2026 Astronomy Day & Star Party

Enjoy a full day of presentations from experts on various topics throughout the day. Immerse yourself with personalized planetarium shows in the #1 Planetarium Experience in America, full museum access (with extended hours), hands-on museum activities, and more.

Bring your lawn chair, blanket, and telescope (don't worry, we will provide telescopes for everyone to look through!) and join us for a star gazing party that evening in the parking lot. See the night sky like never before!

Available for purchase:

• Warm up with Java Man Hot Cocoa
• Hot bowl of chili, or make it a Frito Pie.
• Speciality coffees from Java Man Cafe.

This event includes the FULL Astronomy Museum Day, all sessions, workshops, INTERPRETIVE planetarium shows, and full museum admission, adventure movie in Seventy Hall, plus the Tesla Experience, and the star party that night.

(NOTE: The only events not included in this event price are the planetarium movies at 11:30am and 2pm)

Open 10am - 6pm

Star Gazing Party is FREE and open to the public. 6pm - 8pm

Restrooms and Java Man will be open to all guests, all day. 

Grab dinner at Java Man prior to the star party, or get a warm hot chocolate before stepping outside.

10:00am - Museum opens

10:00am - 10:55am - Free Time

10:55am - 11:25am - Presentation in Wonders Theater: Charles Jackson - Big Bang, Dark Matter, Dark Energy

11:30am - 12:00pm -  Planetarium Show: Exploring Deep Space (additional $10 ticket required)

12:00pm - 12:15pm -  Tesla Experience (1st Opportunity)

12:30pm - 1:15pm -  Planetarium Interpretive Show with Parker Eng (Limited seating, first come, first served)

1:20pm - 1:40pm -  Workshop in THIRTY HALL: (Physics Experiment) with Charles Jackson (First 30 seats, first come basis)

1:45pm - 2:05pm -  Workshop in THIRTY HALL: (Fossil Show and Tell) with Steve Falling and Robert Dabbs (First 30 seats, first come basis)

2:10pm - 2:30pm -  Workshop in THIRTY HALL: (Different Kinds of Optics) with Parker Eng and Dr. Douglas Walker (First 30 seats, first come basis)

2:00pm - 2:30pm - Planetarium Show: Creation Through the Solar System (additional $10 ticket required)

2:30pm - 2:45pm -  Tesla Experience (2nd Opportunity)

—2:35pm -3:05pm - Presentation in Wonders Theater:  Dr. Douglas Walker - Discoveries from the James Webb and Hubble Telescopes

—3:10pm -3:40pm - Presentation in Wonders Theater: Dr. Michael Houts - Assumptions in Space

4:00pm -4:45pm - Planetarium Interpretive Show with Parker Eng (Limited seating, first come, first served)

—4:50pm -5:20pm - Presentation in Wonders Theater: Dr. Steve Falling - Beginning your Astrophotography Journey (using Smart Telescopes)

—5:25pm -5:55pm - Presentation in Wonders Theater: David Rives - The Wonders of Astronomy (AND VERY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE WONDERS CENTER)

6:00pm -8:00pm - Star Party Outdoors (Parking Lot of the Wonders Center) (Free to the public)

6:30pm - Museum Closes

Java Man Cafe, Restrooms, and Rotunda remain open until 8pm SPEAKER BIOS: Dr. Charles Jackson | Dr. Charles Jackson holds four degress from state universities in both science and education. He has trained teachers and taught science on the collegiate and secondary school levels. Dr. Jackson has also spent many years speaking and debating Creation vs. Evolution. He has also made appearances in several feature-length documentaries on the subject.

Parker Eng | For over 25 years, Parker Eng has shared his love of astronomy and founded Day4 Astronomy in 2006 to teach the wonders of the heavens from a Biblical worldview.  Married to his wife Jill since 2004, Parker also serves as a deacon and class director at Prestonwood Baptist Church (Plano, Texas) and serves on several ministry boards while pursuing his passion for ‘showing how the heavens declare the glory of God’. David Rives | David Rives is a science expert, author, and founder of David Rives Ministries. He also founded the Genesis Science Network, an international media platform exploring science through the lens of Scripture. He serves as Director and Founder of the Wonders Center & Science Musuem, presenting science from a biblical worldview through research, media, and live events. A nationally recognized speaker and television host, David is passionate about demonstrating how "the heavens declare the glory of God". Dr. Douglas Walker | Doug Walker is a retired aerospace engineer/scientist who has over 40 years working for NASA, University of Texas, and Lockeed Martin. He help train the astronauts for the first space shuttle mission. After taking an early retirement in 2013, Dr. Walker obtained his PhD in observational astronomy from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Now Dr. Walker works with a group of astronomers continuing his research into variable stars in globular clusters and helps train the next generation of astronomers and scientists. Dr. Stephen Falling | Dr. Stephen Falling is an organic chemist with a long career in the research and development of complex organic chemicals. He is interested in the fossil record and how it contradicts Darwinian evolution.  He especially loves nature photography and astronomy through which he can enjoy and share evidence of God’s creation.  Dr. Michael Houts | Dr. Mike Houts has a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, worked 11 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and completed 24 years at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center prior to retiring in 2025. Awards for his work on advanced nuclear systems include a NASA Distinguished Service Medal and a NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal.  Mike also serves as an auxiliary staff scientist for Apologetics Press.  Mike and his wife have two children and two grandchildren, and worship at the Madison Church of Christ in Madison, AL.

Sonny James | Sonny James is a 10th grade astronomy enthusiast, musician, and regular junior presenter for Day4 Astronomy who loves teaching others about God’s incredible universe.  Sonny strives to make astronomy engaging, exciting, and easy to understand for learners of all ages.