Michael and Kimthanh Lê Planetarium

09/04/2026

The observable Universe contains an estimated 2 trillion galaxies.

This 2-trillion count comes from deep space imaging using telescopes like Hubble or JWST and only applies to the part of the universe we can see from Earth. The total universe is likely much larger (or even infinite), meaning the actual number of galaxies is far higher.

09/01/2026

A handful of entrepreneurs have recently announced the “Fermi Explorer” mission. The plan is gather donations to build the cheapest possible mission to send a satellite to the Alpha Centauri star system.

Currently estimated at just $15 million to build and launch the small satellite, it would take about 77,000 years to reach it's destination.

We could really be facing the great filter."

08/31/2026

Now on a three-month, million-mile journey to its final orbit, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will soon reveal the universe’s darkest secrets. The mission launched early on Sunday aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will settle essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and astrophysics.

08/28/2026

Space is so empty that sound cannot travel through it. Sound is a pressure wave passed from molecule to molecule as they bump into each other and the wave spreads out. Atoms and molecules are just too far apart in space to allow sound to travel.

08/24/2026

20 years ago today, Pluto was demoted... I mean reclassified as a dwarf planet. Hard to believe it's been 20 years already.

How far is Pluto from the Earth? Why isn’t Pluto a planet? Read this article to get answers to these and many other questions!

08/21/2026

Universe Uncovered - Just how cold is space?

It depends on how close you are to a star, but what about if you were just floating out in deep space far from anything else?

08/17/2026

As summer break begins to wrap up for the local schools, if you're looking for last minute things to do, be sure to check our the Back Bay Amateur Astronomers calendar. They have two events this week, and they always bring some phenomenal telescopes to these things.

Official Calendar | The Back Bay Amateur Astronomers is a non-profit organization dedicated to - Bringing Astronomy to the People of Hampton Roads.

08/14/2026

Tonight only, see the classic sci-fi, alien, chainsaw wielding, mutant octopus, love-at-first sight musical known as "Voyage of the Rock Aliens". Aliens visit Earth in search for the origin of Rock and Roll but the gorgeous Dee Dee stops them in their tracks with her dancing musical numbers.

$5 per person
6:00, doors open and tickets available in the lobby
6:30, trivia
7:00, movie

08/07/2026

Universe Uncovered at the Lê Planetarium

There is enough distance between the Earth and Moon that you could fit all the other planets of the solar system (and Pluto) between them. However, you must use the Earth-Moon distance when the Moon is furthest (aka - perigee). This gives you some extra room to squeeze the planets in.

07/31/2026

Escape velocity is how fast an object would have to be going right now, so that it would keep going and never fall back. Escape velocity for Earth is a little over 25,000 mph. This is the speed you need to reach to leave the Earth forever. Anything slower, and you come back home.