Photo: Everbright © Courtesy of Sacred Heart University Discovery Science Center & Planetarium
What do Big Bird, Ice Age fossils, and distant galaxies have in common? This fall, they all become part of the adventure at the Sacred Heart University (SHU) Discovery
Science Center & Planetarium.
Located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, just off the highway, Discovery makes it easy to turn an ordinary day out into something fun and exciting. Whether you are traveling with a preschooler fascinated by the stars, a teenager who wants to dig deeper into science, or an adult fascinated by the mysteries of space, this is a destination designed for curiosity at every age.
A Destination That Grows With You
Part of Discovery’s appeal is that no two visits look the same. Across three floors of exhibits and programming spaces, guests can move from hands-on science and live demonstrations to interactive experiences and journeys through space.
That same spirit is shaping Discovery’s new membership experience, designed to grow alongside visitors, with new reasons to return, explore, and discover at every stage. Children can begin with playful, age-appropriate experiences, families can return as interests evolve, and older visitors can explore more advanced subjects, special programming, and new attractions throughout the year.
“The SHU Discovery Science Center & Planetarium is a place where curiosity comes alive for visitors of every age,” said Sacred Heart University President Dr. John J. Petillo. “With dynamic exhibits, immersive experiences, and new attractions throughout the year, there is always something exciting to explore.”
Go Under the Arctic
One of those discoveries is UNDER THE ARCTIC: DIGGING INTO PERMAFROST, a traveling exhibition opening this fall that brings a rarely seen environment into vivid, hands-on focus.
Created with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the exhibition explores the hidden world beneath Arctic landscapes, connecting climate science with the people, places, and ecosystems affected by thawing permafrost.
Visitors can step inside a replica permafrost research tunnel, examine fossil fragments with a video microscope, explore a scientist’s field lab, and discover remarkable features preserved in frozen ground. Stories from Alaska Native communities also bring a deeply human perspective to the science, sharing experiences of change, resilience, and life in the North. The immersive exhibition even incorporates fossils and organic features representing what can be preserved within permafrost.
Look to the Stars
For many visitors, however, Discovery’s biggest star remains the Henry B. duPont III Planetarium.
The 33-foot digital full-dome theater can turn an afternoon in Bridgeport into a journey through planets, star systems, and far beyond. Programming stretches across generations, from One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure for preschoolers to live astronomy experiences and Astronomy After Dark, designed for ages 13 and up.
It continues a tradition of immersive science experiences at Discovery, where visitors can encounter everything from planetary exploration to simulated space missions.
“For many children, the planetarium is where a lifelong interest in science and exploration begins,” Petillo said.
And that may be the best part of a visit to Discovery: you never quite know which experiment, exhibit, story, or star-filled moment will become your next big discovery.
Plan your visit at SHUdiscovery.org or call 203-416-3521
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Discovery Science Center and Planetarium is a non-profit educational organization located in Bridgeport, Connecticut which seeks to connect audiences of all ages with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) learning.