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PleiadesThe Pleiades

Saturday Night Stargazing

About the William K. Holt Planetarium

Planetarium Birthday Parties and Reserved Shows

Astronomy Web sites:

Eastbay Astronomical Society

Can you buy and name a star? NO!

Other Planetariums on the Internet

Related Web sites

LHS Astronomy Products:

The Portable Planetarium (Star Dome)

Planetarium Activities for Student Success

Star Clocks - Tell time by the stars.

Sky Challenger - a set of six interchangeable star wheels full of activities:

Also includes Star Clocks.

Uncle Al's Star Wheels

Star Maker Planetarium Kit

William Knox Holt Planetarium

"The Best Planetarium in the Whole World"
The Planetarian, Journal of the International Planetarium Society

Explore the skies in a small friendly planetarium, where questions and activities are part of the show.

Planetarium shows
Every Saturday and Sunday, plus holidays (see schedule below).

Planetarium tickets
(after museum admission)
$3.00 — Adults
$2.50 — Ages 18 and under

Tickets are sold at the Information Desk on a first-come, first-served basis. Planetarium Passes should be exchanged at the Information Desk for tickets.

Most programs are recommended for ages 8 and up.
Children under 6 will not be admitted except for Flying High and Journey to the Moon (for ages 4-7).

Schedule

July 14 - September 14, 2008
Saturday and Sunday, plus Holidays.*
Daily shows 6/16/2008-8/22/2008.

1:00 p.m. - Flying High (designed for ages 4-7)
2:15 p.m. - Strange Planets (for ages 8 yrs and up)
3:30 p.m. - Constellations Tonight (for ages 8 yrs and up)
* NO shows on September 1.

September 20-December 14, 2008
Saturday and Sunday, plus Holidays.**

1:00 p.m. - Journey to the Moon (designed for ages 4-7)
2:15 p.m. - Colors from Space (for ages 8 yrs and up)
3:30 p.m. - Constellations Tonight (for ages 8 yrs and up)
** Holidays include November 11 & 28.

Events

Saturday Night Stargazing
Every 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month, year-round. For more information, please check our stargazing page.

Programs

Colors from Space
If the sun were red, what would your blue jeans look like? What can colors tell us about the stars and planets? What colors from space are visible to our eyes? The planetarium becomes a laboratory for experimenting with all the colors of the rainbow—and even some colors from beyond the rainbow!
Recommended for ages 8 and up.

Constellations Tonight
The lore of the stars and other treasures of the sky come to Earth in our planetarium. Learn to identify the most prominent constellations of the season in the planetarium sky with a simple star map. Keep your map to help you find the constellations in the real nighttime sky.
Recommended for ages 8 and up.

Flying High
Take an imaginary trip into space. Start the excursion by speeding though a whole day in our planetarium "time machine" and then identifying the Big Dipper. Take off with the launch of a spaceship and learn how things move in space, how astronauts eat food in a weightless environment, and how satellites are put into orbit. Don't worry, you’ll return safe and sound!
Recommended for ages 4-7.

Journey to The Moon
Pack your astronaut bags with everything you need for an imaginary trip to the Moon. Start with a time traveler’s view of the changing shapes of the Moon as viewed from Earth. Then land on the Moon and go for an imaginary stroll with lots of “lunatic” excitement and adventure.
Recommended for ages 4–7.

Strange Planets *new show!*
Astronomers have found a galaxy of planets lurking light years from our solar system! Strange Planets explores these extrasolar planets, but how do you find a planet orbiting another star? Is it even possible? Learn the latest astronomical techniques for identifying extrasolar planets and measuring their size, mass, and temperature. Then find an easy-to-spot star in the night sky that has an extrasolar planet orbiting it!
Recommended for ages 8 and up.