Drake Planetarium

🚀 Summer STEM Camps are almost here! 🤖🌌

Get ready for a summer full of robotics, engineering, coding, space science, hands-on experiments, LEGO® builds, and tons of creativity & fun! Spots are filling quickly, so now’s the time to register your future scientist, engineer, or astronaut! ☀️🔬

We can’t wait to learn and explore with everyone this summer! 💫

🌟 Countdown Begins: 28 Days to Out-of-This-World Fun! 🚀 Summer adventure launches June 8th at Drake Planetarium & Science Center, and our FIRST WEEK OF CAMPS is packed with hands-on STEM learning, creativity, robotics, engineering, and SPACE exploration!

As curriculum partners, we help districts bring NGSS-aligned, inquiry-based learning to life under the dome. At Drake Planetarium we use immersive visuals to model scale, motion, and phenomena so students build deep conceptual understanding -- think scaling the solar system on the dome or tracing orbital motion in real time. Inspired by Dr. Frank Drake’s legacy, our programs combine hands-on investigation with trusted science to support classroom goals for Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana schools. Ready to plan a standards-driven field trip for your students? Learn more and book a visit: www.drakeplanetarium.org 🔭✨

🚀 Summer adventure starts here!

Drake Planetarium’s Summer Camps kick off June 8th, 2026—featuring robotics, space camp, battle bots, dinosaurs, and so much more! 🌌🦖🤖

Packed with hands-on STEM fun, creativity, and unforgettable experiences your kids will love.

Spots fill fast—sign up today!
👉 www.drakeplanetarium.org/summercamp

Curious about the latest in space science education? At Drake Planetarium we bring inquiry-based learning, citizen science, and exoplanet discovery straight to your classroom with our portable domes and hands-on exhibits. Our programs build on decades of trusted science outreach and align with classroom standards to make STEM exciting and accessible for students and educators in Norwood, OH and across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Book a portable dome visit to turn curiosity into discovery — learn more and schedule at https://wix.to/nqlV5j8 🔭🌠📚

Today is the Winter Solstice — the shortest day and longest night of the year. From here on out, the days slowly grow longer!

✨ Happy Winter Solstice and happy holidays from all of us at Drake Planetarium 🌟

🌞 Calling all young scientists, coders, builders & explorers! 🌞

Registration for our EPIC Summer STEM Camp 2026 is OFFICIALLY OPEN! 🚀

Imagine your child:
✨ Building and launching their own rockets
✨ Programming real robots to battle & dance
✨ Exploring the cosmos in our state-of-the-art planetarium (learning about distant galaxies one moment, then “visiting” them under the dome the next!)
✨ Designing, engineering, and testing incredible creations that fly, roll, and solve real-world challenges
✨ Making lifelong friends while having the absolute time of their lives!

Grades K-8 • June & July Sessions • Limited Spots Available!
Early Bird Discount ends soon 🎉

👉 Secure your child’s spot before we sell out:
www.drakeplanetarium.org/summercamp

Don’t let them miss the most exciting summer ever!

Tonight, August 20, 2025, offers a spectacular opportunity to observe a "planetary parade" featuring six planets—Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—along with a waning crescent moon in the pre-dawn sky. Here’s what’s happening and how you can catch this celestial show:

What’s Up in the Sky Tonight?

Planetary Alignment: Six planets will be visible before sunrise, forming an arc across the sky. Four of these—Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, and Saturn—are bright enough to be seen with the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune require binoculars or a telescope due to their faintness.

Waning Crescent Moon: A delicate 9% illuminated crescent moon will join the scene, forming a striking triangle with Venus and Jupiter in the east, adding a poetic touch to the display.

Best Viewing Time: Look about 45 minutes to an hour before sunrise (around 4:00–6:00 AM local time, depending on your location). Face east for Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury, and south for Saturn. Uranus and Neptune will be higher up, between Jupiter and Saturn, but trickier to spot

One Week Left for STEM Camp Fun! -

One Week Left for STEM Camp Fun! Buckle up for the FINAL WEEK of STEM Camp, July 21-25, where epic discoveries and non-stop fun collide! With AM (9am-Noon), PM (1pm-4pm), or All-Day (9am-4pm) options (lunch included for full-day campers), your kid will dive into a world of science, art, and adventure. Check out these electrifying c...

Get ready for a week of adventure and learning at Drake Planetarium's Summer Camps, happening June 16th - 20th! We still have a few spots left for our engaging full-day (9am-4pm), half-day AM (9am-noon), and half-day PM (1pm-4pm) programs. Don’t miss out on this opportunity for your child to explore, create, and discover! www.drakeplanetarium.org

For Entering K-1st Grade:

AM: All About Animals – Dive into the animal kingdom with wildlife stories, crafts, and games that spark a love for nature!

PM: Lil’ Artists – Unleash creativity with painting, drawing, and sculpture in a vibrant, hands-on art adventure!

For Entering 2nd-3rd Grade:

AM: Rockin' Rockets – Blast off with rocket-building challenges and take-home models while exploring the world of rocketry!

PM: Robotics WeDo II – Build and program LEGO WeDo 2.0 creations, fostering STEM skills through interactive robotics fun!

For Entering 4th-8th Grade:

AM: Robotics – Design and code autonomous robots using cutting-edge kits, igniting a passion for technology and innovation!

PM: TinkerTech – Invent gadgets and explore creativity through hands-on projects that turn ideas into reality!