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The 10 Best Observatories & Planetariums in United States, United States
Spanning 2,800 miles (4,506 kilometers) from east to west, the US is a vast patchwork of landscapes and metropolises. From Arizona’s red-rocked canyons and California’s coastal beaches to New York’s big city and Virginia’s storied past, it covers any topic any traveler could want or need.
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1. Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter Observatory
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 269 reviews
Reviewed By mindycwhittle - Saint Louis, United States
Wonderful evening spent with knowledgeable hosts, stargazing and learning about the universe. Anna and Tracy were both perfect guides through the evening; we saw several different amazing celestial bodies through the 32 inch telescope and learned more than we thought possible. The dinner was very good (sandwiches, salad and extras). A perfect way to spend an evening in Tucson and see the sky as never before.
2. Oregon Observatory at Sunriver
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 210 reviews
There’s no better place! The local elevation, pitch dark surrounding and crystal clear air make it perfect for star gazing. You won’t be lining up for one telescope. The Oregon Observatory is the largest astronomical viewing facility in the United States. Feast your eyes on far away galaxies. Recognize the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter. Witness a meteor shower. Get a glimpse of globular clusters, nebula and deep space binary stars.
Reviewed By chrissieb433
This was such an interesting tour to do. The stars are amazing and being able to see different galaxies and the rings of Saturn were a highlight for me. The staff were so knowledgeable and quickly set up different telescopes so we could see various planets etc. This was a real highlight.
3. Estes Park Memorial Observatory
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 68 reviews
The Estes Park Memorial Observatory (EPMO) is a community resource dedicated to fostering scientific education of children in Estes Park and serving as an educational venue for the community and visitors. EPMO holds events throughout the year in conjunction with the local school system, the Estes Valley Astronomical Society and the Rocky Mountain National Park. The observatory schedules private and group viewing sessions and hosts educational lectures on astronomy, cosmology, astrophotography and special astronomical events such as comet fly-bys and more! We also have fun on going projects like our Human Sundial Project. EPMO is currently offering opportunities for volunteers. Just contact us to get involved and learn about our sky along the way! Can't help? Donate to our Estes Park Observatory and come visit anytime!
Reviewed By gaby5706
Mike was great, the four of us greatly enjoyed his passionate teaching about astronomy. Our ages ranged from 17-28 and though we had no scientific background and honestly, not too much of an interest in Science, we all walked out with a greater appreciation for astronomy and an interest in learning more. It was exciting seeing different constellations, galaxies and planets through the telescope. If we are ever back in Estes we will definitely come back again! Thank you!
4. Blake Planetarium
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 18 reviews
A state of the art facility that immerses its audience with video and sound. Boasted as the only 4K fulldome planetarium south of Boston and offering breathtaking views on its dome screen, the Blake Planetarium has high resolution video playback, real time multimedia, multichannel surround sound, and classic astronomy tools that take visitors on fantastic voyages every time.
Reviewed By HerMajesty00
Today we brought two kindergarten classes to their first planetarium experience. We could not have been more thrilled. The program was an hour long and geared perfectly for very curious young minds. The children were captivated. Mr. Davies who has taught high school for many years has carefully adapted this first time experience for the very young learner. The children were allowed to participate and they really learned quite a bit. We returned to our classroom and the students begged to learn more. they wrote in their science journals and everyone of the students had clearly been listening. it was a great experience for children and adults alike.
5. Lowell Observatory
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,931 reviews
We are now in our first phase of reopening! This means you can get limited time, premium access to the Giovale Open Deck Observatory (GODO) These will be private experiences with one group of up to ten cohabitating or co-traveling people. Not only is GODO Premium Access extremely low-risk, it also allows you to experience all the GODO has to offer with virtually no wait times. Stay tuned for more telescopes, in our next phase we will be adding the Clark and Dyer telescopes to the Premium Access experience! Click the link below to learn more about this unique opportunity. We can't wait to see you—welcome back to the home of Pluto! https://lowell.edu/welcomeback
Reviewed By 634lisas - Surprise, United States
We got tickets for $11 on Groupon and it was well worth it even though we were only there in the evening. We arrived just before 8 and saw a presentation on Saturn on the omniglobe. They had 3 telescopes set up for night viewing and we could see Jupiter and all its stripes, Saturn and it's rings and moons and a star cluster that was 222,000 light years away!! We stayed for a constellation tour at 9 which was great - full of interesting info and myths about some of the visible constellations. Next time we will plan to spend the day there as there are talks and presentations running all day long. Perfect for anyone interested in the stars, space or mythology. Highly recommend, even for teens (my daughter is 13) :)
6. Johnston Ridge Observatory
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 488 reviews
A small observatory poised dramatically on a cliff overlooking the debris left over from the famous 1980 volcano explosion.
Reviewed By mjj123mjj758 - Orlando, United States
This visitor center is well appointed with a lot of interesting exhibits, movies, facts and stories surrounding the Mt St Helens 1980 erruption. It is well worth going to if you plan a visit to the area. The hiking trails are well marked, but out in the open and there are no water sources. Plan on bringing plenty of water.
7. Mystic Seaport Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,309 reviews
Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation's leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, America's oldest commercial ship and the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum's grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT and include a recreated 19th-century coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. Mystic Seaport Museum is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT.
8. NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20,469 reviews
Welcome to the Greatest Space Adventure on Earth! Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is the only place in the world where you can see the real space shuttle Atlantis, touch a moon rock, meet a veteran NASA astronaut, tour a NASA spaceflight facility and get an up-close view of a real Saturn V moon rocket all in the same day! Arrive early for this full-day experience to make the most of your visit. The visitor complex opens at 9 am every day.
Reviewed By SharT14 - Chicago, United States
Three generations of family members all found something they absolutely loved about the NASA Kennedy Space Center and you can feel the excitement in the air with the SPACEX launch pad and NASA's upcoming Mission to Mars. Grandma and Grandpa enjoyed coming close to the 50th anniversary of JFK's moonshot being realized, Gen X and Millennial parents and Aunts enjoyed Atlantis and the very wee ones enjoyed all of the interactive exhibits, slides and play park. A great, albeit long day with plenty for everyone. Recommend doing the bus tour first as the line gets very long.
9. Griffith Observatory
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20,276 reviews
A public observatory owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles for the benefit of all. Located in on Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, the Observatory offers a planetarium, exhibits, public telescopes, cafe, bookstore, and the best views of the Los Angeles basin. Admission is free, and visitors may drive directly to the Observatory and park in its lots and roads.
Reviewed By Sanaahyd - Houston, United States
Griffith Observatory - Los Angeles Best place to see and fall in love with LA! Go here to witness a breathtakingly beautiful sunset, along with the Hollywood sign & the fantastic skyline of LA! Please note the traffic is a mess up there, so take a shuttle/Uber. You wont get strong phone signals up at the observatory so plan your itinerary beforehand! There are shuttles that take you back to the city, so hop on when youre done! DONT MISS THIS IF YOURE VISITING LA - PLEASE! Definitely a 10/10 for me!⭐️
10. Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,021 reviews
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain region’s leading resource for informal science education. A variety of exhibitions, programs, and activities help Museum visitors experience the natural wonders of Colorado, Earth, and the universe.
Reviewed By RStravails - Denver, United States
The traveling and main exhibitions are world class. A decent cafe, revelant and interesting exhibits, plus all the time-honored enjoyment of gems and minerals, wildlife dioramas and dinosaur bones makes a fantastic couple of days.
