Date: Friday, March 27
Time: 5:00PM-6:00PM
Audience: Families & All Ages
Location: FSU Planetarium
Do Earth-like planets exist elsewhere in the universe? Travel to distant stars and fly up close to exotic planets. Experience the science shifting our perspective on humanity’s place in the cosmos. Purchase Tickets / More information.
Date: Friday, March 27
Time: 6:30PM-7:30PM
Audience: Ages 13+
Location: FSU Planetarium
This show celebrates Pink Floyd’s iconic album ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’, originally released in March 1973. Join us for an evening in the planetarium to experience Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon. Purchase Tickets / More information.
Date: Friday, March 27
Time: 7:30PM - 8:45PM
Audience: All Ages
Location: May Hall, FSU
Use telescopes to the night sky! FREE! No registration required - More information.
Date: April 22-23, 2026
Audience: Grades 5-8
Location: McAuliffe Center and FSU Planetarium
Date: Wednesday, April 22
Time: 8:30AM - 3:00PM
Audience: Grades 5-8
Location: McAuliffe Center
Activities: Expedition Mars, Big Astronomy, and MicroObservatory
Expedition Mars space mission simulation in the Challenger Learning Center, including brand-new VR briefings; interactive planetarium program, including the full-dome film Big Astronomy; and MicroObservatory activity. For individual participants in grades 5-8 during April School Vacation. REGISTER / More information.
Date: Thursday, April 23
Time: 8:30AM - 3:00PM
Audience: Grades 5-8
Location: McAuliffe Center
Activities: Expedition Mars and Planetary Defense Workshop
Expedition Mars space mission simulation in the Challenger Learning Center, including brand-new VR briefings, and Planetary Defense Workshop led by The Space Consortium. For individual participants in grades 5-8 during April School Vacation. REGISTER / More information.
Date: Thursday, April 23
Time: 1:00PM - 3:00PM
Audience: Grades 5-8
Location: McAuliffe Center
Activity: Planetary Defense Workshop
Planetary Defense Workshop led by The Space Consortium. For individual participants in grades 5-8 during April School Vacation. REGISTER / More information.
Date: Thursday, April 23
Time: 8:00PM - 9:30PM
Audience: All Ages
Location: May Hall, FSU
Cloud date: April 28 8:15PM - 9:30PM
Use telescopes to the night sky! FREE! No registration required - More information.
Date: Saturday, April 25
Time: 12:00PM - 3:00PM
Audience: All Ages
Location: McAuliffe Center and O’Connor Parking Lot
Attend our annual free science festival for families and learners of all ages! Explore science, technology, engineering, and math and the ways they support environmental justice, renewable energy, and environmental sustainability! Rain or Shine! In case of bad weather all exhibits will move indoors. Official festival webpage
Date: Friday, May 22
Time: 5:00PM-6:00PM
Audience: Families & All Ages
Location: FSU Planetarium
Take a journey through observatories used by professional astronomers in the gorgeous mountains of Chile, one of the best astronomical observing locations on Earth. Purchase Tickets / More information.
Date: Friday, May 22
Time: 6:30PM-7:30PM
Audience: Ages 13+
Location: FSU Planetarium
This show celebrates Pink Floyd’s iconic album ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’, originally released in March 1973. Join us for an evening in the planetarium to experience Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon. Purchase Tickets / More information.
Date: Friday, May 22
Time: 8:45PM - 10:00PM
Audience: All Ages
Location: May Hall, FSU
Use telescopes to the night sky! FREE! No registration required - More information.
Date: Thursday, March 5
Time: 5:00PM - 6:00PM
Audience: All Ages
Location: Online via Zoom
The Christa McAuliffe Center invites multigenerational audiences to a series of conversations that will explore key formative moments in the life of Christa McAuliffe; examine the historical context of the 1986 Challenger mission; and reflect on the lessons learned from the tragedy. More Information / Register for Zoom
Date: Saturday, February 28
Time: 6:30PM-7:30PM
Audience: Ages 13+
Location: FSU Planetarium
This show celebrates Pink Floyd’s iconic album on the anniversary of its release. Join us for an evening in the planetarium to experience Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon. Purchase Tickets / More information.
Date: Saturday, February 28
Time: 5:00PM-6:00PM
Audience: Ages 13+
Location: FSU Planetarium
This show celebrates Pink Floyd’s iconic album on the anniversary of its release. Join us for an evening in the planetarium to experience Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon. Purchase Tickets / More information.
