Upcoming Events Events

The NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, located in Chile, is about to begin its Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), the most ambitious sky survey ever attempted. Using the world’s largest digital camera, Rubin will capture a full panorama of the southern sky every few nights, creating an unprecedented time-lapse view of the universe over the next decade. This will help scientists unlock cosmic mysteries – from dark matter and dark energy to supernovae, near-Earth asteroids, and the origins of our galaxy. 

This First Look watch party marks the release of the very first images captured by the observatory’s Simonyi Survey Telescope’s cutting-edge camera, and the entire global astronomy community will be watching and celebrating! This event is a global, live-streamed broadcast that will include:

• Rubin’s first official images of the night sky
• Commentary and insights from Rubin scientists and engineers
• Explanations of how the telescope works and what comes next 

Since we are on the west coast, the watch party will be quite early, but this global live-streamed event is a great chance to take part in an exciting, historic event with fellow astronomy enthusiasts! 

7:00 am - Doors open

7:30 am – Programming starts 

8:00 am – First Look unveiling event starts

8:20 am – Unveiling of Rubin’s first images

9:00 am – Live stream event ends

The NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. Rubin Observatory is a joint Program of NSF NOIRLab and DOE’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

What is light? What is a rainbow? How does light affect the color we see? We invite our youngest viewers to join us to learn the answers to these questions and more as we explore light and color in an interactive, hands-on environment! 

This fully live and interactive planetarium show is specially designed for our youngest visitors (ages 3-10). The show runtime is approximately 45 minutes. 

30 minute live planetarium presentation + 30 minute video Birth of Planet Earth

Birth of Planet Earth tells the twisted tale of our planet's origins.

Scientists now believe that 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 explore 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 our chances of finding other worlds that are truly Earth-like?

Produced by Spitz Creative Media, NCSA's Advanced Visualization Lab, Thomas Lucas Productions, In, in association with Tellus Science Museum. This project has been made possible with support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Greater Philadelphia Film Office; funded in part by the National Science Foundation.

Get ready to rock the Dome with the remastered hits of one of the most influential bands in rock history! Our new Led Zeppelin show features some of the band’s greatest hits, including “Black Dog”, “Ramble On”, and of course, “Stairway to Heaven”. Unique visuals for each song are projected inside our 5.2 surround sound, high-resolution, fulldome theatre to create an immersive experience that engages multiple senses. This show is a blast for longtime Zeppelin fans and new fans alike! 

Explorers will start on watery Earth and embark on an adventure taking them to all 8 planets.  From bouncing on Mercury to hula-hooping with Saturn they are certain to have a great journey.

This fully live and interactive planetarium show is specially designed for our youngest visitors.  However, it does get dark in the planetarium and it is not recommended for children younger than 3.  

30 minute live planetarium presentation + 30 minute video Moons: Worlds of Mystery

Experience the amazing diversity of moons and the important roles they play in shaping our solar system. Follow in the footsteps of astronauts to our silvery moon, then venture beyond to unfamiliar and exotic worlds. Journey to the outer planets and their moons, returning home with newfound wonder about the dynamic and intricate solar system in which we all live.

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Is Earth the only planet with a moon? Are all moons like ours? Make sure you’re buckled up because we’ll be visiting some of the solar system’s strangest and most unique locations as we explore its many magnificent moons!

This live and interactive planetarium show is specially designed for our youngest visitors.  It does get dark in the planetarium and it is not recommended for children younger than 3.  

30 minute live planetarium presentation + 30 minute video Habitat Earth

Living networks connect and support life forms large and small—from colonies of tiny microbes and populations of massive whales to ever-expanding human societies. In the California Academy of Sciences’ latest original planetarium show, Habitat Earth, discover what it means to live in today’s connected world. Through stunning visualizations of the natural world, dive below the ocean’s surface to explore the dynamic relationships found in kelp forest ecosystems, travel beneath the forest floor to see how Earth’s tallest trees rely on tiny fungi to survive, and journey to new heights to witness the intricate intersection between human and ecological networks.

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30 minute live planetarium presentation + 30 minute video Secret Lives of Stars

Not all stars are created equal. Some are massive. Others are tiny; almost insignificant. The specific characteristics of a star will determine what type of life it will lead, how long it might live and even the type of death it will die. We will witness the amazing variety of stars and peer into their secret lives. Narrated by Sir Patrick Stewart of TV’s Star Trek: The Next Generation and the X-Men films.

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Beautifica Tickets are purchased through a third party.

