2020 - 21 Planetarium Schedule

CURRENTLY ALL IN PERSON PROGRAMS ARE CANCELLED.  PLEASE VISIT OUR VIRTUAL NIGHTS SCHEDULE FOR CURRENT VIRTUAL OPTIONS.

Public Program Information

The William Brish Planetarium offers programs available for public viewing twice a month with two different shows per date.  Shows are generally on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month unless noted otherwise and start at 5:30 and 7:00 p.m.  See below for the full 2019 - 2020 school year schedule.

Cash and personal checks accepted.  Sorry, no credit cards.

5:30 programs aimed at younger audiences.

All tickets sold at the door.  Sorry no reservations.

Doors open 30 minutes before program begins and close promptly at the show start time.  No late admissions will be allowed due to safety reasons. 

​64 person maximum per program on a first come, first serve basis.  

Other important information for the public programs includes:

Admission Fees:

$3/Adult                                                    

$2/Students and Children                      

Free - Gold Card, Under Kindergarten with a paid adult

$10 Family Maximum Special

Program Length: 45 - 60 minutes

Inclement Weather: ​If schools are closed or dismissed early, the Planetarium is closed.  Call the Planetarium for a revised schedule. 



2019 - 2020 William Brish Planetarium Public Shows Schedule: (All Programs include a tour of the current night sky.)


Date

Tues. August 27, 2019


5:30 - 6:15 p.m.

5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
One World, One Sky
​Pre K - General Audiences

​One World, One Sky is a fulldome planetarium show that follows Sesame Street's Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a Muppet from Zhima Jie, the Chinese co-production of Sesame Street. Together, they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon, where they discover how different it is from Earth.


7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Astronaut
​General Audiences

​The exploration of space is the greatest endeavour that humankind has ever undertaken. What does it take to be part of this incredible journey? What does it take to become an astronaut?  Experience a rocket launch from inside the body of an astronaut. Explore the amazing worlds of inner and outer space, from floating around the International Space Station to maneuvering through microscopic regions of the human body.  Discover the perils that lurk in space as we subject ‘Chad’, our test astronaut, to everything that space has to throw at him.

Tues. September 10, 2019

5:30 - 6:15 p.m. 
Planetary Visions
​Early Elementary - General Audiences

​Explore the solar System in this exciting and interactive planetarium program!  Be prepared to for an adventure that will leave you wondering if maybe you really did just get back from a mission in space!  Fun for audiences of all ages!

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
To Space & Back
General Audiences
​

​Space exploration — our greatest adventure — is having a big impact on our lives. It’s helping us to discover a universe of unimaginable scale and beauty, and it’s reaching down into our world and influencing the way we live.  TO SPACE AND BACK takes audiences on an incredible journey from the far reaches of our known universe to our own planet. It is an extraordinary story of human ingenuity and incredible engineering, describing how the technology that transports us through space is paving the way for the devices and apps we use every day. What’s happening above is coming back down to Earth!  Discover how we’ve been changed by space exploration, and what we owe to curiosity and the spirit of discovery.

Tuesday September 24, 2019

​5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
Larry, Cat in Space
Pre-K - Early Elementary age Audiences

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Undiscovered Worlds
General Audiences
​
​​ Take off on a lunar adventure with a curious stowaway cat! Larry Cat in Space is a playful, imaginative cartoon presentation about an inquisitive cat who takes a trip to the Moon.  This is a Classic Planetarium Program, redone for viewing in full dome video.
​​This show explores a timeless question: Do other planets like Earth exist?  Through the discovery of exoplanets, the hundreds of planets that have been found orbiting stars beyond the Sun, we have learned that our solar system is not alone in the universe and have had to redefine our understanding of planets and solar systems.  With rapidly improving technology and endeavors like the Kepler Telescope, the discovery of exoplanets represents one step closer to the possibility of finding an Earth-like world. How will this change how we view our place in the universe?

Tue. October 8, 2019

​5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
Zula Patrol: Under the Weather
​Pre-K - Elementary Age Audiences

​The stalwart heroes of the Zula Patrol are on an expedition collecting samples of weather for scientist Multo’s research.  When the Zula gang inadvertently hurts their loyal pet Gorga’s feelings, he decides to leave Zula and find another planet to live on.  Villain Dark Truder then tricks Gorga into helping with his latest nefarious scheme to rule the Universe.  The Zula Patrollers find out and go after him – in the process learning all about weather, both terrestrial and interplanetary.

