'Grossology & You' Comes to Morehead Planetarium

Morehead Planetarium is offering parents a fun opportunity to gross out their kids this weekend.

The “Grossology & You” show offers a tour through the human body, guaranteed to fascinate kids that come for the grossness, but will also leave with some science.

Fact: Kids love gross stuff.

Sometimes it’s just fun to yell: “Ewwwww!”

It’s the first show that doesn’t feature a science and space theme. Morehead Planetarium’s Marketing Manager Karen Kornegay:

“There have been a few full-dome planetarium shows across the United States that have done planetarium shows that were on medical or biology themes, but very few – we’re talking, probably only three or four,” said Kornegay. “So we’re really on the forefront on this.”

The show is based on the best-selling “Grossology” books and popular website created by Sylvia Branzei and Jack Keely dedicated to exploring and explaining the sickening things about all of our bodies.

The “Grossology” books have a big following among elementary school students.

“And they’re really educational, too,” said Kornegay. “They focus on the human body, and all its grossness, and help the kids learn in a way that’s fun and exciting for them.”

The show is funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.

“Having a planetarium show teach children about health issues and about their body is a really exciting new direction,” said Kornegay. “And it’s really engaging for the kids – very visual, very exciting and interactive. It’s a lot of fun.”

And by interactive, she means that kids get to be characters in a sci-fi game show.

“Our character gets sucked into his own body somehow, through the magic of the planetarium,” said Kornegay, “and there he encounters some exciting characters.

“There’s Scabby, who represents the immune system; Boogie, who represents the respiratory system; and then there’s Flatus, the rock-star who represents the digestive system.”

Afterward, you can visit the new Morehead exhibit “Gross Labs,” where kids can play scientists applying for such jobs as “Poop Analyzer” and “Snot Surveyor.”

Sounds like fun, right? (Ewwwww…)

Well, it is.

“Grossology & You” is presented Saturday at 11:30 .am and 12:30 p.m.; and on Sunday at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.

Also on Sunday, kids can pose for photos and get autographs from Boogie, a star of “Grossology & You” between 1 and 3 p.m.

Tickets are $7.68 for adults and $6.51 for seniors, students and kids, and are not sold in advance.

You can visit moreheadplanetarium.org for more details.

‘Grossology & You’ Comes to Morehead Planetarium

On Air Now: 97.9 FM