Red-Eye to the Stars
Unravel the mysteries of star birth from 50,000 feet above the sea.
Take a red-eye flight to unravel the mysteries of star birth!
On a clear evening, a jumbo jet takes heading into the sunset on California's Pacific coast. Once the Boeing 747SP has reached its cruising altitude in the stratosphere, a hatch in the back of the plane opens to reveal the view into the depths of space.
"SOFIA", the Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy, gathers thermal radiation from distant celestial objects unobstructed by the water vapor in the Earth's atmosphere. Among other things, it can be used to observe the nurseries of young stars in distant gas nebulae that remain hidden in the spectrum of visible light.
Join the team on a red-eye flight aboard the flying observatory SOFIA to unravel the mysteries of star birth from 50,000 feet above the sea.
*Please check our hours and schedule to confirm availability before your visit.
This feature will be available for booking September 6.
Book your group adventure and have your class see Red-eye to the Stars on our 76-foot Dome screen! With discounted group rates, groups have the opportunity to schedule exclusive featured shows on Virginia’s largest movie screen.
Groups can add a Dome feature to their visit for just $4 per person. Click here to learn more about our Group Visit Policies.
This feature is recommended for grades 4–12 and corresponds with the following SOLs:
- Physical Science: 1, 5, 6 and 7
- Earth Science: 1 and 2
- Physics: 1, 5, 6 and 7
