Spartan Young Astronomers Club
About Spartan Young Astronomers Club
First Saturday of the month (usually, double check dates) 10 a.m. to noon. November through August each yearThe Spartan Young Astronomer Club (SYAC) is geared toward kids ages roughly 8-12 who are curious and love learning about astronomy! Kids of any age are welcome though. Programs are typically structured to include a presentation in the planetarium theater to introduce the month's topic, a short break, and then several activities that young astronomers rotate between.
Pre-registration is not required.
Fees
This program is $5 per kid. The grown-ups are free but are required to stay at the planetarium. This is NOT a drop off program.
Up to two kids can get in for free with a Family Plus membership.
SYAC is also part of our Museums for All program and entry is free for kids with an EBT, WIC, or medicaid card.
2025- 2026 Schedule
| Date | Topic |
|---|---|
|
November 7, 2026 |
Citizen Science Together, we'll explore ways you can get involved in scientific research from the comfort of your own home! |
|
December 5, 2026 |
Magnets Learn about how magnetism works and the ways it shapes the universe around us. We'll experiment with magnets to explore their different properties. |
|
January 9, 2027 |
Laws of Physics You may have heard of Newton's Laws, but did you know there are so many more that govern our understanding of physics and astronomy? We'll explore these laws together and even put some of them to the test. |
|
February 6, 2027 |
The Sun & the Solar Cycle Ever wondered why the sky sometimes glows at night? Learn all about our closest star and how it impacts what we experience here on Earth! |
|
March 6, 2027 |
Exoplanets One of the fastest growing fields in astronomy today is the study of planets outside of our solar system. We'll have a look at some of the more interesting exoplanets and the ways scientists are able to observe them. |
|
APRIL |
No SYAC Check out the MSU Science Festival instead! |
|
May 1, 2027 |
Radio Astronomy Radio waves aren't just for listening to music in the car! We'll learn about what they are and the many exciting ways radio waves are used to explore objects out in space. |
|
June 5, 2027 |
Stars Stars are all over the night sky, but have you ever considered how we study them? Together, we'll explore where they come from, how we categorize them, historical observations, and so much more! |
|
July 10, 2027 |
Venus Being the hottest planet in our solar system (yet still so similar to our Earth), Venus is truly unique. We'll discuss its characteristics, our history of exploration, and perform some hands-on experiments to study its properties for ourselves. |
|
August 7, 2027 |
States of Matter Come learn about the different states of matter, where we find them in our daily life, and some of our favorite examples of these across our galaxy. We'll do activities showing how we can transform matter across different states as well! |