After Dark | 21+ only event | Saturday, February 15 | 7:00pm to 10:00pm



Grab someone you’ve got chemistry with, whether it’s your partner or friends, and join us for an unforgettable evening exploring love, sex and attraction through the lens of science, history, and nature!

This one-of-a-kind 21+ only event is packed with lively demonstrations, spicy presentations, and hands-on activities guaranteed to make your heart race. 

Sip on signature cocktails (cash bar), savor delicious bites (available for purchase), and immerse yourself in the experience with:

⚔️ Gladiatorial Combat: Witness epic clashes and cheer for your champion!

🤫 Things I Can’t Say to Second Graders–Dino Edition: A mini presentation with a prehistoric twist.

✨ Aphrodisiacs: Fact or Fiction? Taste test the science behind the sizzle.

❣️ Love Trivia: Flex your knowledge of romance!

🏹 Cupid’s Arrow: Can you hit the bullseye?

🌹 Great Sex Scandals from History: Scandalous tales through time.

🙈 Animals Do It Differently: Match quirky courtship rituals to their wild performers.

💗 Love Conquers All: Navigate the stressors of the world to protect your love.

❤️‍🔥 Love in the Greco-Roman World: Step into ancient stories of passion.

💌 Let the (Valentine) Games Begin: Take on your partner or friends in games of skill and strategy.

🌟 Star-Crossed Lovers: A planetarium show written in the stars.

🌙 To the Moon and Back: Gaze at the cosmos at our observatory.

💘 And more adult-only fun!

After Dark tickets are $25 for members, $30 for non-members, and $35 at the door (subject to availability). Pre-registration is highly recommended. Please note that tickets are non-refundable. 

Explore Our Newest Acheson Planetarium Show! | Mars 1001 

Embark on an exciting adventure as we blast off into the unknown with our latest Acheson Planetarium show, Mars 1001! Discover the incredible journey of what a mission to Mars might really be like. 

🚀 Take off with an international crew of astronauts on the ultimate adventure.

💫 Experience the excitement as they aim to leave their mark on the Martian surface.

🧪 Watch them conduct mind-blowing experiments that could change life as we know it.

☄️ Take part in one of the most epic space exploration missions ever imagined.

This celestial adventure is perfect for astronauts ages 8 and up–yes, that includes adults!

Tickets are required for all planetarium programs, in addition to general museum admission. You can easily purchase them online or at the front desk upon your arrival.

Turn Winter into a Cool Adventure! | Mid-Winter Break Explore Camps

Ready to make this winter totally epic and one your kiddo will never forget? Our first-ever Mid-Winter Break Explore Camps are here to turn chilly days indoors into thrilling adventures! 

The museum will transform into a laboratory for campers, featuring daily specialty programs like planetarium shows, interactive science demonstrations, dinosaur programs, critter encounters in the exploreLab, and the chance to unlock the secrets of Archimedes in our brand-new traveling exhibit, The Science of Archimedes.

❄️ Mid-Winter Break Explore Camp Dates: 

Feb. 17, 18, and/or 19

Register your curious camper for an unforgettable experience filled with fun activities, experiments, and investigations. But hurry—only a few spots remain! Join us for one day or multiple, as daily activities will not repeat! Camps are designed for students in grades 1-4.

Fun Family Workshops | Select Saturdays | 1:00pm to 3:00pm 



Embark on scientific adventures that the whole family will enjoy! 

Bring the whole family and join us for fun-filled workshops packed with hands-on activities and interactive experiences that spark curiosity and create lasting memories for everyone—kids, parents, and grandparents alike!

Upcoming workshops include: 

🧪 Chemical Reactions in Action | February 22, 2025

⚡ Electric Adventures | March 2, 2025

🦖 Dino Fossil Detectives | March 22, 2025

✈️ Flying High | April 5, 2025 

🐸 Down by the Pond | May 3, 2025

Registration is required. Tickets are $17 for members and $20 for non-members. 

Space Science! | Evening Program | Saturday, February 22 | 5:30pm - 9:00pm

Join us for an out-of-this world exclusive after-hours family experience featuring a pizza dinner and a whirlwind of exciting, space-themed hands-on activities!🪐

Get ready to blast off with: 

🔭 Astronomer Perspectives: Discover the wonders of the night sky as you explore with an astronomer.