Click here to get Beautifica tickets

From the creators of the multi award-winning MESMERICA comes a brand-new epic immersive experience unlike any other.

Beautifica is a 360 journey through worlds real and imagined, from mindblowing particle fields to unashamedly euphoric fantastic environments almost impossible to describe.

The brainchild of visionary composer James Hood working with some of the finest immersive animators on the planet, this family-friendly show is a feast for the senses, which will leave your spirit refreshed and your face grinning ear to ear.

"I would like to invite you to join me on this adventure.
Come celebrate the Beautifica of being alive!"- James Hood.

Each viewer will see something slightly different... you can't do it wrong.

What will you see?

Beautifica is suitable for all ages 6+

Family and group discounts available.

Beautifica Tickets are purchased through a third party.

Click here to get Beautifica tickets

How do the Sun, Moon and stars move across the sky?  Why does it get dark so early in the winter yet the Sun is still up at bedtime in the summer? How have different cultures around the world used the stars to tell stories?  In this live and interactive planetarium presentation you will discover motions and patterns in the sky, make and take your own constellation and travel around the world to see how others see the sky.

Featuring the video short: THE GREAT WAKA tells the New Zealand Māori story of how a fisherman, Tamareriti, created the Milky Way with all its constellations, and for the first time brought light to our Southern night skies. Look up from The South Pacific, and you’ll see his Great Waka canoe traveling across the sky. Find out how the waka came to be there and how through the ages it has guided Polynesian sailors navigating the southern seas. 

30 minute live planetarium presentation + 30 minute video Wayfinders: Waves, Winds and Stars

In Wayfinders: Waves, Winds, and Stars, learn how to read the stars and interpret the wind and waves as we follow the story of Hawaii’s Polynesian Voyaging Society and their efforts to recover the nearly lost techniques of traditional Polynesian navigation aboard the double-hulled canoe Hōkūleʻa. Fulldome footage and animation blend together to take viewers aboard Hōkūleʻa and demonstrate how ancient wayfinders were able to navigate halfway across the world without the use of modern instruments. Produced by Bishop Museum in collaboration with Polynesian Voyaging Society and 1001 Stories.

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Ever wondered what it will take for astronauts to travel to the Moon, Mars and beyond? On this long journey, what challenges will astronauts face? How will they stay motivated and healthy on their spacecraft so far away from Earth? The new, Bell original planetarium show Mars: The Ultimate Voyage, explores these questions and more

On a two year journey to Mars astronauts will face extraordinary challenges—long distance, a closed environment, isolation, altered gravity, radiation. What will it take to get astronauts to Mars—and back—safely? This new, animated planetarium production highlights NASA research and training initiatives that are preparing the next generation of astronauts who will head to Mars. The film shows how creativity, collaboration, communication, and expertise in a diverse number of fields are key for the success of deep space travel—while also inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals! Witness what it takes to embark on the first human mission beyond Earth’s orbit.

The Bell Museum collaborated with NASA and the UNC Morehead Planetarium and Science Center to create this new planetarium show. The work was funded by a NASA Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) Award 80NSSC20M0028 to the Bell Museum through the Regents of the University of Minnesota.

30 minute live planetarium presentation + 30 minute video Black Holes: The Other Side of infinity

Be dazzled with striking, immersive animations of the formation of the early universe, star birth and death, the collision of giant galaxies, and a simulated flight to a super-massive black hole lurking at the center of our own Milky Way Galaxy. This cutting-edge production features high-resolution visualizations of cosmic phenomena, working with data generated by computer simulations, to bring the current science of black holes to the dome screen. Narrated by Liam Neeson.

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30 minute live planetarium presentation + 30 minute video Hidden Universe

An extraordinary journey deep into space, the documentary adventure Hidden Universe brings to life the farthest reaches of our universe with unprecedented clarity through real images captured by the world’s most powerful telescopes-seen on-screen. Stunning, high-resolution images of space allow moviegoers to explore the earliest galaxies, watch stars being born in vivid clouds of gas and dust, tour the surface of Mars, and witness images of distant celestial structures including stunning views of the Sun.

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The Tacoma Astronomical Society hosts free public viewing sessions each month at the Pierce College Science Dome. Indoor lectures, demonstrations and workshops are available at public nights regardless of the weather. On nights with clear skies TAS volunteers provide telescopic observations of the Moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, double stars and more. Each season boasts something new and exciting for our frequent guests. There is no charge for public programs or for observing. However, donations are gladly accepted. The donations are used to further public education and outreach programs.