Date: Friday, February 27
Time: 5:30PM-6:30PM
Audience: Families & All Ages
Location: FSU Planetarium
Follow three young flies as they inadvertently stowaway aboard Apollo 11 and join Neil, Buzz, and Michael on their mission to pull off the very first moon landing! Purchase Tickets / More information.
Date: Friday, February 27
Time: 12:30PM - 1:30PM
Audience: University Wide Event
Location: McCarthy Center Forum
Come meet NASA Astronaut Bob Hines. Bob has served as a mission specialist on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission, having logged a total of 170 days in space during Expedition 67 and 68 aboard the International Space Station. RSVP on ramlink / More information
* EVENT CANCELED *
Date: Thursday, February 26
Time: 6:00PM - 7:00PM
Audience: All Ages
Location: May Hall, FSU
Use telescopes to the night sky! FREE! No registration required - More information.
Date: Friday, February 20
Time: 3:30PM-4:15PM
Audience: Families & All Ages
Location: FSU Planetarium
Take a journey through observatories used by professional astronomers in the gorgeous mountains of Chile, one of the best astronomical observing locations on Earth. Purchase Tickets / More information.
Date: Friday, February 20
Time: 2:30PM-3:15PM
Audience: Families & All Ages
Location: FSU Planetarium
Dynamic Earth explores the inner workings of Earth’s great life support system: the global climate. With visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations, this cutting-edge production follows a trail of energy that flows from the Sun into the interlocking systems that shape our climate: the atmosphere, oceans, and the biosphere. Purchase Tickets / More information.
Date: Friday, February 20
Times: 2:30PM and 3:30PM
Audience: Families & All Ages
Location: FSU Planetarium
Join us February 20 to experience one or more planetarium films: Dynamic Earth and Big Astronomy! Purchase Tickets / More Information.
Date: Thursday, February 19
Time: 9:00AM - 1:30PM
Audience: Grades 5-8
Location: McAuliffe Center
Activity: Be a Health Scientist!
Planetarium: Mars: The Ultimate Voyage
Be a Health Scientist! hands-on activities and interactive planetarium program including the Mars: The Ultimate Voyage full-dome film. For individual participants in grades 5-8 during February School Vacation. REGISTER / More information.
Date: Wednesday, February 18
Time: 9:00AM - 2:00PM
Audience: Grades 5-8
Location: McAuliffe Center
Activity: Expedition Mars
Planetarium: Undiscovered Worlds
Expedition Mars space mission simulation in the Challenger Learning Center, including brand-new VR briefings, and interactive planetarium program including the Undiscovered Worlds full-dome film. For individual participants in grades 5-8 during February School Vacation. REGISTER / More information.
Date: Tuesday, February 17
Time: 1:00PM - 5:00PM
Audience: Grades 5-8
Location: McAuliffe Center
Activity: Destination Moon
Planetarium: Destination Mars
Destination Moon satellite challenge from the Challenger Learning Center’s Mission Control and interactive planetarium program including the Destination Mars full-dome film. For individual participants in grades 5-8 during February School Vacation. REGISTER / More information.
Date: February 17-19, 2026
Audience: Grades 5-8
Location: McAuliffe Center and FSU Planetarium
Date: Wednesday, February 4
Time: 5:00PM - 6:00PM
Audience: All Ages
Location: Online via Zoom
The Christa McAuliffe Center invites multigenerational audiences to a series of conversations that will explore key formative moments in the life of Christa McAuliffe; examine the historical context of the 1986 Challenger mission; and reflect on the lessons learned from the tragedy. More Information / Register for Zoom
Date: Saturday, January 31
Time: 5:30PM - 6:30PM
Audience: Ages 13+
Location: FSU Planetarium
As we pause to honor the 40th Anniversary of the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger and the STS-51L crew, we carry forward the education legacy of mission by engaging in new explorations of the cosmos through music. Program includes: Carina - Song written to honor Christa McAuliffe, Remembrance of the STS - 51L crew, and Octave of Light concert - a groundbreaking show takes audiences on an immersive journey across the stars, exploring distant worlds through sight, sound and live electrosymphonic music. Purchase Tickets/ More information.
Date: Saturday, January 31
Time: 3:00PM - 4:00PM
Audience: Families and all ages
Location: FSU Planetarium
The concert is part of Challenger Remembrance, to honor the 40th Anniversary of the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger and the STS-51L crew. Carrying forward the education mission of STS-51L, we invite families to join us in exploring science through music. Purchase Tickets/ More information.
