Name: Planetarium Nights: Double Feature
Start: 2026-04-16T19:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-04-16T20:00:00-05:00
Location: 31 Memorial Pkwy SW, Fort Walton Beach, FL, United States, Florida 32548

Get ready to launch into a whole new planetarium experience in 2026! Enjoy a brighter, bolder, more visual planetarium with a movie-style format, complete with a short intro and time to pick our brains after the show. Be sure to check out these cinematic, recorded adventures that are truly out of this world at your next Planetarium Night.

Tonight's Galactic Adventure is a Double Feature!
Journey to the Center of the Milky Way:
What lies at the heart of our galaxy? For twenty years, ESO’s Very Large Telescope and the Keck telescopes have observed the center of the galaxy, looking at the motion of more than a hundred stars and identifying the position of an otherwise invisible object — the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy. Embark on a Journey to the Center of the Milky Way and during seven minutes travel faster than light, from the driest place on Earth, the Atacama Desert in Chile right to the center of our own galaxy, where a black hole is consuming anything that strays into its path. 84 million stars will appear in front of your eyes, each hiding mysteries waiting to be solved. Are there planets around them, perhaps with moons? Do they have water? Could they harbor life?
The Hot and Energetic Universe:
The Hot and Energetic Universe takes you on a journey into some of the most powerful and extreme places in space. Using stunning visuals and real images from advanced telescopes on Earth and in space, this planetarium show explores how astronomers study high-energy light to better understand the universe. High-energy astronomy helps scientists see events that are invisible to our eyes, like exploding stars, supermassive black holes, and enormous clusters of galaxies. These powerful forms of light reveal what is happening in the hottest and most active parts of space. You’ll discover how scientists use special observatories to detect this energy and uncover the secrets of the “hot and violent” universe—from glowing gas between galaxies to matter swirling around black holes.

Our Planetarium is an inflatable dome. Guests sit on cushions on the floor of the planetarium to view the show. Space is limited; purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended for this reason. On Planetarium Night, please arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled showing. In case of no-shows/late shows: reserved spots will be released at show time to make space for the next party.
Shows begin at 6 and 7 pm and last approximately 35-45 minutes, plus a few minutes for a brief introduction and time after each show to answer any questions.
Don't miss the preshow, included with your reservation! Our planetarium preshow begins at 5:30 p.m. for the 6 p.m. show and 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show. During, your family can discover and learn about various space explorations, space facts, and more from our local experts at the Northwest Florida Astronomy Association.
Seating is limited and very popular. We encourage purchasing your tickets in advance, as this is a first come, first served event. Please call 850-664-1261, stop by the Science Center, or use our online ticketing option to purchase your tickets.