​7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Habitat Earth
General Audiences

​

Picture
Living networks connect and support life forms large and small—from colonies of tiny microbes and populations of massive whales to ever-expanding human societies. In the California Academy of Sciences’ latest original planetarium show, Habitat Earth, discover what it means to live in today’s connected world. Through stunning visualizations of the natural world, dive below the ocean’s surface to explore the dynamic relationships found in kelp forest ecosystems, travel beneath the forest floor to see how Earth’s tallest trees rely on tiny fungi to survive, and journey to new heights to witness the intricate intersection between human and ecological networks.

Tue. October 22, 2019

​​5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
Moles: What's Out There? Pre-K - Early Elementary Age Audiences

MOLES’ story revolves around a young mole named Plato. Plato lives deep underground in a dark burrow full of mystery and surprises together with his mum and dad. He is a restless, curious and thoughtful creature. Plato is fascinated by the light that penetrates the entrance to his home. Sometimes it is lit; sometimes it is off… Why could that be? Our young friend is desperate to see what is out there in the outside world and one day he finally gets to see it all! Plato discovers day and night, the sun and the moon, and the stars! Plato’s best friends are Alfa, Beta and Gamma with whom he loves to sing… and go treasure hunting! Good thing that the professor Socrates keeps an eye on our young friends… as sometimes things can get a little out of hand…! The story has been inspired by the Greek philosopher Plato’s “Myth of the Cave”.

7:00  - 8:00 p.m.
Solar Super Storms
General Audiences

​ A fury is building on the surface of the Sun – high-velocity jets, a fiery tsunami wave that reaches 100,000 kilometers high, rising loops of electrified gas. What’s driving these strange phenomena? How will they affect planet Earth? Find the answers as we venture into the seething interior of our star.

SOLAR SUPERSTORMS is a major new production that takes viewers into the tangle of magnetic fields and superhot plasma that vent the Sun’s rage in dramatic flares, violent solar tornadoes, and the largest eruptions in the solar system: Coronal Mass Ejections.  The show features one of the most intensive efforts ever made to visualize the inner workings of the sun, including a series of groundbreaking scientific visualizations computed on the giant new supercomputing initiative, Blue Waters, based at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), University of Illinois.  Brace yourself for the onslaught of the next… Solar Superstorm.

Tue. November 12, 2019

​5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
Planetary Visions Elementary Age Audiences

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. 
Apollo 11 - Man's First Step Onto the Moon
General Audiences

​
Explore the solar System in this exciting and interactive planetarium program!  Be prepared to for an adventure that will leave you wondering if maybe you really did just get back from a mission in space!  Fun for audiences of all ages!
Experience one of the most momentous times in history. Discover the small steps and giant leaps made by the astronauts of Apollo 11 as they land on the Moon’s surface for the first time.
A Production of the Jenks Planetarium

Tue. November 26, 2019

​5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
​Legends of the Night Sky: Perseus and Andromeda Elementary - General Audiences

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
We Are Stars
General Audiences

​
​Perseus and Andromeda is a fun-filled retelling of the tale of the beautiful but unfortunate princess Andromeda, who in divine punishment for her mother’s bragging, is sacrificed to a sea monster—and rescued by the Greek hero Perseus.
What are we made of?  Where did it all come from?  Explore the secrets of our cosmic chemistry, and our explosive origins. Connect life on Earth to the evolution of the Universe by following the formation of Hydrogen atoms to the synthesis of Carbon, and the molecules for life.  Narrated by Andy Serkis.

Tue. December 3, 2019

​5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
Zula Patrol: Down to Earth
​Pre-K - Elementary Audiences

While on a routine fossil-hunting expedition, the Zula Patrol turns up evidence that the villainous Deliria Delight has been travelling back in time to Earth’s prehistoric past to illegally dump her company’s toxic trash.  The Zula Patrollers must find and catch her, before her actions cause catastrophic consequences.  In the process, our heroes learn all about the formation and development of Earth, and the life forms who call it home.

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Season of Light
General Audiences
​

Formerly 'Tis the Season.  Examine many of the seasonal customs based on light as well as various winter holiday traditions including Yule, greenery, Santa and the Christmas Star.  This program also includes a tour of the current night sky.  A seasonal favorite Classic Planetarium Program, remade for Full Dome Viewing!

Tues. December 10, 2019

5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
Earth, Moon & Sun 
​Elementary - General Audiences

This planetarium show explores the relationship between the Earth, Moon and Sun with the help of Coyote, an amusing character adapted from Native American oral traditions who has many misconceptions about our home planet and its most familiar neighbors.  His confusion about the universe makes viewers think about how the Earth, Moon and Sun work together as a system. Native American stories are used throughout the show to help distinguish between myths and science.

​​7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Season of Light 
General Audiences

Formerly 'Tis the Season.  Examine many of the seasonal customs based on light as well as various winter holiday traditions including Yule, greenery, Santa and the Christmas Star.  This program also includes a tour of the current night sky.  A seasonal favorite Classic Planetarium Program, remade for Full Dome Viewing!

