When
Where
International Day of Light 2025
International Day of Light
1601 E University Blvd.
Sunday, June 1, 2025
1:00 to 5:00 PM
Enjoy free planetarium programs and optics activities for families, teachers, and science enthusiasts of all ages!
FREE AND PAID ACTIVITIES
Enjoy free planetarium shows and presentations at 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM during this event.
If you want to visit Flandrau's Science Exhibits during your visit, regular science exhibit admission of $10.95 for kids, $12.95 for seniors/military, and $14.95 for adults applies.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LIGHT:
The International Day of Light is a UNESCO global initiative to celebrate light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, astronomy, and clean energy. The event marks the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman. There’s no better place to celebrate light than in Arizona with our world leaders in optics, photonics, and astronomy!
Optics and photonics are the science and engineering of light used everywhere, every day. Join us on June 1 to explore and discover the world of optics and Arizona’s world leaders in the science of light!
Schedule of Events
1 to 5PM - Fun with optics
Activities!
Explore basic optics principles with local experts and enthusiasts at the free, hands-on activity tables inside and outside (weather permitting) Flandrau.
2PM - Free We Are Stars show!
We follow a group of Victorian time travelers as they learn about the origins of atoms. We witness the formation of the first hydrogen atoms after the Big Bang and then watch how those hydrogen atoms gather into galaxies and stars. We learn how the stars forged all the atoms needed to make life. We see the creation of planet Earth and follow the atoms and molecules through evolution, back to where the time travelers started their journey. Seating is limited to first come, first seated.
Olivia Fehlberg from Ruda Optical is the program host for this full-dome film.
Doors open at 1:45 pm and the show will last from 2:00 pm until 2:50 pm
3:30PM - Free Black Holes show!
Experience striking, immersive animations of the formation of the early universe, star birth and death, the collision of giant galaxies, and a simulated flight to a super-massive black hole lurking at the center of our own Milky Way Galaxy. Narrated by Liam Neeson. This full-dome show will followed by a live talk with Dan Marrone, UA Professor of Astronomy and Steward Observatory Astronomer. Seating is limited to first come, first seated.
Lukas Gruber from Leonardo Electronics is the program host for this full-dome film.
Doors open at 3:15 pm and the show will last from 3:30 pm until 4:20 pm.
About Optics Valley
Arizona is home to world-class businesses and scientific and educational institutions with decades of innovation and leadership in optics, photonics and astronomy. Optics Valley is the industry cluster that helps its members thrive through business acceleration, workforce development, startup support, and connections to local and worldwide opportunities. Optics Valley is a committee of the Arizona Technology Council.
Learn More about Optics Valley