No Shows are Scheduled for April 5 and April 12
We have a planetarium lecturer heading to the West Texas hill country in an attempt to view the April 8 total eclipse of the Sun.
Free Shows Resume Online on April 19
Eclipse Observing Report — An experienced solar eclipse chaser, planetarium lecturer Jim Mahon will report on his experiences at an observing site near the eclipse centerline, and perhaps reflect on the rarity of two total eclipses in the continental U.S. in just seven years.
Thanks to the generosity and vision of the late John Drescher, Santa Monica College is the home to a computerized planetarium theater. At its heart is the Evans & Sutherland Digistar II planetarium projector, which was the first of its kind on the West Coast. Using digital technology, audiences can fly beyond the solar system and soar among the stars. We can transport you across our galaxy to the limits of spacetime.
Planetarium this week
New free, live, virtual public shows!
Zoom links for Friday Night shows - April
Invitation links to the live online events are generally posted the Thursday before. These programs are only available LIVE on Friday evenings, and on the occasional Matinee dates, normally Sundays. Clicking on the Zoom links at other times will not work.
Please scroll down beyond the calendar for notes on upcoming 8 p.m. programs
We also look forward to the expanded capabilities of the new planetarium and observatory SMC is building for opening in winter 2025.
Jim Mahon
Senior Planetarium Lecturer
Weekly Night Sky Show
The Night Sky programs will last roughly 30 - 40 minutes, followed by a short question and answer period where guests can type questions into a chat box and we will answer as many questions as possible. There will be a short intermission at approximately 7:50 p.m. prior to the start of the Feature program at 8 p.m.
Feature Programs
Note that all 8 p.m. feature programs are preceded by the 7 p.m. “Night Sky” program described above.
Currently all presentations are online ONLY, with the exception of occasional observing programs.
No Shows Are Scheduled for April 5 and April 12.
April 19: Eclipse Observing Report — An experienced solar eclipse chaser, planetarium lecturer Jim Mahon will report on his experiences at an observing site near the eclipse centerline, and perhaps reflect on the rarity of two total eclipses in the continental U.S. in just seven years.
April 26: Scale of the Universe — Just how big is the universe? It may be a simple question, but tonight's show explores — and planetarium lecturer Sarah Vincent explains — why the answer is complicated.
Location of Planetarium (Currently closed)
Drescher Hall, 2nd Floor
1900 Pico Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Campus Map
The Drescher Planetarium is located in the middle of the second floor of Drescher Hall on the north side of the Santa Monica College campus. Drescher Hall is the three story brown building on the South East corner of Pico Blvd. and 17th Street. We are in Santa Monica, south of the 10 (Santa Monica) Freeway and west of the 405 (San Diego) Freeway.