Coronavirus update:
All public programs have been suspended until further notice.
For all MESMERICA customer service needs, please email boxoffice@jameshood.com
If you need to return pre-purchased regular (non-mesmerica) planetarium tickets, please email planetarium@occ.cccd.edu with your name, the date your tickets are for, and your transaction number.
We are not accepting requests for new private programs at this time.
Check back here for updates concerning cancelled public programs.
Public programs are a cornerstone of the Planetarium's mission. Regular showings are offered evenings and weekends so anyone can come enjoy a rotating schedule of breathtaking full-dome experiences.
Tickets
Adults: $6 for adults
Children Under 12/Seniors: $5
OCC Students: FREE ticket with student ID*
For all public shows, please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled show begins. There will be no late admittance. Planetarium Tickets are Non-transferrable and Non-refundable.
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.
All programs are approximately 1 hour long.
Field Trips
Looking to bring a large group to visit the planetarium during the week? Check out our Field Trips page!
Alternatively, beginning in September we are offering shows at 11am on the first and third Thursday of every month specifically for smaller groups. See the schedule here!
Exhibits
Gift Shop
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NEW Public Programs!
In January we are proud to present two brand new programs for audiences of all ages!
The Sun: Our Living Star explores the life cycle of stars and it impacts our lives on Earth.
From Earth to the Universe takes from our backyards to explore the cosmos and all the incredible phenomena that share it with us.
Tickets for all these programs are available now!
Current Shows
Public Programs are currently scheduled for:
Friday evenings (7:00pm)
Saturday and Sunday (12:30pm, and 2:00pm)
The Sun: Our Living Star
The Sun has shone on our world for four and a half billion years. The light that warms our skin today has been felt by every person who has ever lived. It is our nearest star and our planet’s powerhouse, the source of the energy that drives our winds, our weather and all life. The passage of the Sun’s fiery disc across the sky — day by day, month by month — was the only way to keep track of time for countless past civilizations. Don’t be fooled by the terminology; although it is a typical dwarf star, the Sun consumes 600 million tons of hydrogen each second and is 500 times as massive as all the planets combined. Discover the secrets of our star in this planetarium show and experience never-before-seen images of the Sun’s violent surface in immersive fulldome format.
Seizure warning: There is a portion of the show with flashing lights.
Recommended ages: 8 and up
The Sun Trailer
Show times:
Saturdays @ 2:00pm
Sundays @ 2:00pm
From Earth to the the Universe
The night sky, both beautiful and mysterious, has been the subject of campfire stories, ancient myths and awe for as long as there have been people. A desire to comprehend the Universe may well be humanity's oldest shared intellectual experience. Yet only recently have we truly begun to grasp our place in the vast cosmos.
This stunning voyage through space and time conveys, through sparkling sights and sounds, the Universe revealed to us by science. From Earth to the Universe takes the audience out to the colorful birthplaces and burial grounds of stars, and still further out beyond the Milky Way to the unimaginable immensity of a myriad galaxies. Along the way, the audience will learn about the history of astronomy, the invention of the telescope, and today's giant telescopes that allow us to probe ever deeper into the Universe.
Recommended ages: 10 and up
From Earth to the Universe Trailer
Show times:
Fridays @7:00pm
Saturdays @ 12:30pm
Sundays @12:30pm