OCC Planetarium Public Shows Calendar
Tuesday, April 21
We Are Aliens
4:00 pm
Are we alone in the universe? It's one of the oldest questions in astronomy, whether there is life elsewhere in the universe. In this presentation, join narrator Rupert Grint on an exploration of the possibility of life in our solar system and beyond. Learn how what we're discovering about life on our own planet is changing our perceptions regarding the search for life in the universe. From robotic explorers of the Red Planet to the realization that our galaxy is home to potentially millions of Earth-like worlds, this planetarium show will inspire and educate.
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Phantom of the Universe: The Hunt for Dark Matter
5:00 pm
The mysteries of Dark Matter still elude scientists to this day, but through new ground breaking technologies and scientific determination we are slowly uncovering the vast hidden parts of our universe. With the help of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, one of the most ambitious engineering projects in human history, we are discovering new things about the universe every day.
Recommended ages: 12 and up
Get Tickets
Pink Floyd: The Wall - LAZERDOME
6:00 pm
Coupled with spectacular laser art and immersive effects, Pink Floyd's classic 1979 epic is sure to dazzle!
Get TicketsWednesday, April 22
One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure
4:00 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
The Great Solar System Adventure
5:00 pm
Join showman extraordinaire "The Great Schiaparelli" as he takes the audience on a death-defying space-time adventure within his wondrous Observatorium.
From the sun-scorched surface of Mercury to the icy expanses of Pluto and beyond, prepare to be subjected to the myriad dangers and wonders of our Solar System, on a breathtaking tour that reveals just how precious our home planet really is.
Be warned though, the Observatorium isn’t just for show. It will transport the audience right to the heart of some of the deadliest locations in our slice of the heavens. It’s going to take some fancy flying to get everyone back in one piece!
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Get Tickets
U2 - LAZERDOME
6:00 pm
Laser U2 features the band's timeless classic and modern hits. This musical concert is set against a backdrop of the latest laser art. Your eyes and ears will guide you into an immersive journey through this politically-conscious Irish rock band's rise and success!
Get TicketsSaturday, April 25
Exploding Universe
1:00 pm
The universe we see and even our existence has been shaped by explosive events like supernovae: the death throes explosions of giant stars. These maelstroms create the elements which form complex molecules and life, seeding the galaxies for future star systems. Explosive events of all scales from the subatomic of particle accelerators mimicking conditions in the early universe, to super volcanoes, stellar deaths and even black hole mergers, form the fabric of the universe we live in. Our understanding of the universe and the matter, energy and forces which are it's substance are tied to explosions of all sizes from the immense to the almost undetectably minute.
Recommended ages: 10 and up
Magic Tree House: Space Mission
2:00 pm
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
Get Tickets
Explore
3:00 pm
The sky has been an object of fascination for as long as humans have walked the earth. The movements of the spheres are ingrained in every culture on earth and have created mythologies, superstitions, and legends many people still recognize. Today we turn our scientific tools toward the heavens to get a new perspective of the universe and our place in it. Take a journey through time, from the most ancient astrologers, to the future of manned exploration of the solar system and see how our view of the cosmos has grown and evolved.
Recommended ages: 10 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 TicketsParking 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, April 24
Dominique Stumbaugh, UCLA
Reconstructing Near-Earth Space Environment
The Earth's Van Allen radiation belts are dynamic regions of trapped, energetic charged particles. The ability to predict radiation belt dynamics, and thus space weather, has become increasingly important for the broader society due to an increasing satellite infrastructure that is vulnerable to energetic electrons.
In this talk, I will explore the history of the near-Earth space environment, from the discovery of the radiation belts to the present AI-driven age. I will also present my research on a machine learning based model trained on a data set that uses the global coherent nature of the radiation belts to reconstruct electron flux measurements near the geomagnetic equator.
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.
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!