The planetarium will be closing soon for renovation! Construction is scheduled to begin in Fall 2026. Until then we will continue to offer free lunchtime shows for the SF State community and members of the public.
Lunchtime shows in early Fall 2026 (until we close for renovation):
Fridays, 12:00 - 12:45 pm -- Exploring Tonight's Night Sky and Motions of Celestial Bodies, presented by staff member Jim Gibson
Last admittance is 10 minutes after show start time.
What to do 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.
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.