Planetarium

Welcome to the new SMC Planetarium

Offering a brand new look at the universe, the SMC Planetarium presents “The Night Sky Show” and a special Feature Program on most Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons when SMC is in session.

The Night Sky Show

The Night Sky Show, updated weekly, is a 40-minute presentation in the SMC Planetarium at 6 p.m. on most Fridays, and at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoons. Using SMC’s new 4K Digistar projection system, Planetarium Lecturer Sarah Vincent will talk about the latest news in astronomy and space exploration, and present a virtual tour of constellations and other night-sky celebrities making their appearance in the evenings ahead. An audience Q&A offers the chance to ask astronomy-related questions. Please Note: Children under age 3 are not permitted at Friday evening shows.

Feature Programs

The planetarium’s Feature Programs explore particular topics of interest, such as the Sun or finding exoplanets. Feature Programs are presented at 7 p.m. on Friday evenings and 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoons after “The Night Sky Show.” A brief audience Q&A follows each Feature Program. Please Note: Children under age 3 are not permitted at Friday evening shows.

Sunday Family Matinées

The planetarium offers Sunday Family Matinées presenting “The Night Sky Show” at 1 p.m. and a Feature Program at 2 p.m. when SMC is in session. Both shows include a brief audience Q&A. All ages welcome. See the listings in Upcoming Programs for details.

All shows presented live in the SMC Planetarium (MSB 126).

Apr 26

The Night Sky Show – Matinée

1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Math & Science Building

Apr 26

Deep Sky Deep Dive: "Galaxies" – Matinée

2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Math & Science Building

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April Programs

The Night Sky Show

Using SMC’s 4K Digistar projection system, Planetarium Lecturer Sarah Vincent will talk about the latest news in astronomy and space exploration, and present a virtual tour of constellations and other night-sky celebrities making their appearance in the evenings ahead. Show is updated weekly. A brief audience Q&A follows the show.

Friday, April 10, 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 12, 1 p.m.
Friday, April 17, 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 19, 1 p.m.
Friday, April 24, 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 26, 1 p.m.

Deep Sky Deep Dive: “Nebulae”

There are several different types of nebulae. Some are stellar nurseries, while others are stellar graveyards. This show explores the different types of nebulae and how to identify them… usually. A brief audience Q&A follows the show.

Friday, April 10, 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 12, 2 p.m.

Deep Sky Deep Dive: “Milky Way”

The Milky Way Galaxy is home to more than 400 billion stars and even more planets. Humans live on a small planet in orbit around a dwarf star in the outer reaches of the Milky Way Galaxy. This show explores the wonders that surround the solar system in this ordinary galaxy in an ordinary part of the universe. A brief audience Q&A follows the show.

Friday, April 17, 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 19, 2 p.m.

Deep Sky Deep Dive: “Galaxies”

The Milky Way Galaxy is just one of hundreds of billions of galaxies in the known universe. The Milky Way Galaxy is on a collision course with its neighbor, Andromeda. The Milky Way is surrounded by dwarf galaxies being torn apart and by gigantic elliptical galaxies. And at the farthest reaches of our telescopic abilities, lie quasars. This show explores different types of galaxies and how astronomers study such distant objects. A brief audience Q&A follows the show.

Friday, April 24, 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 26, 2 p.m.

May Programs

The Night Sky Show

Friday, May 15, 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 17, 1 p.m.
Friday, May 29, 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 31, 1 p.m.

Tour of the Solar System Part 1: “The Inner System”

Earth, home to the only known life in the universe, is surrounded by three fellow rocky planets. Do any of these hold the potential for life beyond Earth? This show explores the Sun, the rocky inner planets, and what makes Earth so special. A brief audience Q&A follows the show.

Friday, May 15, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 17, 2 p.m.

Tour of the Solar System Part 2: “The Outer System”

Most life on Earth draws energy from the Sun, but could life exist in the dim outer reaches of the solar system? Could the icy moons of the outer planets be home to extraterrestrial life? This show explores the outer planets, their icy moons, the Kuiper Belt, and the Oort Cloud. A brief audience Q&A follows the show.

Friday, May 29, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 31, 2 p.m.

Tickets

Tickets for Friday evening programs and Sunday Family Matinées may be purchased at smc.edu/tickets (a $1 per ticket service fee will be charged by the ticketing company).
Please Note: No children under age 3 permitted at Friday evening shows.

“The Night Sky Show”: $10 adults, $7 children age 3-12
Feature Program: $10 adults, $7 children age 3-12
Combo (Night Sky Show plus Feature Program): $16 adults, $10 children age 3-12. Purchase combo tickets for the date through The Night Sky Show tickets link.

Location of Planetarium

Math and Science Building (MSB 126)
1900 Pico Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Campus Map

The SMC Planetarium is located in Santa Monica, south of the 10 (Santa Monica) Freeway and west of the 405 (San Diego) Freeway. The planetarium is in Room MSB 126 of the new Math and Science Building on the south side of the SMC Main Campus, on the corner of Pearl Street at Parking Lot 1, just west of 20th Street.

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