Planetarium Public Shows Open to the Public Programs are subject to change. December 14, 2018 - Double Feature! Mystery of the Christmas Star and Christmas Traditions Around the World, 6:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m January 25, 2019 From Earth to the Universe 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. February 22, 2019 Secret of the Cardboard Rocket 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. March 15, 2019 Saturn: Jewel of the Heavens 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. March 29, 2019 Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Ticket Prices Adults: $4 Children 11 and under: $3 Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available after 5:00 p.m. on the day of the show at the Planetarium & Science Center Office, 11535 Avenue 264, Visalia. No refunds. Tickets may sell out. Please be prompt. The shows will start precisely at the designated time. No admittance to the planetarium will be allowed once the show has started. Come early and browse through our Galaxy Gift Shop The gift shop will open 30 minutes before showtime on show nights. The shop is stocked with an assortment of educational toys, science activity kits, and unique gift items, including lava lamps, astronaut ice cream, sky gliders, star charts, and lots of other great gift ideas. Prices range from 25 cents to $15. From Earth to the Universe The night sky, both beautiful and mysterious, has been the subject of campfire stories, ancient myths and inspiration for as long as there have been people on Earth. A desire to comprehend the Universe may well be humanity’s oldest shared intellectual experience. Yet only recently have we truly begun to grasp our place in the vast cosmos. To learn about this journey of celestial discovery, from the theories of the ancient Greek astronomers to today’s grandest telescopes, we invite you to experience From Earth to the Universe. 30 minutes Perfect Little Planet Discover our solar system through a new set of eyes - a family from another star system seeking the perfect vacation spot. Fly over the surface of Pluto, dive over the ice cliffs of Miranda, sail through the rings of Saturn, feel the lightning storms at Jupiter, and walk on the surface of Mars. This is the solar system journey for space travelers of all ages. 25 minutes Target audience: All are welcome. Saturn: Jewel of the Heavens Once a planet of great mystery, now we know more than ever before about its amazing system of rings, moons and storms thanks to modern robotic space pioneers. From its bizarre moons with mysterious features to the millions of icy particles that compose the enigmatic rings, this is a three-dimensional tour of the Saturnian system. 36 minutes Target audience: Grades 3 and up; all are welcome. Earth, Moon and Sun How do the Earth, Moon and Sun work together as a system, and what is the myth and science behind it? Why does the Sun rise and set? Why do we see different constellations during different seasons? What is an eclipse? Learn about the Moon's phases and orbit. Explore past and future space travel to our moon and beyond. 30 minutes Target audience: Grades 1 and up; all are welcome. Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity There's a place from which nothing escapes, not even light, where time and space literally come to an end. It's at this point, inside this fantastic riddle, that black holes exert their sway over the cosmos. Zip through otherworldly wormholes, experience the creation of the Milky Way Galaxy, and witness the violent death of a star and subsequent birth of a black hole. 23 minutes Target audience: Grades 3 and up; all are welcome. Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope While looking through the astronomer's telescope, the planetarium audience explores the Galilean Moons, Saturn's rings, and the spiral structure of galaxies, learning about the discoveries of Galileo, Huygens, Newton, Hubble and many others. This program traces the history of the telescope from Galileo's modifications to a child's spyglass - using two small pieces of glass - to the launch of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the future of astronomy. 25 minutes Target audience: Grades 3 and up; all are welcome. The Secrets of Gravity: In the Footsteps of Albert Einstein This show follows the adventures of 12-year-old Luke, who is far more interested in the universe and its secrets than boring magic spells. He is fascinated by the stars, the universe, and the laws of nature. One night, he sneaks into the Albert Einstein Museum where he meets ALBYX3, a small, clever but rather quirky robot who knows all about Albert Einstein and his theories. ALBY takes Luke on a magical journey through space and time during which they not only uncover the secrets of gravity, but also learn about friendship and imagination. Phantom of the Universe Phantom of the Universe showcases an exciting exploration of dark matter. The show reveals the first hints of dark matter's existence, then plummets deep underground to see the most sensitive dark matter detector on Earth. From there, it journeys across space and time to the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, speeding alongside particles before they collide in visually stunning explosions of light and sound. Dawn of the Space Age Treat your students to a historically accurate reconstruction of man's first steps into space beginning with the launch of Sputnik and ending with the new private space exploration. This program teaches science as well as history providing a greatly enhanced immersive planetarium experience. 40 minutes Target audience: Grades 3 and up; all are welcome. Secret of the Cardboard Rocket Climb aboard a magical cardboard rocket with two young adventurers and experience a breathtaking, up-close look at each of our Solar System's planets with guidance from their astronomy book. Discover the secret to making this seemingly impossible trip to the edges of the universe and back, and gain a new sense of wonder about space along the way! 40 minutes Target audience: Grades 2 - 6; all are welcome. Mystery of the Christmas Star This modern reference to the traditional Christmas story investigates possible dates for the birth of Christ and looks at recorded sightings of significant astronomical events during this important time in history. What signs in the sky might have been so intriguing as to cause three wise men to cross a desert in search of a newborn King? Mystery of the Christmas Star will answer all of these questions and more, while charming audiences of all ages. Target audience: All are welcome. The Planetarium & Science Center is on the southwest corner of Mooney Blvd. and Avenue 264 in Visalia (formerly Liberty School campus). View a map. Tulare County Office of Education Planetarium & Science Center 11535 Avenue 264, Visalia Questions? Contact the Planetarium & Science Center at (559) 733-6433. Tulare County Office of Education Planetarium & Science Center 11535 Avenue 264, Visalia, CA 93277 Conan Palmer Planetarium & Science Center Coordinator (559) 733-6433 • fax: (559) 730-2747
			Jim Vidak, County Superintendent of Schools Tulare County Office of Education All mail to: P.O. Box 5091, Visalia, CA 93278-5091 Physical address: 6200 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, CA 93277 phone: (559) 733-6300 • fax: (559) 627-5219 | Home Page | Site Index | Please direct web site problems or comments to tcoeweb@tcoe.org. Copyright © 2018, Tulare County Office of Education