Public Shows

2008-2009 School Year

• The Planetarium is in Lark Hall, Room 2001, Santa Rosa Campus.
• See the directions page for driving directions.
  
• Shows are on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM and Sundays at 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM during the regular Fall and Spring semesters. No shows in the Summer.
  
• Admission is $5 General & $3 Students and Seniors (60+).
  
• Please note, the planetarium has no way of accepting payment via credit or debit card, we can accept cash or checks only and no bills over $20 denomination please!
  
• Tickets are sold at the door only - beginning 30 minutes before show time.
  
• Shows begin promptly at scheduled start times,
  NO LATE SEATING!
  
• No children under five, please.
  
• A parking permit is required 24/7 at SRJC. A planetarium provided parking permit is available at no cost at the planetarium. Planetarium provided parking permits are issued at the Planetarium when you pay admission. Please arrive early enough to pick up your parking permit, return to your vehicle for placement, and arrive back in the Planetarium before the show starts. If you do not wish to make the return trip to your vehicle with the planetarium provided permit, you may also purchase on your own a daily permit for $3 at the yellow parking permit dispensing machine in the Bech parking lot.
  
• For information phone Community Education at 707-527-4372 or 707-527-4465
  
  

FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT SKY

FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT SKY shows are a new feature offered on the first Friday of the months October through December of 2008; and, February through May of 2009. These shows, offered at the regular times of 7:00 and 8:30 pm will be the only shows given on those first Friday weekends. Show content will vary with emphasis on the stars, constellation, planets, and other interesting facts in or about the sky that night. FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT SKY shows will be offered by SRJC's Planetarium free of charge as a thank you to all our customers. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis; so arrive early enough to pick up your free parking permit, return it to your vehicle, and arrive back in the planetarium by the scheduled show start time.

SKY PHENOMENA

September 12 - October 12
FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT SKY shows on October 3rd; no planetarium shows on October 4th and 5th.

The sky holds many beautiful sights including rainbows, haloes, phases of the Moon, eclipses, meteor showers, comets, auroras, etc. Join us as we tour sky phenomena and explore their origins.

VOLCANOES OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

October 17 - November 16
No planetarium shows on October 31st.
FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT SKY shows on November 7th;
no planetarium shows on November 8th and 9th.

Volcanoes represent the life blood of geologically active planets. In this program we will learn about volcanoes on planet Earth and visit their counterparts on other planetary bodies in our solar system.

MITHRAISM AND THE CELESTIAL SPHERE

November 21 - December 21
FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT SKY shows on December 5th; no planetarium shows on December 6th and 7th.

Mithraism is a pagan belief system that has close ties to the celestial sphere and the movement of the heavens, and is a basis for astrology. We see its connection to our holiday season in that it was a belief system favored by the three wise men, the Magi. Join us as we investigate Mithraism's tie to the night sky and how it may relate to what is referred to as the Star of Bethlehem.

DISTANT PLANETS, OTHER STARS

January 23 - February 22
FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT SKY shows on February 6th; no planetarium shows on February 7th and 8th.

Today astronomers say that we have found more than 300 planets orbiting distant stars; yet, virtually none have been seen. How can this be? In this show we will learn about the search for extra-solar planets and view many artistic representations of what these worlds may look like.

UNIVERSE OF GALAXIES

February 27 - March 29
FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT SKY shows on March 6th and April 3rd; no planetarium shows on March 7th or 8th
and no planetarium shows on April 4th or 5th.

Often thought of as large cities of stars, galaxies are the biggest and often the most beautiful objects in our universe. Join us as we explore the nature of these stellar cities and view them through the eye of the Hubble Space Telescope. The show will include striking images of colliding galaxies.

BLACK HOLE TRAVEL?

April 10 - May 10
No shows Sunday April 12th.
FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT SKY shows on May 1st; no planetarium shows on May 2nd and demo shows only on Sunday May 3rd. (Day Under The Oaks)

Certainly black holes are among the most popular and often frightening objects in our universe. In our program we will unravel the enigma of black holes and pursue a possible journey through the massive galactic black hole in the center of our Milky Way galaxy.