Saturday Shows - May 11
Birth of Planet Earth
1:00
Scientists now believe that our galaxy is filled with solar systems, including up to a billion planets roughly the size of our own. The film employs advanced, data-driven, cinematic-quality visualizations to explore some of the greatest questions in science today: How did Earth become a living planet in the wake of our solar system’s violent birth? What does its history tell us about our chances of finding other worlds that are truly Earth-like?
Recommended ages: 8 and up
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One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure
2:00
Explore the night sky with your favorite friends from Sesame Street in Big Bird's Adventure: One World, One Sky. Follow along with Big Bird, Elmo, and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu, as they take you on a journey of discovery to learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the Sun, and the Moon.
Recommended ages: 3-6
5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI
3:00
The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) is creating the most detailed map of our nearby universe. Installed on the Mayall telescope on Kitt Peak in Southern Arizona, DESI's 5000 independently operated robots can measure the light from thousands of galaxies at once. Join us as we explore the science, instruments, and people behind this global endeavor.
Recommended ages: 12 and up
Skywatchers
4:00
Join one of our planetarium experts on a live guided tour of the stories, sights, and other wonders in the night sky. The constellations, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies found overhead have been part of human consciousness for millennia, and today we have the knowledge and technology to explore all of them in great detail.
Stick around after the show for a live Q&A with our presenter! This show is updated bi-weekly!
Recommended Ages: 10 and up
Get TicketsTuesday Shows - May 14
Space Out 2 & Solarians! Meditation Hour
2:00
Stressful day? Tough exams? Come spend an hour of relaxation at the planetarium and watch the universe slowly drifting by.
Stick around afterwards for Solarians... There’s no place like multiverse. A group of strange interstellar travelers will go out beyond the galaxy to seed new planets with life. Solarians shows within a fulldome animated immersive narrative, the representation of gravitational waves produced by the collision of two black holes, the scientific discovery of the century. Gabriela González, leader of LIGO is scientific advisor.
Open for walk-ins every Tuesday afternoon.
FREE to all guests!
Magic Tree House: Space Mission
4:00
Travel with the brother-sister duo Jack and Annie in their Magic Treehouse as they learn about how scientists uncover the mysteries of the universe. With the help of a real astronomer, astronaut, and of course, a pile of books, Jack and Annie are take non a wondrous journey of adventure and learning to the edges of the universe.
Based on the popular book series by Mary Pope Osborne.
Recommended ages: 5-10
Dynamic Earth
5:00
Dynamic Earth explores the inner workings of Earth’s great life support system: the global climate. With visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations, this cutting-edge production follows a trail of energy that flows from the Sun into the interlocking systems that shape our climate: the atmosphere, oceans, and the biosphere. Audiences will ride along on swirling ocean and wind currents, dive into the heart of a monster hurricane, come face-to-face with sharks and gigantic whales, and fly into roiling volcanoes.Recommended ages: 10 and up Get Tickets
LAZERDOME - Michael Jackson
6:00
Michael Jackson's amazing musical career is chronicled in this laser tribute the The King of Pop. His timeless hits live on in laser light. Get TicketsParking Fee
Parking on-campus is $5 Monday-Friday 24 hours/day and is run by Passport Parking. The fee can be paid for via the parking kiosk on campus (the P on the map near the library), through their phone app or website. The parking permit is linked to your car's license plate number. Be aware that this is a digital parking pass, so no physical ticket will print from the Kiosk, even though the kiosk will say it will print a ticket. Parking is FREE on Saturdays and Sundays.
**Note: Parking was free prior to fall 2023 due to COVID, this new policy will be strictly enforced.
Public Star Shows!
Public programs are a cornerstone of the Planetarium's mission. Regular showings are offered on weekends so anyone can come enjoy a rotating schedule of breathtaking full-dome experiences.
For all public shows, please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled show begins. There will be no late admittance due to safety concerns.
We advise against bringing children younger than 5 years old to planetarium programs. The planetarium theater gets very dark and the visuals can be alarming to young children. However, bringing young children for One World, One Sky Big Bird's Adventure is strongly encouraged!
All programs are approximately 45 minutes long.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
**The Planetarium adheres to a strict No Late Admittance policy. Once the doors have closed, the show is underway and must not be interrupted due to safety concerns.**
STEM Explorers
Rocket Camp - May 11, 8:45am-12pm
Explore space missions, delve into aerospace engineering, and participate in a hands-on rocket-building activity. Become a rocket scientist for a day and launch your curiosity to new heights!
Check-in begins at 8:45
Open to children grades 5-9
Participation fee: $20
Summer Camps
This summer we are offering TWO different week-long full-day summer camps!
- June 24-28: Intro to STEM for grades 3-6
- July 8-12: Intro to Engineering for grades 5-9
Small Group Field Trip
Wednesday, May 15 from 11am-12:30pm
Do you have a group too small to book a traditional field trip? This event is for you! Get the same benefits as a field trip at the discounted rate.
Eight other worlds share our solar system, each one stranger and more interesting than the last. Travel from the surface of the sun all the way to the icy realm of comets. Volcanos the size of France, storms bigger than the Earth, and clouds that rain acid are just some of the incredible things to discover on worlds both big and small as you make your journey through the Solar System.
Recommended ages: 8 and up
**The Planetarium adheres to a strict No Late Admittance policy. Once the doors have closed, the show is underway and must not be interrupted.**
Skylark Speaker Series
Dr. Joel Zinn - April 26
The quest for Earth 2.0: a needle in a Galactic haystack of planets
In the 30 years since the discovery of the first exoplanets--planets orbiting stars other than the Sun--we have learned that planets exist around virtually every star in the Milky Way Galaxy. But while, statistically, we know every star we look at must host planets, knowing the exact configuration of planets around any individual star is a much more challenging problem. Still more difficult is identifying an "Earth twin:" a small, potentially habitable nearby planet where we might expect life to exist. I will describe the enormous challenge of finding such planets, and the incredible technological advances that are making it achievable. I will highlight some of the most exciting exoplanet discoveries to date, and look towards the future, where even more promising results await.
Reception: 6pm
Talk: 7pm, followed by a Q&A session.
* Seating is on a first come, first served basis. See reservation page for details.
Event followed by FREE Public Telescope Star Party
LAZERDOME
Tuesday, May 7
The Beatles
From their beginnings revolutionizing rock n roll, to their psychedelic era, this show visualizes the Beatles’ music with energy and beauty.
Tuesday, May 14
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson's amazing musical career is chronicled in this laser tribute the The King of Pop. His timeless hits live on in laser light.
Saturday, May 18
Taylor Swift: Through the Eras
What's better than a Tay Swift playlist? A Tay Swift playlist set to laser lights! Enjoy unforgettable hits from all of her ten distinct eras. Sing along to all your favorites and let the show transport you through different stories as only laser light can.
Players gonna play, haters gonna hate, fakers gonna fake, so just shake it off!
Taylor Swift: Party Playlist
Taylor Swift is one of the biggest pop stars on the planet. With over 200 million records sold, a shelf full of Grammys, and an army of fans, Taylor Swift is an inspiration for generations. Laser Taylor Swift takes her biggest hits and brings them to life in dazzling laser light. If you can’t score tickets to her concert, Laser Taylor Swift is the next best thing.
Tuesday, May 21
Journey
Laser Journey: Don’t Stop Believing - With world wide album sales of close to 90 million records, Journey is one of the biggest arena rock bands ever. Featuring dazzling guitar solos and melodies you can’t help but sing along with, Laser Journey brings this timeless music to life in brilliant laser light. Whether you first fell in love with Journey's songs while rollerskating in the 80’s, watching American Idol or Glee, Laser Journey is a fun for audiences of all ages.
Tuesday, May 28
Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon
Back by popular demand! Experience the psychedelic sounds paired with brilliant laser light imagery to transport yourself to the Dark Side of the Moon.
Mesmerica
Mesmerica is a visual music journey that brings the mesmerizing music of Grammy-nominated composer and percussionist James Hood together with visually-hypnotic, 3D animated art curated from artists around the world, creating an immersive experience designed to transcend time, relax, soothe, and stimulate your mind and senses...
Please direct all questions and customer service inquiries to the Mesmerica Box Office Team. They can be contacted via boxoffice@mesmerica.com. Their Customer Service Team aims to reply within 24 hours.
Gift Certificates
Whether it's for an astronomy enthusiast, a curious mind, or someone eager to explore the mysteries of the cosmos, our gift certificates are a stellar choice. Grab yours now and let the journey into the stars begin!