The Springfield Museums presents Astronomy Day 2026, an annual event part of a nationwide, grass-roots movement to bring astronomy to the people, happening Saturday, April 25, from 10 am–5 pm. Attendees will enjoy hands-on astronomy activities for all ages, planetarium shows, and (weather permitting) sunspot viewing. Free with museum admission.
Astronomy Day is co-hosted by the Springfield STARS Club. Founded in 1934, its mission is to inform and motivate people of all ages and backgrounds in the mysteries and science of space at all levels, near and far.
Club members will be on hand throughout the day to engage with visitors and share their passion for modern astronomy. Jack Megas will present highlights from his meteorite collection, and Danielle Desmarais will demonstrate how stargazers can enhance their observations using affordable binoculars.
Visitors can also enjoy guided tours of the Springfield Science Museum’s observatory at 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm.
“I’m drawn to astronomy because it connects every branch of science—it’s a field where physics, chemistry, and even biology come together to help us understand the universe,” says Jenny Powers, Director of the Springfield Science Museum. “I hope visitors to Astronomy Day feel that same sense of wonder, whether they’re inspired by a planetarium show or by conversations with members of the Springfield STARS club. Our staff and club members are passionate about sharing their love of the night sky and sparking curiosity in others.”
Planetarium Schedule for ASTRONOMY DAY
All planetarium shows are free on Saturday, April 25. Tickets for each show are limited, and available first come, first served.
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure, 11:15am
Big Bird, Elmo and their friend from China, Hu HuZhu, take viewers on a journey of discovery! One World, One Sky is a brilliant spectacle of light and color as the furry friends watch the stars twinkle over Sesame Street.
Our Cosmic Neighborhood, 1 pm
Tour of planets and other worlds in our solar system.
Life Beyond Earth, 2 pm
Is there anywhere besides Earth where Life exists? We’ll visit possible spots in our solar system and then consider the possibilities further out in our galaxy in this immersive program.
Your Night Sky Live, 3 pm
One of our experienced astronomy staff will be your guide in this live presentation. Using our historic star projector and effects from our new Zeiss full-dome system, they will show you stars, constellations, and other sights in the night sky that you can find over the next few weeks.
Beginning in California in 1973, Astronomy Day was created by president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California Doug Berger to bring astronomy directly to the public. Instead of trying to entice people to travel far distances to participate in astronomy, they would set up their telescopes in urban, highly populated areas so that anyone passing by could enjoy the activities. Now celebrated both nationally and internationally, Astronomy Day is the perfect time for people of all ages to explore the stars with their community and connect with local astronomy enthusiasts.
Astronomy Day is sponsored by Greenfield Cooperative Bank. MassMutual is the season supporter of the Springfield Museums.