Bowling Green State University
Physical Sciences Building View map

Physical Sciences Laboratory Building Ridge St, Bowling Green, OH 43403

The Physical Sciences Laboratory Building features the BGSU Planetarium, photochemical sciences laboratories, classrooms and office space. The planetarium is a 118-seat public science theater serving BGSU students year-round, with public planetarium programs open to area schools and the public from September to early May. Set under a 40-foot dome, the Minolta star projector can show the sky as it would be seen from any place on the Earth at any time, including the Sun, Moon, planets, and more than 4000 stars. The building also has an Observatory, atop the building, has a computer-operated DFM reflecting telescope for stargazing and for observational research projects. The sky deck has several portable telescopes and a .5-meter telescope used weather-permitting following the weekend planetarium shows.

Place Details

Upcoming Events (6)

Planetarium Show: DID AN ASTEROID REALLY KILL THE DINOSAURS?

Thu, Jan 22, 2026 4:30pm to 5:30pm

Physical Sciences Building, BGSU Planetarium, Room 112

$2 Donation Suggested
  What took out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago? Was it an asteroid impact? See evidence that the dinosaurs fell victim to an impact from space and explore impacts and collisions across the Solar System. Public stargazing will follow evening shows, weather permitting.  

Planetarium Show: DID AN ASTEROID REALLY KILL THE DINOSAURS?

Sun, Jan 25, 2026 4:30pm to 5:30pm

Physical Sciences Building, BGSU Planetarium, Room 112

$2 Donation Suggested
  What took out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago? Was it an asteroid impact? See evidence that the dinosaurs fell victim to an impact from space and explore impacts and collisions across the Solar System. Public stargazing will follow evening shows, weather permitting.  

Planetarium Show: FROM EARTH TO THE UNIVERSE

Sun, Jan 25, 2026 7:30pm to 8:30pm

Physical Sciences Building, BGSU Planetarium, Room 112

$2 Donation Suggested
  Humanity has long wondered about our place in the Universe.  FROM EARTH TO THE UNIVERSE traces the history of astronomy from the ancient Greeks to the invention of the telescope to modern giant observatories that have allowed humanity to peer into the Universe.  Along the way you’ll take a spectacular tour of the Universe from the Earth and planets of the Solar System to stars and faraway galaxies.  

Planetarium Show: DID AN ASTEROID REALLY KILL THE DINOSAURS?

Thu, Jan 29, 2026 4:30pm to 5:30pm

Physical Sciences Building, BGSU Planetarium, Room 112

$2 Donation Suggested
  What took out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago? Was it an asteroid impact? See evidence that the dinosaurs fell victim to an impact from space and explore impacts and collisions across the Solar System. Public stargazing will follow evening shows, weather permitting.  

Planetarium Show: FROM EARTH TO THE UNIVERSE

Thu, Jan 29, 2026 6:30pm to 7:30pm

Physical Sciences Building, BGSU Planetarium, Room 112

$2 Donation Suggested
  Humanity has long wondered about our place in the Universe.  FROM EARTH TO THE UNIVERSE traces the history of astronomy from the ancient Greeks to the invention of the telescope to modern giant observatories that have allowed humanity to peer into the Universe.  Along the way you’ll take a spectacular tour of the Universe from the Earth and planets of the Solar System to stars and faraway galaxies.  

Planetarium Show: DID AN ASTEROID REALLY KILL THE DINOSAURS?

Sun, Feb 1, 2026 4:30pm to 5:30pm

Physical Sciences Building, BGSU Planetarium, Room 112

$2 Donation Suggested
  What took out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago? Was it an asteroid impact? See evidence that the dinosaurs fell victim to an impact from space and explore impacts and collisions across the Solar System. Public stargazing will follow evening shows, weather permitting.  
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Recent Events

This is a past event.

Planetarium Show: FROM EARTH TO THE UNIVERSE

Sun, Jan 18, 2026 7:30pm to 8:30pm

Physical Sciences Building, BGSU Planetarium, Room 112

$2 Donation Suggested
  Humanity has long wondered about our place in the Universe.  FROM EARTH TO THE UNIVERSE traces the history of astronomy from the ancient Greeks to the invention of the telescope to modern giant observatories that have allowed humanity to peer into the Universe.  Along the way you’ll take a spectacular tour of the Universe from the Earth and planets of the Solar System to stars and faraway galaxies.  
This is a past event.

Planetarium Show: DID AN ASTEROID REALLY KILL THE DINOSAURS?

Sun, Jan 18, 2026 4:30pm to 5:30pm

Physical Sciences Building, BGSU Planetarium, Room 112

$2 Donation Suggested
  What took out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago? Was it an asteroid impact? See evidence that the dinosaurs fell victim to an impact from space and explore impacts and collisions across the Solar System. Public stargazing will follow evening shows, weather permitting.  
This is a past event.

