations:

• The Hunt for “Blue Gold”: Investigate why NASA is racing to find water ice hidden in the shadows of the Moon’s impact craters.
• Rover Navigation: Map out and traverse through treacherous, boulder-strewn terrain using real topographic data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).
• Survive the Moon Escape Room: Our mission is a go, but major challenges lie ahead. In our Moon Adventure Game, traverse the dangerous lunar surface studying seismic data to learn where moonquakes are originating, mine the ice that you discover along the way to provide valuable energy to your base, and restore power to save the mission!

This is a free event, but registration is required to participate. Click here to reserve your spot today!