WKU News

WKU’s Hardin Planetarium will host a free, public watch party at 9:30 a.m. July 12 for NASA’s release of the first science images from the James Webb Space Telescope.

The event is open to all interested parties, with the planetarium’s Star Chamber doors opening at 8:45 a.m., and the NASA livestream beginning at 9:30. The one-hour livestream will include many full-color images, along with some interpretation from NASA subject matter experts.

This presentation will prepare audiences for a full infrared astronomy exploration event hosted a month later at 1 p.m. August 13. The August event will include educational activities for all ages with chances to win Webb Telescope themed prizes like bookmarks and posters.

Hardin Planetarium offers shows to the public at no charge every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The current show MoonBeings, which tasks guests with planning a mission to search for extraterrestrial life in our solar system, will be presented through July 31. The next show, Lives of the Stars, will run from August 2 until September 1. A full schedule of shows is available on the planetarium's website at https://www.wku.edu/hardinplanetarium/.

Hardin Planetarium is located at 1501 State St. on the WKU campus.

Contact: Chris Chandler, (270) 745-4044