Stargazing Around Indiana With Your Valentine

Looking for a unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your loved one or your kids? Nothing says romance like stargazing! And fortunately, there are many places to do that around Indiana. In the warmer months, any clear night in a rural area will do just fine. But while the temperatures are still cold, consider looking up at the stars indoors.

This Valentine’s Day, you can go on a “Fly Your Sweetie to the Moon” mission at the Challenger Learning Center in Brownsburg. One of three community missions scheduled for 2012, this will be geared toward adult couples. For $65, you’ll get fresh flowers, a framed picture, chocolate, and most importantly, the chance to land on the moon. Call 317.852.1008 to reserve one of the limited spots.

Or attend a show at one of Indiana’s planetariums. Below is a link to information on public shows at these locations:

• Ball State University Planetarium in Muncie
• Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana in Hammond
• Holcomb Observatory at Butler University in Indianapolis
• Koch Planetarium in Evansville
• Schouweiler Memorial Planetarium in Fort Wayne
• SpaceQuest Planetarium at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
• Turkey Run State Park Planetarium in Marshall
• Valparaiso University Observatory in Valparaiso

Many high schools around the state also have planetariums. Check with your local school system for more information on public programs and shows that may be available.

Don’t let the boundaries of the atmosphere limit your Valentine’s Day plans. Escape to outer galaxies and make wishes from shooting stars with the ones you love this year.

See how the stars are aligning this Valentine’s Day in this article by Mike Lynch.

Photo courtesy of the Challenger Learning Center in Brownsburg.