🚀 Become an Engineer: Dive into the science behind space engineering.

🌕 Moon Magic: Create your own moon phases - what will they look like?

☄️ Artifacts Above: Get up close and hold a REAL meteorite.

✨ Star Stories: Hear a surprising constellation tale.

☀️ Space Stroll: Take a stroll to learn the true distances between the planets and the Sun.

⭐ A Tour of the Stars: Take a live-guided tour of the night sky at the Acheson Planetarium.

🌌 Our World and Beyond: Explore the wonders of the universe at the Cranbrook Observatory. 

⚡ Electric Experience: Witness a hair-raising demonstration of a Tesla coil.

💡 An Ancient Genius: Uncover the secrets of our newest traveling exhibit, The Science of Archimedes. 

Doors open at 5:30pm for check-in and pizza dinner. The fun kicks off at 6:00pm and wraps up by 9:00pm. This program is best suited for children ages 6 and up. 

Children must remain under the supervision of an attending adult at all times. This supervising adult may be a family member, a designated adult, or a scout leader. 

If you're involved in Scouting, this program can help fulfill some or all of the requirements for the following badges: Daisy Space Science Explorer, Brownie Space Science Adventurer, Junior Space Science Investigator, and Tiger Sky's the limit.

Eureka! | One of Detroit’s Newest Exhibitions | The Science of Archimedes | Open through June 1, 2025

Have you explored our newest traveling exhibit yet? The Detroit News has! ✨ 

The Science of Archimedes highlights the innovative work of the ancient genius: Archimedes of Syracuse!

From inventions that enabled a great shift in science and technology to engineering marvels and discoveries that continue to shape our everyday lives, we owe a great deal to Archimedes for things such as: 

🏰 The Claw of Archimedes: Using levers and pulleys, this ancient weapon lifted and overturned warships right out of the water, an early glimpse of advanced physics

🔩 Archimedes Screw: A tool still used globally, the screw’s design is fundamental in irrigation, engineering, and water transport

🌀 Center of Mass: Archimedes’ center of mass theory laid the groundwork for Newton’s second law of motion

💥 Archimedes Ballista: The heaviest version of this ancient catapult used to defend the city of Syracuse during the Roman Siege and was an early use case of warfare mechanics and technology

💧 Buoyancy: Archimedes’ work on buoyancy made quite the splash and became a law of physics fundamental to fluid mechanics

🔥 Archimedes’ Heat Ray: A rumored system of mirrors harnessing the sun’s power to burst warships into flames, illustrating potential solar energy innovation

Check out the article here!

Explore how Archimedes' discoveries transcend centuries and how his impact truly stands the test of time!

From Classrooms to Cosmic Adventures! | Take Learning Beyond the Classroom 

Time is flying, and there are just a few months left to plan a field trip or classroom visit that turns your lessons into lasting memories. Don’t miss the chance to inspire your students before the school year wraps up!

From astronomy and earth science to engineering, life science, physical science, and social studies, this ultimate science experience will have your students’ curiosity shooting for the stars.

What makes Cranbrook Institute of Science the perfect choice for your next classroom experience?

🌟 NEW! Every program participant gets an opportunity to visit the museum for FREE! After your programming, keep an eye out for your post-visit survey email with details. 

🦖 Explore permanent and traveling exhibits that can be tailored to all grade levels' curricula.

🧪 Participate in engaging, high-quality, and hands-on programming with experienced educators.

🔭 Can’t make it to the Institute? We’ll come to you! Book our Mobile Acheson Planetarium or any of our Science on the Go! or Science on the Screen! programming.

📚 Our programs are Michigan Standards-aligned and can be customized to meet your curriculum needs.

⭐ And more!

Make the most of the time left this school year!

Don’t Forget! 

• The Institute will be open for FREE on President’s Day, Monday, February 17, from 10:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 5:00pm, courtesy of MASCO. Pre-registration is required. To register, visit science.cranbrook.edu.
• Our newly revamped membership levels are designed to keep the excitement going, offering unlimited opportunities to explore, discover, and ignite curiosity. Renew or become a member today!
• Experience everything the museum has to offer for only $5 every Friday after 5:00pm! General admission and Acheson Planetarium tickets will be available for just $5 each. Learn more.
• And during your next visit at the Institute, stop by our Science Shop and Reflections Café for apparel, books, souvenirs, and tasty snacks and beverages.