Planetarium

"The Sky Tonight" Planetarium Show

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!

Shows begin on time, and doors are locked during the show. No late entry. No ins/outs.

For Friday night events, parking is FREE in Lots N, P, Q, R, and S during astronomy events. No parking pass necessary.

Planetarium Summer Closure Notice

There will be no planetarium shows scheduled during the summer break due to a planned upgrade of the planetarium's lighting, projectors, computers, and software systems. These improvements will enhance future programs and presentations. We look forward to welcoming visitors back once the upgrades are complete. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Fall 2026 Schedule

Date	Title
TBD	TBD
TBD	TBD
TBD	TBD
TBD	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

For more information visit the SMCAS website.

Project Stargaze

Professor Stanford showing spectra during 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.