OCC Planetarium Public Shows Calendar
Saturday, November 2
NEW! The Great Solar System Adventure
1:00
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 TicketsOne 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
Birth of Planet Earth
3:00
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
Get TicketsSkywatchers LIVE!
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 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
Dr. Sean Pike - September 27
The Grand Tour: Exploring the Diversity of Planets Outside the Solar System
We currently know of more than 10,000 planets and planet candidates orbiting nearby stars. Many of these extrasolar planets look quite different than the planets in the solar system, including Jupiter-like gas giants on close-in orbits, `mini-Neptunes’ with puffy hydrogen-rich atmospheres, and rocky `super-Earths’ with masses many times larger than that of Earth or Venus. In my talk I will provide a guided tour of the exoplanet zoo as we understand it today, and describe ongoing efforts to characterize the properties of these distant worlds using both ground- and space-based telescopes.
Heather Knutson is a professor of planetary science in the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences at the California Institute of Technology. She grew up on Kwajalein Atoll, located about halfway between Hawaii and Australia. Although the island's relatively isolated location was ideal for stargazing, it was not until many years later when she did a summer internship at the Space Telescope Science Institute (home of the Hubble Space Telescope) that she decided to pursue a career in astronomy. Heather obtained her B.S. in physics from Johns Hopkins University and PhD in astronomy from Harvard University, then spent two years at UC Berkeley as a Miller Postdoctoral Fellow before moving to Caltech in 2011.
LAZERDOME
Wednesday, October 30
Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon
2023 marked the 50th anniversary of the first time the album was released. Experience the psychedelic sounds paired with brilliant laser light imagery to transport yourself to the Dark Side of the Moon.
Thursday, October 31
Infernal Symphony
Bringing a little bite to your Halloween shows with this heavy rock show. Infernal Symphony was created for those 'trick or treaters' who prefer it LOUD!
Thursday, October 31
Fright Light II
Looking for a unique way to send chills up your spine? AVI is horrified to bring you Fright Light II. Do you have the courage to sit through the most terrifying laser experience ever? Are you brave enough to witness the undead nibbling brains or an unexpected encounter with little green men? Or perhaps you will keep your eyes closed and only sneak a peek at ghoulish renditions like Thriller or Feed My Frankenstein. Fright Light II is a ghoulish way to celebrate the Halloween season…
…if you dare!
Saturday, November 2
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.
Saturday, November 2
Rush 2112
Over forty years ago the three prophets of Rush foretold an intergalactic war on their prog-rock album, 2112. They predicted that in the year 2062, the universe will finally find peace — and oppression — as the Solar Federation unifies warring planets and instates the music-hating Priests of the Temples of Syrinx as overlords. Everything will change, however, in 2112 when an optimistic free-thinker finds a “strange musical device” and martyrs himself while attempting to bring melody to the stars.
Saturday, November 2
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.
Tuesday, November 5
Queen
Come experience the groundbreaking music of Queen rendered in a spectacular laser light show!
Wednesday, November 6
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, November 12
iPop Under the Stars
iPop is music from your MP3 player set to spectacular laser graphics! Hits from the 2010's Pop Charts with a pop classic or two thrown in to round out the mix. We will be leaving the night sky on to truly experience the fireworks under the stars.
Wednesday, November 13
The Beatles
From their beginnings revolutionizing rock n roll, to their psychedelic era, this show visualizes the Beatles’ music with energy and beauty.
Saturday, November 16
Metallica
Experience one of the Planetarium’s most thrilling laser shows in this heavy metal hit, Laser Metallica.
Tuesday, November 19
Mousical Movie Magic
Laser Movie Magic brings favorite songs from popular family films and reimagines them using vibrant laser light. Experience favorite hits in an entirely new way. Laser Movie Magic pulls from the soundtracks of The Lion King, Star Wars, Encanto, Frozen, Moana and many more.
Wednesday, November 20
Led Zeppelin
Relive the magical sounds of Led Zeppelin while enjoying an immersive visual treat of custom laser imagery!
Tuesday, November 26
Elton John: Rocket Man
Elton John has sold over 300 million records over 6 decades in show business, making him one of the biggest selling artists of all time. Laser Elton John celebrates his larger than life persona, bringing the Rocket Man’s powerful music to life in gorgeous laser light. Featuring Benny and the Jets, Saturday Night, Rocket Man, and many other Elton John hits.
Wednesday, November 27
Pink Floyd's The Wall
Coupled with spectacular laser art and immersive effects, Pink Floyd's classic 1979 epic is sure to dazzle!
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!