Information
Landmark: Coca-Cola Space Science CenterCity: Columbus City
Country: USA Georgia
Continent: North America
Coca-Cola Space Science Center, Columbus City, USA Georgia, North America
Overview
In Columbus, Georgia, the Coca-Cola Space Science Center draws visitors with hands-on exhibits and star-filled planetarium shows, serving as a leading hub for space science, astronomy, and STEM education.Run by Columbus State University, the center doubles as a museum and a lively place to learn, sparking curiosity and deepening scientific understanding for visitors of any age-whether they’re peering through a telescope or handling a fossil.Founded in 1996, the Coca-Cola Space Science Center stands as Georgia’s only spot devoted entirely to exploring the wonders of space science, from distant galaxies to the faint glow of a moon rock.They built it to spark curiosity about the stars and the vastness of space, and to back STEM education across the region-from classrooms buzzing with experiments to evening skywatch events.The center helps shape the next wave of scientists, engineers, and innovators by giving them hands-on, interactive experiences-like building circuits or testing prototypes-that bring classroom lessons to life.The center’s campus features a space designed to draw visitors in, with immersive tech and hands-on exhibits that pull you right into the experience.It includes the Omnisphere Planetarium Theater, where a cutting-edge full-dome digital projection sweeps images across the curved ceiling like a night sky come to life.The Challenger Learning Center offers a hands-on simulation that puts you right in the middle of a space mission, from countdown to the hum of control panels.The WestRock Observatory houses advanced telescopes, ready for visitors and students to explore the night sky.Galleries filled with rare NASA artifacts, from gleaming spacecraft panels to worn astronaut gloves.Classrooms designed for learning, plus bright, open spaces for workshops and summer camps.On campus, sleek screens and smart labs sit alongside quiet study nooks, creating a space that sparks curiosity and invites discovery.Top sights and standout exhibits, starting with number one.The Omnisphere Planetarium Theater sits at the heart of the center’s public programs, where visitors gather beneath a dome of glittering stars.Inside the Omnisphere, a full-dome projection sweeps overhead, pulling you into dazzling views of star birth, swirling galaxies, black holes, distant planets, and the human journey into space.Some planetarium shows are simple enough for a kindergartener, while others dive deep into the stars for grown‑up audiences.Programs feature titles such as *Wonders of the Universe*, *Earth, Moon & Sun*, and *Astronaut*, which puts you in the middle of daily life on the International Space Station-right down to floating past a window with Earth spinning below.Two.At the Challenger Learning Center, you can step into a simulated space mission, taking on the role of an astronaut or guiding the crew from mission control as screens flicker and headsets crackle with chatter.Through interactive exercises, you’ll tackle problems, work side by side with teammates, and explore real scientific ideas-sometimes by handling equipment or testing a simple experiment yourself.The center belongs to a national network of Challenger Learning Centers, where students dive into space-themed lessons, explore the thrill of rocket launches, and build their STEM skills along the way.Number three.At WestRock Observatory, you’ll find a 24-inch PlaneWave CDK telescope towering under the dome and more than 20 portable scopes ready for use, with regular star-gazing nights and hands-on astronomy programs open to the public.Through powerful telescopes, visitors can gaze at planets, stars, and distant galaxies, with expert astronomers pointing out wonders like a bright, red-tinged Mars.The observatory offers remote telescope access to schools and runs mobile astronomy programs, rolling into communities with telescopes that let people see Saturn’s rings for themselves.Number four.One of the center’s standout attractions is its vast NASA artifact collection-the largest cache of space shuttle memorabilia in Georgia, from worn mission patches to gleaming control panels.Worth nearly $20 million, the collection holds flown treasures like a Space Shuttle Main Engine nozzle that roared through nine missions, consoles once lit up in Kennedy Space Center’s Firing Room 3, and even a Shuttle escape basket.These artifacts offer a real, touchable connection to America’s space exploration history, sparking visitors’ imaginations with tales of ingenuity and the quiet bravery behind each mission.Five.The Guzzle Vortex Exhibit is a new, hands-on experience designed for kids, packed with activities that make aerodynamics and space science come alive-like watching a tiny rocket spin through a clear tube.Kids send bright scraps of fabric racing through a twist of suction tubes, feeling the rush of air as they learn how airflow and motion work-play and discovery rolled into one lively moment.The Coca-Cola Space Science Center puts education front and center, offering programs for all ages.For school groups, field trips feature tailored tours and hands-on projects-think building model rockets-that meet state learning standards and give K–12 students an experience they won’t forget.Summer camps with a STEM focus offer multi-day adventures where kids and teens dive into science-building model bridges, running experiments, and tackling hands‑on group projects.The center frequently brings the community together for public events like GA STEM Day, rocket launches that crack the sky, hands-on robotics demos, and 3D printing workshops that spark curiosity about science and technology.Professional development workshops give educators hands-on ways to weave STEM into their lessons, making the most of the center’s tools and materials.The center welcomes everyone-kids clutching ice cream cones, grandparents with slow steps-and it’s built to be easy to reach and comfortable for all.The facility hosts planetarium shows on a regular schedule, welcoming families, students, and adults to watch stars bloom across the dome.They host special events and themed programs timed with the skies-an eclipse casting shadows across the lawn, a meteor shower streaking bright against the night.Hands-on exhibits that spark curiosity and invite you to wander, like a table piled with smooth, colorful stones waiting to be sorted.Volunteers and staff greet visitors with warm smiles, share their expertise, and make each moment of learning feel alive.The gift shop sells science-themed merchandise and educational materials, from bright atom-shaped keychains to well-worn field guides.The operation’s located at 701 Front Avenue in Columbus, Georgia 31901, just a short walk from the busy sidewalks of downtown.We’re open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.-just in time for that late morning coffee.We’re closed on Sundays, with the sign out front catching the afternoon sun.Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and military, $6 for kids aged 4 to 10, and free for toddlers under three.The center offers group rates and special pricing for educational programs, whether it’s a class tour or a hands-on science workshop.The Coca-Cola Space Science Center stands as a key hub in the Southeast, sparking curiosity and inviting the public to explore space science-whether it’s peering through a telescope or joining a hands-on workshop.It blends cutting-edge tech with real pieces of spacecraft and hands-on exhibits, sparking curiosity about the vastness of the universe and the thrill of discovery.The center connects classroom lessons with hands-on discovery, helping young people step confidently into STEM careers while sparking a curiosity for science that lasts a lifetime-like the thrill of peering through a telescope for the first time.The CCSSC isn’t just a museum-it’s a lively gathering place for learning, sparking ideas, and inspiring curiosity, where visitors gain a richer sense of our place among the stars and our enduring drive to venture past Earth’s blue horizon.
