Plan Your Visit

📅 Tuesday, June 09^th | ⏰ 9:15 - 9:30 p.m. | Free Admission

This special observing session features the best evening apparition of Mercury this year. Through our powerful 24” telescope, you’ll see Mercury shining at 49% illumination—revealing its half-lit phase in remarkable detail.

The sights don't stop there. Venus, glowing at 77% illumination, will appear in a beautiful conjunction with Jupiter, creating a striking planetary pairing in the evening sky. Seeing two of the brightest planets so close together is breathtaking.

Weather permitting. Clear skies are required for viewing.

📅 Wednesday, June 10^th | ⏰ 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. | Free Admission

Experience the power of the cosmos—right in the daytime sky!

Safely observe the Sun through specially filtered telescopes and witness real sunspots along with the dynamic details of the solar atmosphere. 

Then look through our 24" telescope to:

• Gibbous (76% illuminated) Venus
• Jupiter
• Nearly half (48%) Mercury
• Crescent (25%) moon (before 2:45 PM)
• and bright visible stars

Weather permitting. Clear skies are required for viewing.

📅 Saturday, June 13^th | ⏰ 9:45 - 11:45 p.m.
📍 Centennial Observatory
Join us under the stars for our Monthly Free Star Party at the Centennial Observatory!
You can view:

• Jupiter (before 9:57 PM)
• Gibbous (75% illuminated) Venus (before 10:20 PM)
• Double/multiple stars
• Deep-sky targets (star clusters, nebulae, galaxies)
• Moonless sky

1st & 3rd Tuesdays | 6 PM – 7 PM | FREE

Get up close and personal with some of the coolest cold-blooded residents of the Herrett Center! Reptile Revue happens twice a month and gives you the chance to meet our fascinating reptiles, learn fun facts, and even interact with them in a safe and educational setting.

Upcoming Reptile Revue Events:

June 16^th

July 7^th and July 21^st

The Herrett Center will be closed on Friday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. We will resume normal operating hours on Saturday, June 20.

Thank you for your understanding, and we hope you have a safe and meaningful holiday.

📅 Saturday, June 27^th | ⏰ 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Free Admission

Celebrate space science and planetary defense at our International Asteroid Day Festival!

This special event commemorates the 118th anniversary of the 1908 Tunguska impact in remote Siberia.. Join us as we explore the fascinating world of asteroids and their role in shaping our solar system.

Enjoy hands-on make-and-take activities, asteroid-themed puzzles and games, and an up-close look at detailed 3D scale models that reveal the surprising diversity of these rocky worlds. It’s a fun and educational experience for all ages—perfect for curious minds, families, and space enthusiasts alike.

Come celebrate all things asteroid with us!