Space Fest 2025

With a crash and a bang (a big one), we’re gearing up for the seventh annual Space Fest: Cosmic Chaos. Get ready for crashes, collisions, explosions, astronomical anomalies, and all the things we have yet to understand about our universe. Stop by February 14 for our late night Star Party or during the day on February 15 and February 16 for in-person activities and events. Just watch out for that black hole…

Friday, February 14

Star Party, 7:30–9 pm

Join us for our first Star Party of the year, kicking off Space Fest! Outside, we’ll have our telescopes set up to observe our favorite deep space objects (weather and temperature permitting). Inside, you can explore hands-on activities, and our expert astronomy team will highlight cosmic sights in our planetarium.

Planetarium Show:
Cosmic Connections short film 
Showtimes: 7:40, 8:20, 8:40 pm
Register Here

Saturday, February 15

University Researchers and students in the galleries,10 am–4 pm

Connect with University researchers as you explore the museum galleries! You’ll find them throughout the second floor with hands-on activities, demonstrations, and a wealth of knowledge to share.

 

Hands-on Activities,10 am–4 pm

At Space Fest, explore a set of interactive activities investigating cosmic chaos.

 

 

 

Sensory Friendly Saturday, 4:30–6:30 pm

Visitors with sensory sensitivities are invited to join us for Sensory Friendly Space Fest! Explore the galleries, get hands-on with space games and activities, and enjoy a 5:30 pm planetarium show – all with fewer visitors, quieter sounds, and lowered lights.

Learn More

 

Story time, 10:30 am
Rocket Says Look Up! By Nathan Bryon

Calling all future scientists, techies, engineers, artists and mathematicians to story time. Families are invited to listen to fun and engaging stories that call out adventures and mishaps of kid scientists and engineers, and explore our universe from the far reaches of the galaxy down to tiny microbes here on Earth.

Event details

Each day, we’ll feature brief presentations and Q&A with experts on space exploration in Horizon Hall!

OSIRIS-REx: NASA’s Journey to Asteroid Bennu and Back, 10:45am
Staci Tiedeken, Outreach Coordinator for the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx was the first U.S. mission to collect a sample from an asteroid, delivering it to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023. Since then, scientists have been studying the asteroid sample for clues as to whether asteroids colliding with Earth billions of years ago brought water and other key ingredients for life to our home planet. Join NASA Goddard Planetary Outreach Coordinator, Staci Tiedeken, as she brings us on an adventure to asteroid Bennu and back.

 

Thinking Like a (Quantum) Physicist, 11:45am
Dr. Dyan Jones, Faculty at Duquesne University and Vice President of the American Association of Physics Teachers

Dyan L. Jones, PhD, is a physicist with a particular interest in bringing science to the public. During her time as a faculty member, she has specifically focused on helping students understand the importance of scientific reasoning, quantitative thinking, and the interconnectedness of science and technology in our everyday lives. Dr. Jones is currently serving in the administration and faculty of Duquesne University and is the Vice President of the American Association of Physics Teachers.

Aboard the ISS with Astronaut Josh Cassada, 1:45pm
Josh A. Cassada (Captain, U.S. Navy, Ph.D.) NASA Astronaut (Former)

Josh Cassada will present scholarship awards to two UMN students Sage Martin and Dilshan Rajan on behalf of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Josh will speak about his 11-year career at NASA, including his mission aboard the International Space Station 2023-23.

Following his talk, Josh Cassada will be available for a meet-and-greet with Bell visitors.

 

Sunday, February 16

University Researchers and students in the galleries, 10 am–4 pm

Connect with University researchers as you explore the museum galleries! You’ll find them throughout the second floor with hands-on activities, demonstrations, and a wealth of knowledge to share about what we know and how we learn about the Sun.

 

 

Hands-on Activities, 10 am–4 pm

At Space Fest, explore a set of interactive activities investigating cosmic chaos.

 

 

 

Each day, we’ll feature brief presentations and Q&A with experts on space exploration in Horizon Hall!

Thinking Like a (Quantum) Physicist, 10:45am
Dr. Dyan Jones, Faculty at Duquesne University and Vice President of the American Association of Physics Teachers

Dyan L. Jones, PhD, is a physicist with a particular interest in bringing science to the public. During her time as a faculty member, she has specifically focused on helping students understand the importance of scientific reasoning, quantitative thinking, and the interconnectedness of science and technology in our everyday lives. Dr. Jones is currently surviving in the administration and faculty of Duquesne University and is the Vice President of the American Association of Physics Teachers.

	Saturday 2/15/24	Sunday 2/16/24
10:30AM	Comets, Moons, and Asteroids Revealed	Comets, Moons, and Asteroids Revealed
11:30AM	Minnesota Night Skies	Minnesota Night Skies
12:30PM	Supervolcanoes	Supervolcanoes
1:30PM	Comets, Moons, and Asteroids Revealed	Comets, Moons, and Asteroids Revealed
2:30PM	Minnesota Night Skies	Minnesota Night Skies
3:30PM	Supervolcanoes	Supervolcanoes