The Green Bank Science Center is now open to pre-registered, vaccinated visitors! Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Plan Your Trip
Admission
Science Center Exhibit Hall and presentation – $5/pp (Ages 6+)
Bus tours – $10/pp (Ages 6+); includes admission to explore Science Center
Children 5 and under – Free
(Motor coach groups – $5/pp
Minimum visit – 2 hours)
PLEASE NOTE: In order to protest our staff and visitors from the COVID-19 virus while visiting our facilities, all visitors five and older are required to be vaccinated against the virus and up to date on boosters. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Learn more by following the Purchase Tickets button below.
Dates and offerings may change at any time and without notice.
Space is limited for all activities.
We highly recommend purchasing tour tickets in advance. Masks and other safety restrictions apply to all visitors two years and older – strictly enforced.
Advance reservations required for groups, field trips, special tours, and some events. Background screening required for SETI Tours, High Tech Tours, and overnight groups.
Take a Tour
We offer a variety of tour options including our popular Site Tour and our specialized SETI and High Tech Tours. You can even take a self-guided walking tour or explore our miles of trails. Thank you for turning your phone and digital devices off.
The Science Center is open daily to pre-registered visitors from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Bus tours begin hourly. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are required for all guided programs and entry into the Science Center.
Visit the Exhibit Hall
Discover how radio astronomers learn about the Universe. Interactive exhibits and fascinating facts await you inside a huge Faraday cage. Don’t know what a Faraday cage is? You’ll learn that and so much more on our site tours!
Have a Bite
The Starlight Café has reopened with a limited menu of takeout options! Onsite ordering available to those with Science Center tour tickets or call ahead to place your takeout order – 304-456-2361. Open Thursday-Monday from 11:00-6:00 (last orders taken at 5:30).
Shop the Galaxy Gift Shop
The Galaxy Gift Shop offers apparel, collectibles, and the best variety of educational toys around! Indulge your inner scientist! Can’t make it for a visit? Shop from home on our online store!
Special Tours
SETI Tours
Select Fridays (dates below); 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.;
$40/person
Due to high demand and limited capacity, advance reservations are required. 20 participants max.; Ages 12 & up. The tour requires climbing stairs. Background screening and confirmation of vaccination are required.
Our tour celebrates Green Bank’s historic Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI). It begins with an exclusive presentation right in the control room of our 85-1 Telescope where the search began with Frank Drake’s OZMA project. From there, guests enjoy rare admittance into the 140-foot telescope where Jill Tarter’s Project Phoenix took place and then to normally-restricted GBT access points. The tour ends in our Drake Lounge where you will be greeted by one of our own astronomers and learn about the future of SETI and the role of the GBT in the Breakthrough Listen project.
If you’ve ever wanted to be inside our operation control rooms or to speak to one of our radio astronomers in person, then this is THE opportunity of a lifetime!
SETI Tour dates:
3/18, 4/8, 5/20, 6/3, 6/10, 6/24, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5, 8/12, 8/19, 8/26, 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/21, 11/18, 12/16
High Tech Tours
Select Thursdays (dates below) 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.; $20/person
15 participants max.; no photography of any kind is permitted. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Background screening and confirmation of vaccination are required.
Look inside receivers and marvel at the precise engineering required to collect the faintest signals from the Universe. An Observatory engineer will pull back the curtain on our site labs and control room as you see what makes our observatory one of the world’s leading radio telescope facilities.
High Tech Tour Dates:
3/10, 4/14, 5/12, 6/9, 7/14, 8/18, 9/8, 10/13, 11/10, 12/8
Note:
SETI and High Tech Tours require advance screening for participants. Learn more about our screening policy.
Nature Walk
Select dates (below).
Explore one of our many trails with a resident naturalist. Experience the flora, fauna, and geology that make our Observatory unique. Maximum 12 people per tour, reservations encouraged. $5/person.
Tour Dates:
4/23; more dates coming soon!