Planetarium Show: FROM EARTH TO THE UNIVERSE

Thu, Jan 15, 2026 6:30pm to 7:30pm

Physical Sciences Building, BGSU Planetarium, Room 112

$2 Donation Suggested
  Humanity has long wondered about our place in the Universe.  FROM EARTH TO THE UNIVERSE traces the history of astronomy from the ancient Greeks to the invention of the telescope to modern giant observatories that have allowed humanity to peer into the Universe.  Along the way you’ll take a spectacular tour of the Universe from the Earth and planets of the Solar System to stars and faraway galaxies.  
This is a past event.

Early Music Ensemble

Wed, Nov 19, 2025 7:30pm

Physical Sciences Building, Planetarium

The Early Music Ensemble will present a concert at the BGSU Planetarium. This event is free and open to the public.  This concert is a Music for Food event. A suggested donation of $15 for an adult or $5 for a student would be appreciated but is not an obligation.  Click HERE to donate directly to The BG Brown Bag Food Project.  PROGRAM LINK  
This is a past event.

Public Stargazing at the BGSU Observatory

Fri, Oct 31, 2025 8pm to 9pm

Physical Sciences Building, Roof

Free
Are you interested in stargazing and looking at celestial objects through telescopes? Come check out the Department of Physics & Astronomy rooftop observatory during public stargazing sessions.  The rooftop observatory includes a 0.5-meter research grade telescope as well as smaller “amateur astronomer” telescopes, which you will be able to look through.  You will also learn how to find major constellations and any planets currently visible. Stargazes take place on the roof of the Physical Sciences Laboratory Building. The roof can be accessed by taking the elevator to the roof (press the “R” button in the elevator). Signs in the hallway will help direct you to the elevator. Do not use the stairs to go to the roof. The “R” button on the elevator will be unlocked at the start time of the stargaze session. If you arrive before it is unlocked, please wait on the first floor for the session to begin. It is recommended that you dress warmly. The roof is usually colder and windier than the ground.  While on the roof for a stargaze, please refrain from talking on your cell phone so that you do not interrupt others or stop them from hearing what is being discussed. The use of phones for flash free pictures or astronomy apps is allowed. Please do not use the light on your phone though since dark adaptation is important for viewing the nighttime sky. Astronomical  objects can only be seen when the sky is totally or mostly clear, therefore stargaze cannot be held unless the weather is clear. If it is snowing, raining, foggy, cloudy, or even partly cloudy there will be no stargaze session that night. If you aren’t sure if the conditions will permit a stargaze session, you can call (419) 372-8831 for a recorded message telling whether the sessions will be held or canceled that night. The message is set one hour before the scheduled start of the session. If you call earlier than one hour before the start time you may receive an incorrect message. When you arrive at the roof and exit the elevator, you will be greeted by one of the stargaze personnel and directed to the various stations you can visit. If you are attending the stargaze for a general visit (rather than as part of an astronomy course), please let the greeter know. In addition to the listed stargazing sessions, weather permitting, there may also be an opportunity for stargazing following evening Planetarium shows.
This is a past event.

Public Stargazing at the BGSU Observatory

Tue, Oct 28, 2025 8pm to 9pm

Physical Sciences Building, Roof

Free
Are you interested in stargazing and looking at celestial objects through telescopes? Come check out the Department of Physics & Astronomy rooftop observatory during public stargazing sessions.  The rooftop observatory includes a 0.5-meter research grade telescope as well as smaller “amateur astronomer” telescopes, which you will be able to look through.  You will also learn how to find major constellations and any planets currently visible. Stargazes take place on the roof of the Physical Sciences Laboratory Building. The roof can be accessed by taking the elevator to the roof (press the “R” button in the elevator). Signs in the hallway will help direct you to the elevator. Do not use the stairs to go to the roof. The “R” button on the elevator will be unlocked at the start time of the stargaze session. If you arrive before it is unlocked, please wait on the first floor for the session to begin. It is recommended that you dress warmly. The roof is usually colder and windier than the ground.  While on the roof for a stargaze, please refrain from talking on your cell phone so that you do not interrupt others or stop them from hearing what is being discussed. The use of phones for flash free pictures or astronomy apps is allowed. Please do not use the light on your phone though since dark adaptation is important for viewing the nighttime sky. Astronomical  objects can only be seen when the sky is totally or mostly clear, therefore stargaze cannot be held unless the weather is clear. If it is snowing, raining, foggy, cloudy, or even partly cloudy there will be no stargaze session that night. If you aren’t sure if the conditions will permit a stargaze session, you can call (419) 372-8831 for a recorded message telling whether the sessions will be held or canceled that night. The message is set one hour before the scheduled start of the session. If you call earlier than one hour before the start time you may receive an incorrect message. When you arrive at the roof and exit the elevator, you will be greeted by one of the stargaze personnel and directed to the various stations you can visit. If you are attending the stargaze for a general visit (rather than as part of an astronomy course), please let the greeter know. In addition to the listed stargazing sessions, weather permitting, there may also be an opportunity for stargazing following evening Planetarium shows.

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