Exploring the Universe at the Herndon Planetarium

By Patricia Garvey
Spotlight
April 22, 2026

A Bright Future for Astronomy at Herndon

Over the past few years, the Herndon Planetarium has been dedicated to re-establishing itself as a hub for scientific curiosity and community engagement. We are thrilled to share that our doors are open and the stars are within reach!

Community Connections

In December, we proudly hosted our inaugural "Herndon Planetarium Night." It was a wonderful evening dedicated to our Herndon High School teachers and their families. Guests enjoyed a unique opportunity to explore the cosmos through a variety of activities, including:

  • Stargazing sessions.
  • Sipping hot cocoa under the night sky.
  • Enjoying an immersive dome show.
  • Hands-on observations using our school’s rooftop telescope platform.

Inspiring Future Explorers

This semester, the Planetarium has expanded its mission by offering specialized field trips for 4th-grade students across our school pyramid as they engage with their Virginia science curricula.

In January, we were honored to welcome our first group from Herndon Elementary. Each session is designed to spark a lifelong interest in space, featuring:

  • Interactive NASA-themed coloring activities.
  • A guided tour of our night sky and the solar system.
  • A captivating dome show viewed from our theater-style seating.

Join Us in Space

Ms. Garvey and Mr. Hutton are incredibly excited to share the wonders of the universe with everyone. Whether it is our 200+ senior astronomy students, our dedicated colleagues, or the nearly 300 elementary students visiting us this year, we are committed to making space science accessible and engaging for all.

We look forward to seeing the rest of our pyramid's 4th graders throughout the remainder of the school year. Stay tuned for more updates on upcoming events!

Students seated in the darkened planetarium theater looking up at a bright blue planetary projection on the dome screen, highlighting our hands-on learning environment.
Students seated in the darkened planetarium theater looking up at a bright blue planetary projection on the dome screen, highlighting our hands-on learning environment.
A vibrant, glowing projection on the planetarium's dome ceiling showing stylized constellations and a yellow planet against a colorful nebula, used to illustrate our immersive science presentations.
A vibrant, glowing projection on the planetarium's dome ceiling showing stylized constellations and a yellow planet against a colorful nebula, used to illustrate our immersive science presentations.
An astronomy instructor stands at a control console in the planetarium pointing toward a dome projection of a lion constellation, while students engage with the lesson from their seats.
An astronomy instructor stands at a control console in the planetarium pointing toward a dome projection of a lion constellation, while students engage with the lesson from their seats.
A student stands on the school roof at night looking through a telescope, with the school’s football stadium lights visible in the background, demonstrating our community stargazing events.
A student stands on the school roof at night looking through a telescope, with the school’s football stadium lights visible in the background, demonstrating our community stargazing events.
The bronze Herndon High School Hornet mascot statue on display in the school lobby, representing our school spirit and identity.
The bronze Herndon High School Hornet mascot statue on display in the school lobby, representing our school spirit and identity.