Upcoming Public Nights:

Please see the TAS calendar for the most up-to-date information on public nights and special events. Public nights are generally held on Saturdays.

Tickets for TAS Public Nights are available approximately one month before the event, through the TAS ticket site:

Click here to get TAS Public Night Tickets

Did you know the sun is a star? Have you ever wondered what stars are made of? Why are stars different colors? Come learn all about stars in this children’s show!

This live and interactive planetarium show is specially designed for our youngest visitors.  It does get dark in the planetarium and it is not recommended for children younger than 3.  

30 minute live planetarium presentation + 30 minute video To Worlds Beyond: Journey Through the Solar System

From the fiery surface of the Sun to the icy realm of comets, travel to worlds with enormous volcanoes, vast canyons, dazzling rings, and storms that would swallow the Earth. Learn more about Mars and Pluto too!

Messengers of Time and Space is a stunning visual and educational experience that leads you on a journey through the dynamic Universe during a night of observing at the International Gemini Observatory. The show reflects on Gemini’s unique rapid-response abilities as it joins forces with cutting-edge observatories like NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory and LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) to bring forth a new era of astronomy.

 Messengers of Time and Space was made possible through a grant from the NSF called Gemini in the Era of Multi-Messenger Astronomy (GEMMA).

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Come learn about small celestial objects and join us on an urgent mission to collect some scientific samples and save the Earth!

Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors, Oh My! is a live, interactive show designed for our youngest visitors. The ideal age range for this show is 3-10 years old. The runtime is approximately 45 minutes. Every child must be accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.

How many Dwarf Planets are in our Solar System? Is Pluto the only one? Join us as we visit these small, but captivating worlds

This live and interactive planetarium show, with hands on activities is specially designed for our youngest visitors, expect to get out of  your seat and get moving!  It does get dark in the planetarium and it is not recommended for children younger than 3.  

Our intrepid explorers embark on a journey to the outer solar system and beyond, following the instructions of an ancient Alien map to find what lies at the center of the Milky Way. What will they find? Will they make it home in one piece? Join us to find out!

This live and interactive planetarium show, with hands on activities is specially designed for our youngest visitors, expect to get out of  your seat and get moving!  It does get dark in the planetarium and it is not recommended for children younger than 3.  

Have you ever wondered if there is weather on other planets and moons?  Join us as we explore common weather on Earth and what similar weather looks like elsewhere in our solar system. From toxic snow on Io to world-wide sandstorms on Mars, we will be traveling through space to discover the Wild Weather on other worlds!

Wild Weather is a live, interactive show designed for our youngest visitors. The ideal age range for this show is 3-11 years old. The runtime for Wild Weather is approximately 45 minutes. Every child must be accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.

30 minute live planetarium presentation + 30 minute video Exo: Are We Alone?

Humankind has always sought to understand the mysteries of the Universe and speculated about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Today we know of thousands of exoplanets — planets located outside our Solar System — that offer valuable information about our own planet, its origins and life on Earth. We’re on the cusp of making some fascinating discoveries. But how will they change our lives? 

This “feel good movie” about life is intended to be celebratory, positive and exciting. The Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium team hopes to get audiences interested not only in astronomy research, but also in creating connections between ourselves and the extraterrestrial life that may be out there in the Universe.

30 minute live planetarium presentation + 30 minute video Dynamic Earth

The award-winning Dynamic Earth explores the inner workings of Earth’s great life support system: the global climate. With visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations, this cutting-edge production follows a trail of energy that flows from the Sun into the interlocking systems that shape our climate: the atmosphere, oceans, and the biosphere. Audiences will ride along on swirling ocean and wind currents, dive into the heart of a monster hurricane, come face-to-face with sharks and gigantic whales, and fly into roiling volcanoes.

Dynamic Earth is the result of a two-year long collaboration between Spitz Creative Media, the Advanced Visualization Lab at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois, NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio, and Thomas Lucas Productions, Inc., in association with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and NASA Earth Science. Narrated by Liam Neeson.

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The aurora is the greatest wonder a human can experience in nature. For the first time ever, you can experience an actual auroral substorm in real-time, high-resolution fulldome video, captured by astrophotographer O-Cheol Kwon in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. The ultra-high sensitivity camera footage allows you to observe the subtle evolution of the aurora as they dance across the screen. Learn more about the science of the aurora and the myths and legends of the aurora with beautiful artwork shared from across different cultures. 

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