Do you ever catch a glimpse of the nighttime sky and just get struck by awe and wonder? Now imagine how your kids must feel when gazing at the vastness of the open sky. Inspire that sense of wonder and indulge their curiosity about the universe by visiting one of these big-sky destinations. From planetariums with immersive star-filled shows to Space Center Houston— a mecca for space lovers—there’s no shortage of places to stargaze and explore the wonders of space in Texas.
Noble Planetarium
No visit to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is complete with a little space exploration! In the Noble Space Gallery, you can see various artifacts from the space race, including space suits, a piece of the Apollo 11 and a Fort Worth flag that landed on the moon. But be sure to plan your visit around the planetarium’s shows (they’re free with admission to the museum and seats are first-come, first-served). Its three shows, all geared to ages 8 and older, transport viewers to the far reaches of the universe, explore the solar system and share the stories of the constellations we can see in the Texas sky. // Fort Worth, 817-255-9300; fwmuseum.org
Tip: Extend your starry adventure with a stop at the Galaxy Park Playground, where kids can use their imaginations to climb, explore and play on the space-themed play space.
Reunion Tower
Sure, you might think of this as a tourist destination, but it’s a great outing for families. From 470 feet in the air, you’ll have unobstructed, 360-degree views of the Dallas skyline from GeO-Deck, the tower’s indoor/outdoor observation deck. Plan your visit to coincide with golden hour to get spectacular views of the sunset and stick around to take in sights of the city lit up at night. FYI: It’s unlikely that you’ll see the stars in the sky due to the city’s light pollution; the focus here is on the skyline. // Dallas, 214/296-9950; reuniontower.com
Tip: Keep an eye on the tower’s calendar. They regularly host special family-friendly events that are included in general admission tickets.
Sky Theater at UNT
This 40-foot domed theater immerses visitors in stunning views of the night sky during its public shows on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Each day, the planetarium screens a Children’s Matinee at noon, which features a different show for ages preschool to sixth grade each month. The hour-long show also includes a guided tour of the sky that evening.
The planetarium screens two more space-themed shows in the late afternoon and evening, as well as a concert series for teens and adults in the evenings. And with more than 35 shows in the Sky Theater’s library, the show lineup changes each month. // Denton, 940/369-8213; astronomy.unt.edu/sky-theater
Tip: UNT also operates the Rafes Urban Astronomy Center, located just west of the Denton Municipal Airport. Here, the university hosts Star Parties on the first and third Saturday of each month, where you can learn about the night sky from knowledgeable staff and students and see objects in space through the telescopes. The bi-monthly Star Parties are $5 per person (free for ages 4 and younger), but you can purchase the Combo Deal, which includes admission to any of the Sky Theater shows that day as well as admission to that day’s Star Party.
UTA Planetarium
One of the three largest planetariums in Texas, the 60-foot dome provides unparalleled views of the starry sky, the solar system and distant galaxies. The UTA Planetarium currently offers public shows on Saturdays.
If you have younger kids, you’ll want to see One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure, where you’ll join Big Bird, Elmo and their friend Hu Hu Zhu to discover and explore the Big Dipper, the moon and the North Star. Older kids will enjoy Mayan Archeoastronomy, which combines space and mythology to take viewers on a journey through how Mayans viewed and understood the universe. And bring tweens and teens to Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon (it’s recommended for ages 14 and older), where you’ll listen to the classic rock album set to immersive CG effects in the dome. // Arlington, 817/272-1183; utaplanetarium.com
Tip: Shows and schedules may change, so be sure to follow the planetarium on Instagram @utaplanetarium for updates. They also post special events, last-minute changes to the schedule and more.
Space Center Houston
If you have a child who is obsessed with space or dreams of being an astronaut, Space Center Houston must be at the top of your list! It’s home to more than 400 space artifacts, the world’s largest collection of moon rocks on view for the public and more.
Make Independence Plaza the first stop on your visit. Climb aboard and explore a replica of the space shuttle Independence, which is mounted atop the original NASA 905 shuttle carrier aircraft, to see what living conditions were like for astronauts. Then head to Mission Mars, which highlights NASA’s journey to the red planet. This interactive exhibit features a virtual Martian sunset, a simulated Orion capsule you can climb aboard and a real piece of Mars rock you can touch.
At the Starship Gallery to get an up-close look at spacecraft that have been to space (including the Apollo 17 Command Module) and touch a moon rock. See suits and apparel that have been worn by astronauts in space. And get a close-up peak of one of two SpaceX Falcon 9 boosters on display—and we mean close-up: You can walk under it!
Space Center Houston regularly hosts family overnights for ages 5 and older which include hands-on STEM activities, dinner and breakfast. Plus, you can choose to camp outside, under the Falcon 9 rocket or in Independence Plaza, or sleep indoors surrounded by some of the rarest spaceflight artifacts on Earth. Houston, 281/244-2100; spacecenter.org
Tip: When you arrive at Space Center Houston, be sure to make same-day reservations for a Tram Tour. You can choose to visit the Astronaut Training Facility, where you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at NASA Johnson Space Center’s training equipment, or Rocket Park, where you can get up-close and personal with a Saturn V rocket, which was used primarily in the Apollo program.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
This massive pink granite dome has drawn visitors for thousands of years. And for good reason: You can hike the 11 miles of trails, camp, picnic and geocache here—and the scenery, rock formation and legends about the park are just plain magical. In one story, Tonkawa Indians thought that ghost fires flickered on top of the dome. Turns out the rock glitters on clear nights after rain, and scientists think the glittering is reflections from collected water or wet feldspar.
Enchanted Rock is one of the best public places to stargaze in central Texas. In fact, it’s one of the first Texas parks to be designated as an International Dark Sky Park, meaning the area has an exceptional quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is protected. The state park also hosts various events for families like full moon hikes and campfire chats. // Fredericksburg, 830/685-3636; tpwd.texas.gov
Tip: Reservations are required for day passes and overnight stays on weekends, school breaks, and holidays. You can make reservations online or by calling 512/389-8900.
RELATED: Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails around Dallas
Top image: iStock
