The planetarium is scheduled to shut down this fall to begin a long-awaited renovation. If you haven't had a chance to see our classic Spitz 512 star projector in action, or if you'd just like to catch one last show, now is the time. The planetarium will be closed for many months. After more than 50 years in operation, this venerable Spitz projector still provides a beautiful night sky as it would be seen in many of the darkest places on Earth.
Friday, October 2 -- 12:00 - 12:45 pm -- Exploring Tonight's Night Sky and the Motions of Celestial Bodies, presented by Jim Gibson
Monday, October 5 -- 1:00 - 1:45 pm -- Tracing Humanity Through the Stars, presented by Gillis Lowry
Friday, October 9 -- 5:30 - 6:15 pm* -- A few of my favorite things about the Charles Hagar Planetarium, presented by Adrienne Cool
Monday, October 12 -- 6:30 - 7:30 pm -- A few of my favorite things about the Charles Hagar Planetarium, presented by Adrienne Cool
Tuesday, October 13 -- 1:00 - 1:45 pm -- Tracing Humanity Through the Stars, presented by Gillis Lowry
Last admittance is 5 minutes after start time.
* Weather permitting, there will also be viewing through telescopes in the SFSU Observatory on Oct 9 beginning at 7:00 pm.
What are the shows like?
Our planetarium shows are live and interactive. We show the night sky as it is seen from Earth and tell the audience about the things they can see there. Since it is a real human being operating the equipment and talking, the shows adjust to the needs and interests of each audience.
Our planetarium is small, it holds about 45 people. In such a space every member of the audience can be heard and has the opportunity to ask questions.
In the planetarium, we show the stars, highlight the prominent constellations, and tell their stories. We show how the stars change their position during a night and over the year. We see how the Sun rises, moves across the sky, and sets each day, and how that changes during the year and causes the seasons. We show the Moon and how its appearance and position among the stars changes during a month. We see the planets, which look like stars to the eye, and how they move against the background of stars over weeks and months. Given these objects and their motions in the sky, we also discuss various models that have been proposed throughout history to account for what we see. By comparing and evaluating these models, we have come to understand our world and our solar system.
What if you want to schedule a show at a different time for your group?
We will soon be closing down for renovation. If you have a class or a community group that you would like to try to bring to the planetarium before then, please contact us. Tuesday mornings are most available, although other times can sometimes be accommodated. Please also read our Rules and Guidelines.