Star Gallery
PARDON OUR PROGRESS: While they work to bring new experiences, including the installation of the new exhibit Our Place in the Cosmos, the Star Gallery will be temporarily closed Oct. 13-15, Oct. 27-29, and Oct. 31.*
Our Place in the Cosmos is set to open in November 2025,** marking the first phase of the museum’s two-year transformation with new exhibits and experiences across all three floors. Learn more at Fernbank’s Future.
This unique feature offers visitors the chance to learn about the stars and constellations visible to the naked eye in the nighttime sky. The gallery showcases stars ranging from the brightest, Sirius, to some of the faintest visible from Atlanta. The varying gradations in brightness can be discerned by the naked eye with sensitivity.
Each star has been meticulously plotted on the ceiling, creating an illuminated star chart. The fibers used to represent the stars vary in diameter, resulting in 22 degrees of brightness. Over six miles of fiber optic wires accurately depict 542 stars twinkling above.
SkyWatch screens deliver daily programming about constellations, planets, and astronomical events.
Visitors can find the stars in the Star Gallery using the following guide:
- Stand facing the doors to the Giant Screen Theater, located toward the south, to identify the constellations in the appropriate direction.
- Antares in Scorpius and Arcturus in Bootes are situated near the World of Shells exhibition.
- Moving away from The World of Shells exhibit toward the Great Hall, which is eastward, visitors will encounter stars visible in the early evening across the seasons.
- Ursa Major (the Big Dipper) can be easily seen above the double doors to the Great Hall.
- Andromeda is near the center of the room.
- The Orion nebula (M-42) is located just below the belt stars of Orion.
- Aldebaran (in the constellation Taurus) and Betelgeuse (in Orion) are among the winter stars on the side by the Great Hall.
Visitors are encouraged to make stargazing a part of their next special event.
*Subject to change without notice.
**Check back for the opening date.
