Free Shows Presented Online on Friday Evenings:
7 p.m. “Night Sky” Program
8 p.m. Feature Show (following the 7 p.m. Night Sky Program)
June 6 Show "Meeting the Universe on a California Mountaintop: The Great Debate and Its Resolution - Part One: Mt. Wilson"
June 13 Show (rescheduled from May 30) "Late Spring/Early Summer Deep Sky Wonders"
June 27 Show (rescheduled from May 2) "Radio Astronomy: Exploring the Low-Energy Universe"
See below for show details.
Zoom link for June 6th and 13th Friday evening shows
Planetarium this week
Free, live, virtual public shows!
Invitation links to the planetarium's live online events are generally posted the Thursday before the event. These programs are only available LIVE on Friday evenings, and on the occasional Matinee dates (typically on Sundays). Clicking on the Zoom links at other times will not work.
Please scroll down beyond the calendar for notes on upcoming 8 p.m. programs
We also look forward to the expanded capabilities of the new planetarium and observatory SMC is building for opening in 2025.
Jim Mahon
Planetarium Lecturer
Weekly Night Sky Show
The Night Sky program is roughly 30-40 minutes long, followed by a short question-and-answer period where guests can type questions into a chat box, and we will answer as many questions as possible. There will be a short intermission at approximately 7:50 p.m. prior to the start of the Feature program at 8 p.m.
Feature Programs
Note that all 8 p.m. feature programs are preceded by the 7 p.m. “Night Sky” program described above.
Currently all presentations are online ONLY, with the exception of occasional observing programs.
June 6: "Meeting the Universe on a California Mountaintop: The Great Debate and Its Resolution - Part One: Mt Wilson" — Lecturer Jim Mahon. In the early 20th century, the nature of what were then called “spiral nebulae” was a hot topic in the emerging field of cosmology. Was the Milky Way all there was, or were those poorly resolved spirals a lot farther away than many guessed? A highly publicized debate on the subject generated more heat than light in 1920, because essential data was lacking to prove which view was correct. Three years later, on California’s own Mount Wilson, the picture began to come together…. We'll begin this multichapter saga with the early history of Mt. Wilson Observatory.
June 13: "Late Spring/Early Summer Deep Sky Wonders" (rescheduled from May 30) — Lecturer Jim Mahon. As nights become warmer, the skies of late spring and early summer beckon with a dazzling collection of objects beyond the solar system, but well within range of amateur telescopes under dark skies — which Southern Californians can reach with an easy drive. Tonight’s show will use images to review some of these night-sky gems, and discuss opportunities to get out there and view them.
June 27: "Radio Astronomy: Exploring the Low-Energy Universe" (rescheduled from May 2) — Lecturer Sarah Vincent. Observing the universe in radio frequencies allows peering through dusty veils of nebulae and galactic discs to reveal secrets that are hidden in visible light. Galactic cores, protoplanetary discs, and the event horizons of black holes all shine brightly in the radio spectrum.
Location of Planetarium (Currently Closed for Construction)
Math and Science Building (MSB 126)
1900 Pico Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Campus Map
The SMC Planetarium is located in the new Math and Science Building on the south side of the Santa Monica College Main Campus. The Math and Science Building is on the corner of Pearl Street at Parking Lot 1, just west of 20th Street. We are in Santa Monica, south of the 10 (Santa Monica) Freeway and west of the 405 (San Diego) Freeway.