Almanac | Calendar | Celestial Sites
Welcome to the Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory, operated by "Friends of LBL!" Explore such phenomena as white dwarves and black holes, all unveiled on our planetarium's 40-foot dome. Novice astronomers can learn to identify the constellations on a simulated night sky. Or head to the Golden Pond Observatory, where you can observe the stars through one of our four telescopes or spy solar flares through our Hydrogen-Alpha refractor.
Golden Pond is also home to the West Kentucky Amateur Astronomers, a group of star-gazers representing a four-state region. Join us for an evening of stargazing!
| TO VISIT | SCHEDULE | |
| The Golden Pond Planetarium is located inside the Golden Pond Visitor Center. The Observatory is located just behind the Planetarium. The Visitor Center is located in the center of LBL, where The Trace and Hwy. 68/80 meet. | SEASON: March 1 to mid-December. The Golden Pond Planetarium is closed November 22-30 to prepare for the Christmas Show which opens in early December. DAYS: MARCH-MAY: 7 days: 10 am, 12, 1, & 2 pm (Mon-Fri) 10, 11 am, 1, 2, 3 pm (Sat-Sun) JUNE-AUG, 7 days: 10, 11am, 1, 2, 3pm (Mon-Fri); 11am, 1, 2, 3, 4pm (Sat-Sun)Special Show 8 pm (Sat only) SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 7 days: 12 noon, 2 pm (Mon-Fri); 10, 11 am, 1, 2, 3 pm (Sat-Sun) NOVEMBER, 5 days: 12 noon, 2 pm (Wed-Fri); 10, 11 am, 1, 2, 3 pm (Sat-Sun) DECEMBER 4-21, 5 days: 10am, 1 & 2 pm (Thur. - Fri.) 10 & 11am and 1, 2, & 3pm (Sat. - Sun.) Call 270-924-2020 for more information. HOURS: 9 a.m.-5 pm. Mon. thru Sat., 10 a.m.- 5 pm. Sun. ADMISSION: There is no charge to look through our telescopes. Daytime Planetarium Shows: Ages 13 & up, $4; Youth 5-12, $2; 4 & under, free. Nighttime & Special Shows are higher rate. For pre-arranged group rates and times, call 270-924-2020. GROUP LEADERS: See School & Youth Groups and Adult Groups. |
Planetarium Shows
The Golden Pond Planetarium is located inside the Golden Pond Visitor Center.
Two Small Pieces of Glass - A simple adjustment to a child's spyglass, 400 years ago, revealed for the first time an infinite and perplexing universe to our eyes and imagination. Join us as the world's great telescopes gaze ever further into the distant past and into our future.
Journey to the Edge of Space and Time - This dynamic show takes the audience on a journey to a black hole, galaxy clusters, and to the birth of the universe. With telescopes expanding our view, the pieces of a cosmic puzzle are falling into place, promising answers to once unanswerable questions.
The Skies Above - Experience the sky above your home as it will appear tonight with stars, constellations, and other celestial phenomena. Hear stories about the stars and how they were named. Your storyteller may be a wizard, cowboy, or other characters who used stars in their work.
Far Out Space Places. - Take a virtual vacation as you visit the most extreme destinations in our cosmic neighborhood. Scale the cliffs of the Mars Mariner Valley, glide on Neptune's winds, and visit the original lunar landing site of the Apollo astronauts.
Summer Nights - See one of our daytime shows, then go outside to the observatory for a look at the real night sky.
Laser Light Music Shows - Featuring The Beatles, U2, Pink Floyd, LaserRetro, LaserPop, LaserCountry, and more! Call 270-924-2154 for more information. Click HERE for more details.
Golden Pond Observatory
The observatory is home to the West Kentucky Amateur Astronomers. WKAA meetings are held each Saturday closest to the New Moon and the public is invited to attend at no charge. For a complete list of WKAA meetings, look on our calendar of events. Our observatory houses a 12.5" custom-built Newtonian telescope that is set up for astro-photography. There is also a 4.5" refractor set up for Hydrogen-Alpha viewing of the sun. General observing is done through a 17.5" Dobsonian and two 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes.