OCC Planetarium Public Shows Calendar
Tuesday, September 9
Habitat Earth
5:00 pm
Join us for a fully narrated pre-show, where we dive deep into the mysteries of our solar system. Is water truly the source of life beyond Earth? Embark on a thrilling exploration of the moons and planets that may harbor life, from the icy depths of Europa to the geysers of Enceladus. Discover how these distant worlds might support life and ignite your imagination about the possibilities that lie beyond our own planet.
Then plunge below the ocean’s surface to explore the dynamic relationships found in deep ocean ecosystems; dig beneath the forest floor to see how Earth’s tallest trees rely on tiny fungi to survive; and soar to new heights to witness the intricate intersection between human and ecological networks in Habitat Earth.
Recommended ages: 8 and up
Saturday, September 13
To Worlds Beyond
1:00 pm
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
One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure
2:00 pm
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
Capcom Go! The Apollo Story
3:00 pm
This show is a staff favorite!
An immersive, historical documentary that showcases the achievements of the Apollo program and what it took to put the first human on the Moon. It introduces a new generation to the immense challenges they overcame and will inspire them to become the explorers, designers, engineers, thinkers and dreamers of the future.
Recommended ages: 8 and up
Skywatchers LIVE!
4:00 pm
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 almost weekly!
Recommended Ages: 10 and up
Get TicketsSaturday, September 13 Evening
Taylor Swift: Party Playlist - LAZERDOME
5:30 PM
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.
Set List:
You Need To Calm Down, 22, Anti-Hero, Love Story, Exile, Look What You Made Me Do, Willow, Lavender Haze, ...Ready For It?, I Knew You Were Trouble, Bad Blood, Blank Space, You Belong With Me, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, and Shake It Off!
Laser light shows feature loud music and flashing lights. These programs are not recommended for those with sensitivity to light or sound.
Queen - LAZERDOME
6:45 pm
Come experience the groundbreaking music of Queen rendered in a spectacular laser light show!
Track List:
We Will Rock you/We are the Champions
Bicycle Race
Don't Stop Me Now
Another One Bites the Dust
I Want to Break Free
Under Pressure
Killer Queen
Bohemian Rhapsody
Radio Gaga
Princes of the Universe
The Show Must Go On
Laser EDM - LAZERDOME
8:00 pm
Laser Fantasy has the perfect mix of electrolytes to help stimulate your brain. Laser EDM features music from various Electronic Dance Music artists such as Kaskade, Alesso, Tiesto, Avicii, and many others. You'll be surrounded in pounding digital audio on a rhythmic journey transcending electronica through imagery and lasers mixed live by our world class laser artists. Roll on down to the dome for one of our most requested shows.
Set List:
| Tiesto | Carpe Noctum |
| Steve Aoki | Boneless |
| Alesso vs One Republic | If I Lose Myself |
| Kaskade & Deadmau5 | I Remember |
| Chemical Brothers | Block Rockin' Beats |
| Ferry Corsten | Adagio For Strings |
| Deadmau5 | The Veldt |
| Skrillex | Summit |
| Knife Party | Destroy Them With Lasers |
| Deadmau5 | Ghosts 'N' Stuff |
| Fatboy Slim | Rockafeller Skank |
| Avicii | Levels |
Laser light shows feature loud music and flashing lights. These programs are not recommended for those with sensitivity to light or sound.
Parking Fee
Parking on-campus is $5 for the day, 24 hours/day, 7 days a week. The fee can only be paid through the Passport Parking phone app or website and the parking permit is linked to your car's license plate number. We highly recommend parking in Lot E off of Merrimac Way (Google Maps "OCC Lot E").
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.**
Skylark Speaker Series - Friday, September 26, 2025
Dr. Kyle Kremer, UCSD
The Dynamic Lives of Black Holes, Neutron Stars, and White Dwarfs in Globular Clusters
The dense centers of globular clusters are home to a whole zoo of exotic astrophysical phenomena. I study the unexpected events experienced by compact objects — black holes, neutron stars, and white dwarfs — within these dense stellar systems. Over the past decade, the groundbreaking detections of gravitational wave signals from merging compact object binaries by the LIGO/Virgo detectors have opened a new window to the cosmos. I will discuss ways these gravitational wave events may have originated in globular clusters, made possible by the unique dynamical activity of compact objects within these systems.
Beautifica
Beautifica is a 360 journey through worlds real and imagined, from mindblowing particle fields to unashamedly euphoric fantastic environments almost impossible to describe.
The brainchild of visionary composer James Hood working with some of the finest immersive animators on the planet, this family-friendly show is a feast for the senses, which will leave your spirit refreshed and your face grinning ear to ear.
Tickets Coming Soon
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!