Virtual Opportunities
Can’t make it to Green Bank? Join us virtually! We offer field trips, live stream events, and more!
Events
Star Parties
Meet at the Science Center – begins at Sunset. FREE!
Green Bank Observatory staff will treat you to views of the night sky through optical telescopes. If it is raining, don’t worry, we will have a stellar indoor presentation.
Star Party Dates:
6/4, 8/27, 9/24, 10/22, 11/19, 12/17
Family Science Labs
Select Saturdays (dates below) 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.; reservations suggested; FREE!
Get your family started in science! Kids, age 4-9, will love our fun-filled, hands-on science experiments!
Family Science Lab Dates:
Dates will be announced soon!
Drake Lectureship
Saturday, April 23 with Dr. Alyssa Goodman
The Frank Drake Lectureship is awarded each year to a member of the sciences, arts, or humanities community in recognition of their contributions to advancing human knowledge and creativity. Learn more at https://fb.me/e/1ExJaZhMj
Over the Moon Party
Sunday, May 15, 2022
Make impact craters, stomp rockets, make a spacesuit, take a GBT ground tour, and more! This outdoor event will feature hands-on science activities and fun STEM learning opportunities!
Public attendees are not required to pre-register, be vaccinated, or wear face masks.
Spread the word and bring your friends!
(Please note, there will be no indoor access to the Science Center during this event.)
Hungry for dinner or a snack? Grab a bite from the Starlight Cafe! Refreshments will be available for purchase.
Schedule
5:30-8:30 – hands-on science activities
8:30-9:30 – Observe the Moon party
Stay late to view the Lunar eclipse!
Turkey Trot
November 26, 2022
Burn off the Thanksgiving feast at the annual Turkey Trot hosted by the Green Bank Observatory! Race in a traditional 5k run/walk, a 10K trail run, or the 1K Gobble Wobble for kids 8 and under.
Special Events
Space Race Rumpus
2022 Date TBD
Join us for a weekend-long cycling festival with a variety of fun rides! Whether you are an experienced mountain biker or complete novice, there are rides, races, and cycling for all ages and levels.
Star Quest
June 29 – July 2, 2022
The nation’s largest optical and radio star party! Enjoy optical presentations, hands-on workshops, and dark West Virginia skies.
Garth Newel Emerging Artist Fellow Showcase
August 11, 2022
Music comes to the Observatory from the Garth Newel Music Center in Warm Springs, VA, and the Emerging Artist Fellowship program.
About our special events
Green Bank Observatory is pleased to share our amazing facilities with many other groups and organizations as part of our community outreach. Be sure to follow their links to learn more about these events.
Groups and Field Trips
Groups & Field Trips
Advance reservations required for groups and field trips, and background screening is required for overnight groups. Masks and other safety restrictions will apply to all visitors.
Email gro.y1656188613rotav1656188613resbo1656188613bg@sr1656188613uot1656188613 for reservation information.
Organized Group Tours
Motor coach groups are welcome. Tours can be scheduled any day of the week. A $5 fee per person is required for motor coach tours; two hour minimum visit for full tour.
Educational Field Trips
Schedule free tours, activities, and day and overnight field trips for organized groups of K-16 students and youth clubs. Overnight students experience science first-hand by completing research projects with a real radio telescope. A trip to the Observatory might just inspire your students to join the next generation of scientists and engineers!
Scouting Trips
Day trips can be scheduled any day of the week. Tour reservations are free for organized scout groups but advance arrangements are required. For overnight stays and badge completions see dates below:
Scouts BSA Astronomy Badge Weekend Dates:
3/11-13 (FULL); 4/29-5/1 (FULL); 9/16-18 (FULL); 11/18-20
Girl Scout Badge Weekend Dates
(Junior/Senior Scouts): 10/21-23
Daisies & Brownies Day Trip Dates available on request
We’ll come to you!
Request a college ambassador from our West Virginia Science Public Outreach Team (SPOT) to visit your school or group and deliver standards-based presentations and hands-on activities. Virtual presentations also available.