Herbert Trackman Planetarium


Dedicated to continuing its tradition of outstanding astronomical instruction and entertainment, the Trackman Planetarium features a 30' diameter dome and a state-of-the-art OmniStar Digital Projection system. Planetarium shows include interactive sky tours exploring constellations and planets, followed by a stellar full dome production on a wide range of astronomical topics.


March Planetarium Shows

As Spring emerges, warmer nights lie ahead for ideal stargazing opportunities. Visit the Trackman Planetarium to learn about the constellations in your own backyard, explore cosmic curiosities, and experience the wonders of the universe! 

Trackman Planetarium shows are always free, always fascinating, and always open to the public.

 

✧ Tuesday, March 5 at 6pm ✧
“Rising Star: A South African Astronomy Journey” Embark on an expedition to the rich, cultural coasts of South Africa. Explore revolutionary discoveries being made from our primordial beginnings to the advancement of technology and research being done today. See what the future holds for the country inside state-of-the-art facilities providing “astronomy for a better world”.


✧ Thursday, March 7 at 6pm ✧
“Supermassive Black Holes: Uncovering the Invisible” Prepare for a journey into the deepest regions of spacetime where humans could never venture…until now. Explore formations of the Universe’s greatest phenomena. This full dome film will dazzle you with striking and immersive visualizations as we uncover the mysteries lurking inside supermassive black holes.

 

✧ Tuesday, March 12 at 2pm ✧ MATINEE
“One Sky Project” A cultural journey through time. The stars we observe today are the very same stars admired by our most ancient ancestors – and they created grande stories in the skies. This full dome film transcends these tales and retells them with beautiful artistry. Culture, history, and indigenous Astronomy meet to connect Earth, the sky, and humanity. An international collaboration bringing together the stories of Orion and Artemis, the Navajo Thunderbird, Jai Singh’s Dream, the Celestial Canoe, the Samurai and the Stars, and Hawaiian Wayfinders.

 

✧ Thursday, March 14 at 2pm ✧ MATINEE
“Mars: The Ultimate Voyage” A monumental journey to the Red Planet – rewriting what is possible for human space exploration and breaking barriers of technological advancement. Take a look into ongoing efforts toward the next mission to Mars and what humanity’s future might look like on the martian surface. What will it take to travel the 300-million-mile voyage?

 

✧ Tuesday, March 19 at 6pm ✧
“Weather: Wonders and Mysteries Revealed” – This full dome production takes us inside the planet’s most fascinating weather phenomena. Learn about weather patterns and ecosystem changes. Experience meteorological events like thunderstorms, tornadoes, blizzards, and more. Educational and entertaining!

 

✧ Thursday, March 21 at 6pm ✧
“Little Star that Could” A planetarium classic! Travel through the universe with an average yellow star (our Sun) searching for planets of his own to protect and warm. Along the journey, he meets other stars and learns what makes each one special. Together, we discover the differences of the solar system and galaxies, stars and star clusters, and other space objects in the night sky.

 

✧ Tuesday, March 26 at 6pm ✧
“Sunset Meditation” – Enjoy a guided full dome meditation experience. The Trackman Planetarium offers a dark and quiet space to focus on introspection and psychological nourishment. Take a magical moment for yourself… Strengthen your emotional well-being… Embrace the wonders of the planet. “Sunset Meditation” takes us on a journey from the North Pole to a sunset over the Grand Canyon. Then, relax under a night sky filled with stars and the beauty of the auroras.

 

✧ Tuesday, March 26 at 7pm ✧
“DINOSAURS! A Story of Survival” – Did you know there are still dinosaurs among us? Step back in time… to the Mesozoic era 65 million years ago. Explore the prehistoric past of colossal creatures that roamed the earth for millions of years, and the cataclysmic impact that led to their extinction. A tale of evolutionary history and a great show for kids!

 

✧ Thursday, March 28 at 6pm ✧
♫♪♪ Music Under the Stars ♫♪♪ Full dome music videos featuring Elton John, Queen, Marillion, and more. This show will include a live tour of the night sky before we immerse in the timeless tunes. Sit back…relax...and enjoy the classics.  
 


About the JJC Planetarium

The public is invited to visit the Trackman Planetarium in F-1001 on the Main Campus. We have 55 theatre-style seats available in the dome and no registration is required. Free events are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6p.m.

Interested in booking a field trip to the Trackman Planetarium? We are currently offering Field Trip Fridays with select Monday and Wednesday availability. Educational groups are encouraged to schedule special programs during the school day. These free, public service programs are tailored to the grade level and understanding of your students. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility. 

Social and civic organizations are invited to schedule unique programs for their members. Private presentations are available during school hours and on select Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Reach out to fieldtripcoordinator@jjc.edu for more information.