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.

May Planetarium Shows

As Spring endures, 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.

 

✧ Thursday, May 2 at 6pm ✧
“Seeing! A Photon’s Journey Through Space, Time, and Mind” follows the journey of a single light particle, a photon, as it is produced within a distant star, before travelling across the vast expanse of space to land on an observer’s retina. Narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson.

 

✧ Tuesday, May 7 at 6pm ✧
“Europe to the Stars” takes viewers on an epic journey into the Cosmos. This stunning full dome film brings us inside the most powerful telescopes on Earth – giving us a glimpse into the mysteries of the universe. Go behind the scenes of the most advanced observatory in the world. Investigate the science, technology, and people that make space exploration possible at the European Southern Observatory. A spectacular planetarium show!

 

✧ Thursday, May 9 at 6pm ✧
“Worlds of Curiosity” explores some of the greatest “what if?” questions of the universe. What would it be like to live on an Earth with no Moon? What if Earth was tilted on its side like Uranus? What would it take to terraform Mars? This full dome film is a fantastic production for Minecraft lovers and strongly engages the imaginations of younger audiences.

 

✧ Tuesday, May 14 at 6pm ✧
“Birth of a Planet: Earth” This full dome show tells the twisted tale of our planet's origins. Scientists now believe our galaxy is filled with solar systems, including up to a billion planets roughly the size of our own. The film employs advanced, data-driven, cinematic-quality visualizations to address some of the greatest questions in science today: How did Earth become a living planet in the wake of our solar system's violent birth? What does its history tell us about the chances of finding other Earth-like worlds? How did it all begin?


✧ Thursday, May 16 at 6pm ✧
“Phantom of the Universe: The Hunt for Dark Matter” showcases Science’s greatest mystery, the exploration of dark matter - from the Big Bang to galaxy formation to the Large Hadron Collider. Journey inside CERN, the world’s largest particle accelerator, to understand the hidden fabrics of the universe. 


✧ Tuesday, May 21 at 6pm ✧
“The Planets” Take a trip through our stellar neighborhood and beyond. Encounter the Sun, many planets, Moons, and asteroids of our solar system and learn how it has evolved over billions of years. Travel farther out to discover exoplanets and the faraway stars that make up our night sky constellations. A fascinating show for the whole family!

 

✧ Thursday, May 23 at 6pm
“Stars to Starfish” Explore our universe – From the immensity of the Cosmos to the depths of the Oceans. A trip through space and time from the Big Bang to the birthplace of life, our oceans. This planetarium show features brilliant astrophotography and stunning underwater videography.

 

✧ Tuesday, May 28 at 6pm ✧
“Beyond the Sun” is an award-winning full dome show that journeys through the universe to discover exoplanets and learn how they can be detected. The show discusses keywords like atmosphere, the Doppler Effect, light waves, rogue planets, and more. Travel with Celeste and her guide, the Moon, beyond our solar system, beyond our Sun, and beyond our wildest imaginations. A great show for kids!

 

✧ Thursday, May 30 ✧
CLOSED – For Planetarium maintenance.

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 opportunities on Mondays and Wednesdays for Summer 2024. Educational groups are encouraged to schedule programs during the school day. These free, public service presentations are curated to the grade level and understanding of your students. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility. 

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

Contact fieldtripcoordinator@jjc.edu for more information.