Experience the Planetarium to learn about astronomy
FREE PLANETARIUM SHOWS
Explore the stars without trekking far from home - for a price that's out of this world: Free! The planetarium offers free public shows on Wednesday and Friday evenings when the college is in session. Shows are hosted by resident astronomer Dr. Craig Joseph and feature live narration with images displayed by computer-controlled projectors.
The planetarium comfortably seats 46, and admission is on a walk-in basis (first-come, first-served). No reservations are required. Planetarium shows last approximately 45 minutes, and no one can be admitted after the show begins. Children are welcome but must be at least 5 or older. Following the Wednesday evening planetarium shows, visitors are invited to the observation deck for telescope viewing (weather permitting). We will also have telescope viewing after our Friday Halloween shows in October and on November 1.
Wednesday showtimes: 8 pm (August – September); 7 pm (October – December)
Friday Showtimes: 7 pm
Note: During October and on November 1, we will have extended Friday hours with an additional Friday show at 8:30 pm.
CURRENT SCHEDULE
The Stars of Summer 
August 21, 23, 28, 30; September 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20
The stars of the summer triangle shine high overhead, the Big Dipper hangs low in the northwest, and the tail of the scorpion dominates the southern sky. The summer sky tells a story of stellar birth and stellar death. Learn about the diverse types of stars that adorn the summer sky, and how these stars are born, live and die.
Legends of the Fall
September 25, 27; October 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30; November 1, 6, 8
As fall begins, the beautiful ringed planet Saturn shines brightly in the east – a prime target for our rooftop telescopes! The autumn skies are also filled with constellations intertwined in Greek myth and lore. Learn some of the stories playing out in the evening sky this fall.
If you are in the Halloween spirit, come visit our “Haunted Planetarium”! During the month of October, our planetarium will be infested with witches, ghouls, zombies, and other creatures of the night. Shows at 7 pm and 8:30 pm every Friday in October, with telescope viewing after the shows. There will be an encore presentation of our haunted planetarium on Friday November 1st at 7 pm and 8:30 pm. Parents, please be advised that our haunted planetarium is not recommended for very small children (suggested minimum age is 7). If you have any questions, please call!
Yuletide Skies
November 13, 15, 20, 22; December 4, 6
Be sure to visit our Yuletide planetarium decorated for the holiday season! Go back in time 2000 years to see astronomical events that may have inspired the Biblical account of the “Christmas Star”.
Note: The planetarium will be closed on November 27 and November 29 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Following the December 6 shows, the planetarium will be closed until classes resume in January.
ROOFTOP OBSERVATORY
The St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus is also home to a rooftop observatory, featuring a 20-inch reflecting telescope that is open to students and the public after Wednesday evening planetarium shows. Additional portable telescopes are available on our spacious third floor observation deck. Special telescopes equipped with solar filters allow daytime visitors to safely view sunspots, prominences and other solar activity.
PLANETARIUM LOCATION
The Planetarium is located on the second floor of the Natural Science Building (SC 205) on the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus located on 69th Street North at 5th Avenue. Free parking is available for the celestial shows.
SCHEDULE YOUR GROUP EVENT
Clubs, school groups, and other community organizations can reserve the planetarium for free special programs – morning, afternoon or evening (for evening shows, only Mondays and Tuesdays are available). For group reservations:
Planetarium Gallery
