United States Air Force Academy

Homeschool Program: Cosmology 101 aka 'Big Bang for dummies' on Wednesday, Feb 11 at 10:30 a.m.
2026-02-11 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Denver) | Planetarium, 2120 Cadet Dr, Air Force Academy, CO, 80840, United States
Homeschool Program: Cosmology 101, aka “Big Bang for dummies”
Wednesday, Feb 11 from 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Don’t let the title intimidate you – The Big Bang is a big topic, but it is the beginning of all things, including the beginning of our understanding of the universe. So, understanding how everything started is a core concept in space and science studies
Cosmology is “the science of the origin and development of the universe. Modern astronomy is dominated by the Big Bang theory, which brings together observational astronomy and particle physics.”
Join Dr. Dan Polsgrove, Astronomer, Planetarium educator and former Astronomy professor here at the Academy, for a detailed discussion of the Big Bang, our understanding of it and why it emerged as the leading theory to explain the beginning of our universe.
In addition to the Live portion, this program will also include the short film, Dark Universe
With our limited seating, please only reserve seats if you know you will be attending. If you RSVP and your plans change for any reason, please email Jeff our Planetarium Director at planetarium@afacademy.af.edu so we can release your seats.
UPDATED BASE PASS PROCESS:
All visitors to the Air Force Academy, 18 years old and older need to either be accompanied by a DoD card holder or request a base pass by clicking the appropriate dated request button on the planetarium webpage (https://www.usafa.edu/facilities/planetarium/) for a Planetarium Visit.
Related NGSS Science Standards:
ESS1.A: The Universe and its Stars (e.g. the study of stars’ light spectra and brightness is used to identify compositional elements of stars, their movements, and their distances from Earth.)
HS-ESS1-2: Earth’s Place in the Universe (e.g. construct an explanation of the Big Bang theory based on astronomical evidence of light spectra, motion of distant galaxies, and composition of matter in the universe.)

Homeschool Program: Are We Alone? Exoplanets and the Search for E.T. on Friday, Feb 20 at 10:30 a.m.
2026-02-20 10:30 - 23:45 | Planetarium, 2120 Cadet Dr, Air Force Academy, CO, 80840, United States
Homeschool Program: Are We Alone? Exoplanets and the Search for E.T.
Friday, Feb 20 from 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
“Are We Alone?” is the single, most intriguing questions of space, science, and humanity.
Bringing that question into the Planetarium, Dr. Dan Polsgrove, Astronomer, Planetarium educator and former Astronomy professor here at the Academy, will connect you directly to the most current information science and astronomy have on the search for E.T. In recent years, the search for life beyond planet Earth has become synonymous with the search for exoplanets, and the astronomy community has just passed 6,000 confirmed exoplanets.
This search brings together many disciplines of science and astronomy and makes for a fascinating Homeschool Program lesson.
In addition to the Live portion, this program will include our new short film, Worlds Beyond Earth.
With our limited seating, please only reserve seats if you know you will be attending. If you RSVP and your plans change for any reason, please email Jeff our Planetarium Director at planetarium@afacademy.af.edu so we can release your seats.
UPDATED BASE PASS PROCESS:
All visitors to the Air Force Academy, 18 years old and older need to either be accompanied by a DoD card holder or request a base pass by clicking the appropriate dated request button on the planetarium webpage (https://www.usafa.edu/facilities/planetarium/) for a Planetarium Visit.
Related NGSS Science Standards:
ESS1.A: The Universe and its Stars (e.g. the study of stars’ light spectra and brightness is used to identify compositional elements of stars, their movements, and their distances from Earth.)
HS-ESS1-2: Earth’s Place in the Universe (e.g. construct an explanation of the Big Bang theory based on astronomical evidence of light spectra, motion of distant galaxies, and composition of matter in the universe.)

Wing Open 2026 Boxing Championships
2026-02-27 18:00 - 21:00 | Clune Arena, 2169 Field House Dr, Air Force Academy, CO, 80840, United States
The U.S. Air Force Academy boxing team will compete under the big lights of Clune Arena on Friday, Feb. 27, when it hosts the 2026 Wing Open Boxing Championships. For more information, see Wing Open Boxing: Your Questions Answered.
The event is free and open to the public.
The QR code for registering will be available in Jan.

Check out photos from last year’s event and learn more about the Wing Open!