Tues. December 17, 2019

5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
The Case of the Disappearing Planet
Upper Elementary - General Audiences

THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING PLANET looks into the changing status of objects we call “planets.”  It not only covers Pluto, but the temporary planetary status of asteroids as well. The tally of “planets” in our Solar System has been going up and down for hundreds of years!  Have fun with this program as it features a sly, street-smart gumshoe called Skye Watcher. After a frenzied phone call from a 3rd grade teacher, she collects clues to find out what happened to Pluto. ​

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Season of Light 
General Audiences

​

​​Formerly 'Tis the Season.  Examine many of the seasonal customs based on light as well as various winter holiday traditions including Yule, greenery, Santa and the Christmas Star.  This program also includes a tour of the current night sky.  A seasonal favorite Classic Planetarium Program, remade for Full Dome Viewing!

Tue. January 14, 2020

5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
One World, One Sky
​Pre-K - Early Elementary Age Audiences

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity
General Audiences
​
One World, One Sky is a fulldome planetarium show that follows Sesame Street's Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a Muppet from Zhima Jie, the Chinese co-production of Sesame Street. Together, they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon, where they discover how different it is from Earth.
This cutting-edge production features high-resolution visualizations of cosmic phenomena, working with data generated by computer simulations, to bring the current science of black holes to the dome screen.Audiences will be dazzled with striking, immersive animations of the formation of the early universe, star birth and death, the collision of giant galaxies, and a simulated flight to a super-massive black hole lurking at the center of our own Milky Way Galaxy.  Narrated by Liam Neeson.

Tues. January 28, 2020

5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
Larry: Cat in Space
​Pre-K - Elementary Audiences

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. 
***Oasis in Space
General Audiences
​
​ Take off on a lunar adventure with a curious stowaway cat! Larry Cat in Space is a playful, imaginative cartoon presentation about an inquisitive cat who takes a trip to the Moon.  This is a Classic Planetarium Program, redone for viewing in full dome video.
Oasis In Space transports the audience on a startling and beautiful voyage through our universe, galaxy and solar system in search of liquid water, a key ingredient for life on Earth.

***This show replaces the originally scheduled program Mexica Archaeoastronomy which will not be shown due to technical issues.

Tues. February 11, 2020

5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
Zula Patrol: Under the Weather 
​Pre K - Elementary age Audiences

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Moons: Worlds of Mystery
​General Audiences
​
The stalwart heroes of the Zula Patrol are on an expedition collecting samples of weather for scientist Multo’s research.  When the Zula gang inadvertently hurts their loyal pet Gorga’s feelings, he decides to leave Zula and find another planet to live on.  Villain Dark Truder then tricks Gorga into helping with his latest nefarious scheme to rule the Universe.  The Zula Patrollers find out and go after him – in the process learning all about weather, both terrestrial and interplanetary.
Moons: Worlds of Mystery immerses you in the amazing diversity of moons and the important roles they play in shaping our solar system.  Follow in the footsteps of astronauts to our silvery Moon, then venture beyond to unfamiliar and exotic worlds. Journey to the outer planets and their moons, returning home with newfound wonder about the dynamic and intricate solar system in which we all live.

Tues. February 25, 2020

5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
​Moles: What is Out There? Pre K - Early Elementary Audiences

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Dynamic Earth
General Audiences
MOLES’ story revolves around a young mole named Plato. Plato lives deep underground in a dark burrow full of mystery and surprises together with his mum and dad. He is a restless, curious and thoughtful creature. Plato is fascinated by the light that penetrates the entrance to his home. Sometimes it is lit; sometimes it is off… Why could that be? Our young friend is desperate to see what is out there in the outside world and one day he finally gets to see it all! Plato discovers day and night, the sun and the moon, and the stars! Plato’s best friends are Alfa, Beta and Gamma with whom he loves to sing… and go treasure hunting! Good thing that the professor Socrates keeps an eye on our young friends… as sometimes things can get a little out of hand…! The story has been inspired by the Greek philosopher Plato’s “Myth of the Cave”.
Explore 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. Narrated by Liam Neeson.​

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
​Planetary Visions Elementary - General Audiences

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. 
Super Volcanoes 
General Audiences
​Explore the solar System in this exciting and interactive planetarium program!  Be prepared to for an adventure that will leave you wondering if maybe you really did just get back from a mission in space!  Fun for audiences of all ages!
An immersive planetarium show that looks back at rare classes of eruptions that have marshaled the energy that lurks, like a sleeping dragon, beneath the surface of planet Earth. The program moves beyond Earth to explore the impact of giant volcanic eruptions around our solar system. Audiences will fly down to Neptune’s frigid moon Triton, and onto the ultimate volcanic world: Jupiter’s moon Io. On a visit to a legendary North American hot spot, Yellowstone National Park, the film asks: can a super volcano erupt in our time?  Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch.

