Planetarium
"The Sky Tonight" Planetarium Show
** The Sky Tonight planetarium shows are temporarily suspended while the CSM Planetarium undergoes renovations. We appreciate your patience and look forward to bringing the shows back soon!**
During the regular Fall/Spring/Summer Semesters, the CSM Astronomy Department presents "The Sky Tonight" on the second Friday of the month, with two shows: at 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm in the CSM Planetarium. See the Event Calendar for specific dates.
There are no tickets for our shows. The planetarium has 77 seats per show. We allow people to line up in front of the planetarium a half hour before each show, and we will the seats on a first come first serve basis. Children 5 years and older please. No reservations, holding seats, food, or drinks in the planetarium. Arrive early for the first show, it fills up quickly!
Fall 2026 Schedule
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| Oct 9 | No Show due to Planetarium Renovation |
| Nov 13 (tentative) | TBD |
| Dec 11 (tentative) | TBD |
SMCAS General Meeting and Guest Speaker
The San Mateo County Astronomical Society holds their monthly meeting and public talks on the first Friday of every month in the CSM planetarium. The meeting begins at 7 pm in the ISC, followed by a public talk around 8 pm in the planetarium. The general public is invited to this FREE event.SMCAS's guest speaker talks are not just for astronomers, they're for everyone! Talks start roughly at 8 pm and typically last an hour, with a Q&A session immediately following the talk. Topics vary in range, from asteroids to black holes, gravitational waves, and new emerging technologies. All speakers are experts in their fields, condensing years of research, into hour long, publicly friendly talks. Join us for a night of learning and intrigue!
Fall 2026 Schedule
| Date | Speaker |
|---|---|
| Sept 4 | Dr Andrew Rasmussen, SLAC/Stanford Staff Scientist, First Look with the Vera C Rubin Observatory – with the World’s Largest Camera – for the Legacy Survey of Space and Time |
| Oct 2 | Dr Jeff Cuzzi, NASA Ames (retired), Cassini-Huygens Mission to Saturn, its Moons and Rings |
| TBD | TBD |
| TBD | TBD |
Project Stargaze
Bring Your Students to the Stars!
Reserve a FREE field trip for your class or school group! Designed primarily for kindergarten through 5th grade students, Project Stargaze combines an engaging planetarium presentation with a demonstration of light and spectroscopy, led by CSM astronomy faculty. Students explore the night sky and the wonders of the universe while learning how astronomers use light to investigate distant stars.
We offer several planetarium shows for different ages and interests. Younger visitors can enjoy programs such as Sesame Street's "One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure," while elementary students can explore topics such as the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Older school groups can choose from more advanced programs focusing on specific topics in astronomy.
Visit Information
Fridays • 10:30–11:30 a.m.
College of San Mateo Planetarium • Building 36
FREE • ADVANCE RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Maximum group size: 77 people, including students and adults
Adult supervision: Groups must provide at least 1 teacher, staff member, or chaperone for every 10 students, with additional adults for younger groups as appropriate.
Ready to bring your students to the stars? Request your field trip today!
To schedule a FREE field trip, contact Professor Justin Stevck (stevickj@smccd.edu) or call (650) 378-7241. If you have previously worked with Professor Mohsen Janatpour, you are welcome to contact him directly as well at janatpour@smccd.edu or call (650) 574-6272.