OCC Planetarium Public Shows Calendar
Saturday, May 10 (Closed May 3 for the OC Marathon)
We Are Aliens
1:00
Are we alone in the universe? It's one of the oldest questions in astronomy, whether there is life elsewhere in the universe. In this presentation, join narrator Rupert Grint on an exploration of the possibility of life in our solar system and beyond. Learn how what we're discovering about life on our own planet is changing our perceptions regarding the search for life in the universe. From robotic explorers of the Red Planet to the realization that our galaxy is home to potentially millions of Earth-like worlds, this planetarium show will inspire and educate.
Recommended ages: 6 and up
One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure
2:00
Explore the night sky with your favorite friends from Sesame Street in Big Bird's Adventure: One World, One Sky. Follow along with Big Bird, Elmo, and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu, as they take you on a journey of discovery to learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the Sun, and the Moon.
Recommended ages: 3-6
Explore
3:00
The sky has been an object of fascination for as long as humans have walked the earth. The movements of the spheres are ingrained in every culture on earth and have created mythologies, superstitions, and legends many people still recognize. Today we turn our scientific tools toward the heavens to get a new perspective of the universe and our place in it. Take a journey through time, from the most ancient astrologers, to the future of manned exploration of the solar system and see how our view of the cosmos has grown and evolved.
Recommended ages: 10 and up
Skywatchers LIVE!
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
Tuesday, May 6
Earth, Moon & Sun
4:00 pm
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
Dynamic Earth
5:00 pm
Dynamic Earth explores the inner workings of Earth’s great life support system: the global climate. With visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations, this cutting-edge production follows a trail of energy that flows from the Sun into the interlocking systems that shape our climate: the atmosphere, oceans, and the biosphere.
Audiences will ride along on swirling ocean and wind currents, dive into the heart of a monster hurricane, come face-to-face with sharks and gigantic whales, and fly into roiling volcanoes.
Recommended ages: 10 and up
LAZERDOME - The Beatles
6:00 pm
From their beginnings revolutionizing rock n roll, to their psychedelic era, this show visualizes the Beatles’ music with energy and beauty.
Set List:
Rock and Roll Music, Twist and Shout, Hard Days Night, When I'm 64, Yesterday, Tomorrow Never Knows, Yellow Submarine, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Help!, I Am the Walrus, Strawberry Fields Forever, Ob La Di Ob La Da, All Together Now, Octopus's Garden, Get Back, and The End
Wednesday, May 7
Magic Tree House: Space Mission
5:00 pm
Travel with the brother-sister duo Jack and Annie in their Magic Treehouse as they learn about how scientists uncover the mysteries of the universe. With the help of a real astronomer, astronaut, and of course, a pile of books, Jack and Annie are take non a wondrous journey of adventure and learning to the edges of the universe.
Based on the popular book series by Mary Pope Osborne.
Recommended ages: 5-10
To Worlds Beyond
6:00 pm
Eight other worlds share our solar system, each one stranger and more interesting than the last. Travel from the surface of the sun all the way to the icy realm of comets. Volcanos the size of France, storms bigger than the Earth, and clouds that rain acid are just some of the incredible things to discover on worlds both big and small as you make your journey through the Solar System.
Recommended ages: 8 and up
LAZERDOME - Rush 2112
7:00 pm
Over forty years ago the three prophets of Rush foretold an intergalactic war on their prog-rock album, 2112. They predicted that in the year 2062, the universe will finally find peace — and oppression — as the Solar Federation unifies warring planets and instates the music-hating Priests of the Temples of Syrinx as overlords. Everything will change, however, in 2112 when an optimistic free-thinker finds a “strange musical device” and martyrs himself while attempting to bring melody to the stars.
Track List:
2112, Overture, The Temples of Syrinx, Discovery, Presentation, Oracle: The Dream, Soliloquy, Grand Finale, A Passage to Bangkok, The Twilight Zone, Lessons, Tears, Something for Nothing
Friday, May 8
LAZERDOME - Taylor Swift: Through the Eras
5:00 pm
What's better than a Tay Swift playlist? A Tay Swift playlist set to laser lights! Enjoy unforgettable hits from all of her ten distinct eras. Sing along to all your favorites and let the show transport you through different stories as only laser light can.
Players gonna play, haters gonna hate, fakers gonna fake, so just shake it off!
Set List:
Our Song, You Belong With Me, Enchanted, I Knew You Were Trouble, Blank Space, Style, Wildest Dreams, Look What You Made Me Do, Cruel Summer, August, Willow, Anti-Hero, and Shake It Off!
LAZERDOME - Metallica
6:00 pm
Experience one of the Planetarium’s most thrilling laser shows in this heavy metal hit, Laser Metallica.
LAZERDOME - Grateful Dead
7:00 pm
America’s greatest cosmic rock & roll band — from kaleidoscopic psychedelia to homespun country rock to epic live jams and beyond, The Grateful Dead’s songs are woven into the very fabric of music itself. Now experience “The Dead” on a whole other level – through laser light!
Set List:
Touch of Grey, Fire on the Mountain, Truckin', Friend of the Devil, Sugar Magnolia, Drums/Space, Uncle John's Band, Me and My Uncle, Scarlet Begonias, Ripple, and One More Saturday Night
Parking Fee
Parking on-campus is $5 for the day, 24 hours/day, 7 days a week. 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. 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.**
Skylark Speaker Series
Dr. Marie Lau - April 25
Exploring Quasars: The Brightest Lights in the Universe
Quasars, the brightest known objects in the distant universe, offer extraordinary insights into the lives of galaxies and the supermassive black holes hidden within them. In this talk, we journey through cosmic time to explore quasars—galactic centers shining intensely due to supermassive black holes devouring material from their surroundings. Using large telescopes equipped with advanced imaging and spectroscopy, astronomers now also study reddened quasars which are enshrouded in dust and reveal hidden processes that shape galaxies. We'll discover how quasars serve as "cosmic flashlights," illuminating the secrets of galaxy evolution, from feeding and growing galaxies to powerful winds that influence their future.
Reception: 6pm
Talk: 7pm, followed by a Q&A session.
Admission is free, but seats in the Dome Theater are limited. Seating is on a first come, first served basis, and the dome theater can only accommodate 124 people. The first 124 guests will be given a wristband for entry. Reservations are encouraged but not required.
LAZERDOME
Tuesday, March 25
Elton John: Rocket Man
Elton John has sold over 300 million records over 6 decades in show business, making him one of the biggest selling artists of all time. Laser Elton John celebrates his larger than life persona, bringing the Rocket Man’s powerful music to life in gorgeous laser light. Featuring Benny and the Jets, Saturday Night, Rocket Man, and many other Elton John hits.
Wednesday, March 26
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson's amazing musical career is chronicled in this laser tribute the The King of Pop. His timeless hits live on in laser light.
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!