OCC Planetarium Public Shows Calendar
Saturday, September 12
Earth, Moon & Sun
1:00 pm
Earth, Moon & Sun is a fun and exciting full dome exploration of a huge range of heavenly phenomena. Lunar phases, eclipses, day and night, the sun and seasons are all explained with the help of a very confused and troublesome coyote, straight from Native American folklore. Through correcting Coyote's many misunderstandings, we can begin to unfold what's really going on in the sky.
Recommended ages: 6-12
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 TicketsParking Fee
Parking is available on campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through Passport Parking (recommended "OCC Lot E" in Google Maps). Parking permits are digital and are linked to your vehicle's license plate. Payment can be made using the Passport Parking mobile app or website.
Parking Rates
- Standard rate: $5.35 per day
- July 17 – August 16 (during the OC Fair): $10.35 per day
Please park only in designated student parking areas. Vehicles parked in faculty/staff spaces or other restricted areas may be cited.
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 25, 2026
Trevor Weiss, New Mexico State University
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope: A Wider View of the Universe
For nearly four decades, space telescopes such as Hubble and James Webb have transformed our understanding of the universe, revealing everything from the birth of stars to galaxies billions of light-years away. NASA's next major mission, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, will continue that legacy by combining near infrared observations with a field of view 100 times larger than Hubble's. This powerful combination will allow Roman to survey vast regions of the universe, creating enormous catalogs of exoplanets, stars, and galaxies that will drive discoveries across astrophysics. In this talk, I'll introduce the Roman Space Telescope, discuss its capabilities, planned surveys, and highlight some of the exciting science it is designed to achieve. I'll also discuss Roman's unique ability to measure oscillations, or "stellar heartbeats", in red giant stars in the Milky Way bulge. By probing the interiors and ages of these stars, Roman will help us reconstruct how our galaxy formed and evolved.
Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon
Over 1 million people worldwide have now seen the unforgettable audio-visual journey celebrating Pink Floyd’s legendary album, The Dark Side of the Moon.
Each of the album’s 10 classic tracks is presented in order, accompanied by 360° visuals that surround you from every angle — some inspired by the band’s storied past, others imagining a bold new future.
With breathtaking visuals, produced by the award-winning team at NSC Creative in collaboration with Pink Floyd’s iconic creative director Aubrey Powell, this is more than a show. It’s a cosmic celebration of one of the greatest albums of all time.
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!