OCC Planetarium Public Shows Calendar
Saturday, September 7
Exploding Universe
1:00
The universe we see and even our existence has been shaped by explosive events like supernovae: the death throes explosions of giant stars. These maelstroms create the elements which form complex molecules and life, seeding the galaxies for future star systems. Explosive events of all scales from the subatomic of particle accelerators mimicking conditions in the early universe, to super volcanoes, stellar deaths and even black hole mergers, form the fabric of the universe we live in. Our understanding of the universe and the matter, energy and forces which are it's substance are tied to explosions of all sizes from the immense to the almost undetectably minute.
Recommended ages: 10 and up
Earth, Moon, & Sun
2:00
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
CAPCOM GO! The Apollo Story
3:00
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
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
Parking Fee
Parking on-campus is $5 Monday-Thursday 24 hours/day and Fridays before 5 PM. The fee can only be paid through the Passport Parking phone app or and the parking permit is linked to your car's license plate number. Parking is FREE on Fridays after 5 PM, and Saturdays and Sundays. 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.**
STEM Explorers
COMING SOON
Check back soon for our fall camps!
Skylark Speaker Series
Dr. Sean Pike - September 27
X-ray eyes on the sky: an introduction to high-energy astrophysics
In order to study some of the most exotic phenomena in the universe, astronomers must make use of specialized telescopes that collect energetic X-rays and gamma-rays. These instruments open a window to a violent universe populated by the end-products of stellar lifecycles. I will discuss important topics in X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy, including accretion onto black holes and neutron stars, tidal disruption events, and more. I will also discuss how high-energy astrophysics is carried out, presenting an overview of the unique instruments and analysis techniques which are currently used in the field as well as those in development.
Dr. Sean Pike is a Postdoctoral Fellow at UCSD and he studies semiconductor detectors for high-energy astrophysics missions such as the Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI), and he uses X-ray observatories like the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) to investigate accreting neutron stars and black holes. Dr. Pike earned his PhD from CalTech in 2022.
LAZERDOME
Tuesday, September 17
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. - 54 minutes
Set List:
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), Stone in Love, Lights, Only the Young, Open Arms, Be Good to Yourself, Who's Crying Now, Any Way You Want It, Faithfully, Don't Stop Believin', Wheel in the Sky, and Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin’
Wednesday, September 18
Queen
Come experience the groundbreaking music of Queen rendered in a spectacular laser light show!
Set List:
We Will Rock you/We are the Champions, Bicycle Race, Don't Stop Me Now, Another One Bites the Dust, I Want to Break Free, Under Pressure, Killer Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody, Radio Gaga, Princes of the Universe, and The Show Must Go On
Tuesday, September 24
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.
Tuesday, September 24
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!
Set List:
A Warm Place - Nine Inch Nails, Them Bones - Alice In Chains, Freak On a Leash - Korn, Du Hast - Rammstein, Dead Girl Superstar - Rob Zombie, God of Thunder - Kiss, Wait N Bleed - Slipknot, The Wizard - Black Sabbath, Intermission - The Offspring, Living Dead Girl - Rob Zombie, Beautiful People - Marilyn Manson, Dragula - Rob Zombie, Sanitarium - Metallica, and Eulogy - Tool
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!