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Event Calendar

Friday July 11 2025

    • All Day
    • School/Group Traffic: LOW

    Note to SCI Visitors: Please be aware of school group attendance, which could impact your visit. Today's school group traffic is expected to be LOW. To avoid these groups, plan your visit later in the day! Schools typically depart the building by 2:00 pm.

  • Our youngest visitors can bring their imaginations as an SCI Programs Team member reads under the starry skies.

  • From things that glow to things that explode, this program is a real blast!

  • Learn to navigate the starry night skies and find exotic, hidden Deep Sky Objects. Program and location subject to change.

  • Have you ever wondered what Snippy the Snapping Turtle eats? Come check out a feeding demonstration of one of SCI’s most ravenous reptiles! The snapping turtle feeding may be too intense for some visitors.

  • From things that glow to things that explode, this program is a real blast!

  • This show reveals dark matter's earliest clues, covering the astral choreography of galactic orbits as well as sensitive detectors hidden deep underground in ancient gold mines. Narrated by Tilda Swinton. Program and location subject to change.

  • Experience out-of-this-world space observation! Join SCI staff and star gazing guides to take a look through high-powered telescopes at the planets - including a chance to see Mercury!

    Activities and telescopes will be set up at the Drake Municipal Observatory (4898 Observatory Rd, Des Moines, IA)

    PLEASE NOTE: Solar & Star Parties are weather dependent and are subject to cancellation. Check the SCI website for updates on the event.