Date: Tuesday, December 30
Times: 5:30PM - 6:30PM
Audience: Age 13+
Location: FSU Planetarium
New to the McAuliffe Center, this show celebrates Pink Floyd’s iconic album ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’, originally released in March 1973. Join us for an evening in the planetarium to experience the Framingham McAuliffe Center’s premiere of Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon. Purchase Tickets / More Information.
Date: Tuesday, December 30
Time: 4:00PM - 5:00PM
Audience: Families & All Ages
Location: FSU Planetarium
Join us at 4:00pm to experience the planetarium film We Are Guardians. Purchase Tickets / More information.
Date: Tuesday, December 30
Time: 2:30PM - 3:30PM
Audience: Families & All Ages
Location: FSU Planetarium
Join us at 2:30pm to experience the planetarium film Fly Me to the Moon. Purchase Tickets / More information.
Date: Tuesday, December 30
Showtimes: 2:30PM, 4PM, and 5:30PM
Audience: Families & All Ages
Location: FSU Planetarium
Join us December 30 to experience one or more planetarium films: Fly Me to the Moon, We Are Guardians and Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon. Purchase Tickets / More information.
EVENT SOLD OUT
Date: Saturday, December 20
Times: 5:30PM - 6:30PM AND 7:00PM - 8:00PM
Audience: Age 13+
Location: FSU Planetarium
New to the McAuliffe Center, this show celebrates Pink Floyd’s iconic album ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’, originally released in March 1973. Join us for an evening in the planetarium to experience the Framingham McAuliffe Center’s premiere of Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon. SOLD OUT / More Information.
Date: Thursday, December 4
Time: 5:00PM - 6:00PM
Audience: All Ages
Location: Alumni Room at Framingham State University and Zoom (Hybrid)
Remembering the 40th Anniversary of the Challenger disaster: January 28, 1986-2026.
The Christa McAuliffe Center invites multigenerational audiences to a series of conversations that will explore key formative moments in the life of Christa McAuliffe; examine the historical context of the 1986 Challenger mission; and reflect on the lessons learned from the tragedy.
** EVENT CANCELED due to cloud cover **
Date: Tuesday, November 25
Time: 5:00PM - 6:30PM
Audience: All Ages
Location: May Hall, FSU
Use telescopes to observe the Moon and Saturn! FREE! No registration required - More information.
Date: Friday, November 21
Time: 6:00PM - 7:00PM - SOLD OUT
Audience: Families & All Ages
Location: FSU Planetarium
Join us for an evening in the planetarium to experience the planetarium film Big Astronomy. Featuring an introduction from Eloise Perna, Student, Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School. Purchase Tickets / More information.
**EVENT CANCELED due to cloud cover**
Date: Tuesday, October 28
Time: 6:30PM - 8:00PM
Audience: All Ages
Location: May Hall, FSU
Use telescopes to observe the Moon and Saturn! FREE! No registration required - More information.
Date: Tuesday, October 28
Time: 4:30PM - 5:30PM
Audience: FSU Community Only
Location: FSU Planetarium
Join us for a live tour of the chilling and eerie objects in our night sky and beyond. A Halloween spectacular that is sure to frighten and excite! This program features planetarium film Undiscovered Worlds. Showtime at 4:30PM. Come in costume! More information.
Date: Friday, October 24
Time: 4:00PM - 5:00PM AND 6:00PM - 7:00PM. 6PM Show Sold Out
Audience: Families & All Ages
Location: FSU Planetarium
Join us for a live tour of the chilling and eerie objects in our night sky and beyond. A Halloween spectacular that is sure to frighten and excite! This program features planetarium film Undiscovered Worlds. Showtimes at 4:00PM AND 6:00PM. Come in costume! Purchase Tickets / More information.
Dates: October 20 - October 24
Audience: All Ages
Explore programming to implement or participate in during Mass STEM Week 2025 (and beyond)! Learn about state-sponsored Design Challenges and other opportunities hosted by MetroWest organizations! More information.
Date: Saturday, October 18
Time: 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Audience: FSU Community, Alumni, Family & Friends
Location: McAuliffe Center
Alumni, family and friends are invited to the Christa McAuliffe Center to interact with the Center's dynamic offerings, including planetarium programs across multiple disciplines and tours of the Challenger Learning Center with simulation of space missions! More information
