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).

Feb 22

The Night Sky Show – Matinée

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

Feb 22

Deep Sky Deep Dive: “Black Holes” – Matinée

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

Feb 27

The Night Sky Show

6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Math & Science Building

Buy Tickets

March 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.

Sunday, March 1, 1 p.m.
Friday, March 13, 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 15, 1 p.m.
Friday, March 20, 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 22, 1 p.m.
Friday, March 27, 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 29, 1 p.m.

Deep Sky Deep Dive: “Black Holes”

Black holes are some of the most fascinating, yet least understood phenomena in the universe. Many are dead stars shrouded in gravity, yet others form the cores of large galaxies. Tonight’s show explores these singularly enigmatic objects first predicted by Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and finally confirmed decades later. A brief audience Q&A follows the show.

Sunday, March 1, 2 p.m.

“Spring Sky”

As the Northern Hemisphere slips into spring, some familiar constellations move overhead. Cygnus flies along the Milky Way toward Sagittarius and the core of the Milky Way. This show explores the planets, constellations, and deep sky objects making their seasonal appearance in Santa Monica’s spring skies. A brief audience Q&A follows the show.

Friday, March 13, 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 15, 2 p.m.

“Tilt: March Equinox”

The changing season brings warmer weather and shorter nights for the Northern Hemisphere, but why? How does Earth’s axial tilt change the weather? Do any other planets in the solar system have seasons? This show explores Earth’s equinox. A brief audience Q&A follows the show.

Friday, March 20, 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 22, 2 p.m.

Deep Sky Deep Dive: “The Life and Death of Stars”

This solar system’s star, the Sun, is a typical star, but what does that mean? What is an a-typical star? Where do stars come from, and how do they end? This show explores the life cycle of stars from nebula to (super)nova, and back again. A brief audience Q&A follows the show.

Friday, March 27, 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 29, 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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