For years, it's been the place where thousands of young people and adults come to learn about the universe and worlds beyond our reach.

The Erie Planetarium served as a resource for the Erie community for more than fifty years, and it continues today as the Yahn Planetarium, now a part of Penn State Behrend. The planetarium is located in the School of Science complex on the Behrend campus.

General Public Show Information

***Masks are required in all shared indoor spaces at Penn State Behrend.***

  • Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. — General Audience "Unveiling the Invisible Universe" (recommended for ages 9 to adult)
  • Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. — Children's program "The Sky Above Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" (recommended for ages 4 to adult)

Admission fees are $5 for adults and $3 for kids 12 & under. Penn State employees and children under 2 are free. Cash and credit card accepted.

For additional information or specific show details, contact planetarium director Jim Gavio at 814-898-7268 or [email protected].

Special Event

Yahn Planetarium will participate in the Erie County Public Library's first-ever histERIE Week, May 22–28. This week-long event is dedicated to helping promote historic preservation from a community level, as well as making history education opportunities available to all Erie County residents. Throughout the week, patrons can attend more than 30 programs at different locations, including Yahn Planetarium. For more information and the full event schedule, visit the histERIE website or contact the library at 814-451-6927.

Virtual Planetarium Visits

You can request a group virtual visit to the Yahn Planetarium. Your visit could include current events in astronomy and space science, a view of the current night sky, and more. Please submit your virtual visit request online.

Astronomy at Home

Looking for space-related activities to do at home while the Yahn Planetarium is closed? We have you covered.

  • Find the International Space Station
    Find out when you can spot the International Space Station from your own backyard right here in the local Erie area.
  • NASA at Home
    Check out this great NASA website for some hands-on activities for families and up-to-date information about NASA's bold new plans.