***CANCELLED***

*CANCELLED*
​​5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
​Legends of the Night Sky: Perseus and Andromeda Elementary - General Audiences

​Perseus and Andromeda is a fun-filled retelling of the tale of the beautiful but unfortunate princess Andromeda, who in divine punishment for her mother’s bragging, is sacrificed to a sea monster—and rescued by the Greek hero Perseus.

*CANCELLED*
​7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
The Dark Matter Mystery
General Audiences

​

This planetarium show takes you on the biggest quest of contemporary astrophysics. You will see why we know that Dark Matter exists, and how this search is one of the most challenging and exciting searches science has to offer. Join the scientists on their hunt for Dark Matter with experiments in space and deep underground. Will they be able to solve the Dark Matter Mystery?


***CANCELLED***

5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
Zula Patrol: Down to Earth 
Pre-K - Elementary Audiences

While on a routine fossil-hunting expedition, the Zula Patrol turns up evidence that the villainous Deliria Delight has been travelling back in time to Earth’s prehistoric past to illegally dump her company’s toxic trash.  The Zula Patrollers must find and catch her, before her actions cause catastrophic consequences.  In the process, our heroes learn all about the formation and development of Earth, and the life forms who call it home.

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Exploring New Horizons
General Audiences
​

“Exploring New Horizons” is a full-dome planetarium show that explores the New Horizons spacecraft and its mission to dwarf planet Pluto and other KBOs. This program also exhibits the importance of the scientific method and how it applies to our understanding of the Solar System.  Starting from ancient times, learn about the history of planetary discovery, especially that of Pluto, and how it has led to an amazing mission to explore the Kuiper Belt.

***CANCELLED***

5:30 - 6:15 p.m. 
​Earth, Moon & Sun Elementary - General Audiences
​

Picture
This planetarium show explores the relationship between the Earth, Moon and Sun with the help of Coyote, an amusing character adapted from Native American oral traditions who has many misconceptions about our home planet and its most familiar neighbors.  His confusion about the universe makes viewers think about how the Earth, Moon and Sun work together as a system. Native American stories are used throughout the show to help distinguish between myths and science.

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Mayan Archaeoastronomy Observers of the Universe
General Audiences
​

This beautiful show intertwines science and mythology to take the viewer on a poetic journey through how the Mayans viewed and understood the universe throughout their history.   Explore 6 different Mayan archeological sites and their connection to the universe.  The visuals are stunning, giving the viewer the impression of being inside a beautifully stylistic painting.

***CANCELLED***

5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
Cosmic Colors
Upper Elementary - General Audiences

Enjoy a wondrous journey through the world of color and beyond!  Discover why the sky is blue, why Mars is red, and the reason why many things are the color that they are.  Tour the interior of a plant leaf, voyage through a human eye, then step into the invisible universe as you investigate x-rays by taking on a monstrous black hole.  Explore the world of infrared in a roaring fire, and even discover what may have been the actual color of a dinosaur. Explore the amazing rainbow of cosmic light through COSMIC COLORS, an original production of the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium in cooperation with the Great Lakes Planetarium Association.​​

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
A Part of the Sky Called Orion
General Audiences
​

A fantastic sky lore program covering the Greek, Egyptian, and Inupiaq cultures. We learn how each of these rich cultures viewed the same stars, but had different stories and images. Told in first-person in the context of the teller’s life, we experience their ancient star lore and imagery. This program is not only great for the general public, but is an incredible elementary school experience. This show is best for 2nd grade and above, but even younger ones will enjoy the storytelling imagery and theme. This is storytelling at its best. A wonderful blend of imagery, music, and word; it’s a treat for all.

Tues. May 26, 2020

5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
One World, One Sky
Pre K - Early Elementary age Audiences

One World, One Sky is a fulldome planetarium show that follows Sesame Street's Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a Muppet from Zhima Jie, the Chinese co-production of Sesame Street. Together, they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon, where they discover how different it is from Earth.

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Totality
General Audiences

TOTALITY – This program is all about eclipses – from lunar to total solar. We cover how they occur and what happens when they do. We look back to the proof of general relativity and look forward to upcoming eclipses and where to witness them. Our production includes a variety of wonderful styles – from spectacular space environments to humorous pop-up books. A very special part of the show relates, in a very human way, what happens when you are caught in the shadow of the Moon and the Sun is plunged into a total solar eclipse.