Edinboro Planetarium
Shoot for the Moon and you’ll land in the stars at the PennWest Edinboro Planetarium.
From stargazing and the movements of Starship Earth to journeys through our solar system and distant galaxies, the planetarium offers shows with something for everyone.
Events at the Planetarium
The PennWest Edinboro Planetarium offers an array of family-friendly educational programs that are out of this world.
These events take place in the evening and are open to all community members and students
free of charge; however, reservations are required.
Fall 2026 Upcoming shows
Already know which show you want to attend? Then make your reservation.
The Sky Above Edinburgh
Friday, Sept. 11, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
In honor of the Highland Games, local historian Shayne Clark will conduct a power point presentation paralleling astronomy and the constellations with the Scottish Enlightenment and how it has shaped our thought and worldview today.
After that, Roger Sargent will turn the lights off and stars on and take you on a stellar journey from Edinboro to Edinburgh.
It's Astronomy Day!
Saturday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m.
Here at the planetarium, Astronomy Day is our favorite day of the year. It's a world-wide event and is actually 2 days (there's one in the spring too.)
Come celebrate with us and stay the whole night until the sun rises. Well, it might not be the real whole night or the real sunrise but on the dome, with a little imagination, you will barely notice the difference.
Exploring the Moon and Beyond
Thursday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m.
In this engaging presentation, guest speaker Dr. David Horne of Gannon University bridges the historic achievements of the Apollo program with the modern ambitions of the Artemis Era.
Horne will showcase the high tech advancements from Apollo to Artemis and highlight
what researchers hope to discover in the future. He will also use scale models and
a spacesuit to bring space exploration to life.
A night sky show under the dome will follow.
The Great Andromeda Galaxy
Thursday, Nov. 5, 7 p.m.
The first half of this program will be a power point presentation explaining what
the Andromeda Galaxy is. The second half will be a show under the stars of the dark
planetarium dome where you will learn how to find the Andromeda Galaxy. You might be surprised to learn that under the real night sky you can see it just
by looking up....no telescope or binoculars needed. You will also learn how to locate
other amazing dark sky objects.
Winter Constellations and the Christmas Star
Thursday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m.
'Tis the season to sit inside a warm, cozy, friendly planetarium and learn about the stars and constellations of winter and speculate what the Christmas star might have been.
Before and after the show we will feature holiday music by local artist Hannah Yarrington.
For questions about reservations or group reservations, please contact edinboroplanetarium@pennwest.edu.
Retired Planetarium Director, Dr. David Hurd (1992-2025)
For over three decades, Dr. Hurd has dedicated his career to teaching astronomy at
PennWest Edinboro, sharing his passion with the wider community through public planetarium
shows, and inspiring countless students by welcoming hundreds of school groups. While
the planetarium won’t be the same without him, we’re proud to carry forward his legacy
by continuing to educate and inspire both the public and the next generation of stargazers.
Directions and Parking
The PennWest Edinboro Planetarium is located on the first floor of the Cooper Science Center, with entry through the Museum in Room 161. Cooper Science Center is located off Darrow Road.
Cooper Science Center
230 Scotland Road
Edinboro, PA 16444
Driving Directions | Campus Map
Parking is convenient and easy to find. Please follow the instructions for Event Parking.
Contact Us
Planetarium
161 Cooper Hall
230 Scotland Road
Edinboro, PA 16444
Phone: 814-732-2493
Roger Sargent
Planetarium Coordinator
Email: rsargent@pennwest.edu