Friends of Arlington's David M. Brown Planetarium upcoming events

FOAP Living History Event - "The American Scientific Revolution" (06/13/2026)

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 20:30:00 GMT

This program is offered by the Friends of Arlington's David M. Brown Planetarium.

Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a living-history event at the planetarium. Famed 18th century icons Dr Benjamin Franklin (played by Barry Stevens) and astronomer David Rittenhouse (portrayed by Dean Howarth) will be interviewed about their work in science and their belief that the future of their new nation would be grounded in scientific literacy.
From lightning rods to the Transit of Venus, from Newton’s laws to the birth of democracy, this immersive program reveals how curiosity, experimentation, and the pursuit of knowledge fueled the American Revolution and the founding of a new republic.

Perfect for families, students, history lovers, and anyone inspired by the stars — and by the bold idea that knowledge can change the world.

Duration: approximately 1 hour
Recommended for general audiences

FOAP Planetarium Show - "From Earth To the Universe" (06/13/2026)

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT

This program is offered by the Friends of Arlington's David M. Brown Planetarium.

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The night sky has been the subject of campfire stories, ancient myths and awe for as long as there have been people. From Earth to the Universe explains the history of astronomy, and the invention and development of the telescope. Using knowledge gained from today's advanced observatories, you will travel far from our solar system to the colorful birthplaces and burial grounds of stars, and go beyond the Milky Way to see myriad galaxies and the vastness of space.

Duration: 30 minutes
Recommended for general audiences. (Best for ages 9 and older)

FOAP Planetarium Show - "Explore" (06/13/2026)

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 23:30:00 GMT

This program is offered by the Friends of Arlington's David M. Brown Planetarium.

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Humanity has long dreamed of moving beyond Earth and exploring space. The planetarium show Explore looks at the advancement of science as part of our quest for spaceflight, covering astronomy, the solar system, and orbital mechanics in a straightforward, accessible way.
Want to know about Kepler's laws of planetary motion? Curious about how a spacecraft moves from one orbit to another? This show is for you!

Duration: 27 minutes
Recommended for general audiences - best suited for ages 9 and older.

FOAP Planetarium Show - "Little Eve: Stories of Planet Earth" (06/14/2026)

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:30:00 GMT

This program is offered by the Friends of Arlington's David M. Brown Planetarium.

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Young Eve is small, but her problems feel huge. She is not sure she can stand up to the wolves, who always seem to pick on her. But Eve’s mother understands, and shares stories that reveal how even the smallest creatures can change the world. She also talks about the planets of the solar system and how Earth is the only one where life exists. Little Eve listens and begins to wonder if she is stronger than she previously imagined.

Duration: 29 minutes
Recommended for: Children and families

FOAP Guest Presentation - "The People's Spaceship" (06/14/2026)

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT

This program is offered by the Friends of Arlington's David M. Brown Planetarium.

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Special guest presentation at the David M. Brown Planetarium!

Discover how NASA reimagined human space flight in the post-Apollo era, promoting the Space Shuttle as "the people's spaceship" - a symbol and tool of public engagement, participation, and national identity.
Amy Kaminski, author of The People's Spaceship, will detail how NASA managed to make the shuttle an American technological icon and central symbol of human space flight activity for decades. She will also offer insights into factors driving Artemis and the rest of the current human space flight program.
Ms. Kaminski will be available to sign her book after the talk.

Duration: approximately 1 hour
Recommended for general audiences