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Coming soon!
Planetarium Show Schedule


Planetarium Evening Shows
Open to the public!
July 16, 2010
August 20 & 27, 2010
September 10 & 24, 2010

Summer Matinee Shows
July 28, 2010
More information



Below is a list of shows that are currently available to schools for field trips. All programs listed are offered Monday through Thursday during the school year at the times indicated.



Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity
FULL-DOME DIGITAL VIDEO
Grades 3 and up
Show times: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30

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
* Public shows offered. Click here for details.

California Content Standards Addressed:
Science Grade 4 1b, 1f, 1g, 6a, 6c, 6f
Grade 5 1a, 1h, 4e, 5a, 5c, 6c, 6h
Grade 6 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 4b, 7a, 7e
Grade 7 6a-g
Grade 8 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2g, 3d, 4a-e, 5a, 5c, 8a, 9a
Earth Science Grades 9-12 1b, 1d, 1e, 1g, 2a, 2b, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g
Physics Grades 9-12 1g, 1m, 2b, 3a, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 5n


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Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope
FULL-DOME DIGITAL VIDEO
Grades 3 and up
Show times: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30

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
* Public shows offered. Click here for details.

California Content Standards Addressed:
Science Grade 3 4c
Grade 4 1g, 6a, 6c, 6d
Grade 5 4a, 4e, 5a, 5b, 5c, 6c, 6h
Grade 6 3a, 3d, 4b, 7a, 7e
Grade 7 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g
Grades 9-12 1d, 1e, 1g, 2b, 2d, 2f, 8a
History and Social Science Grade 7 6a-g, 7.6.4, 7.10.2, 7.11.4


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IBEX: Search for the Edge of the Solar System IBEX: Search for the Edge of the Solar System
FULL-DOME DIGITAL VIDEO
Grades 3 and up
Show times: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30

Designed for visitors with an appreciation for the challenges of space science and a desire to learn more about science research, this program follows the creation of NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX). Audiences will get an in-depth look at the mission and how IBEX is collecting high-speed atoms to create a map of our Solar System's boundary.
28 minutes
* Public shows offered. Click here for details.

California Content Standards Addressed:
Science Grade 5 5a, 5b, 5c
Grade 6 3a, 3d, 4a, 4b, 7a, 7e
Grade 7 6a, 6b, 6c, 6e
Grade 8 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2f, 3a-d, 4a-e
Earth Science Grades 9-12 1a-g, 2a-g
Physics Grades 9-12 1g, 1h, 3a, 3c, 4a, 4e, 5h, 5i, 5j, 5o


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Dawn of the Space Age Dawn of the Space Age
FULL-DOME DIGITAL VIDEO
Grades 3 and up
Show times: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30
See a preview of this program


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
* Public shows offered. Click here for details.

California Content Standards Addressed:
Earth in the Solar System
History of Science and Technology
Transfer of Energy


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Secret of the Cardboard Rocket Secret of the Cardboard Rocket
FULL-DOME DIGITAL VIDEO
Grades 2 and up
Show times: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30
See a preview of this program


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
* Public shows offered. Click here for details.

California Content Standards Addressed:
Science Grade 2 1a, 1b, 1e, 2e, 4c
Grade 3 1a, 1e, 2a, 2d, 3a, 3b, 4d
Grade 4 2a, 3a, 3b, 6a
Grade 5 4e, 5a, 5b, 5c
Grade 6 3a, 3d, 4a, 4b, 5e


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The Enchanted Reef The Enchanted Reef
FULL-DOME DIGITAL VIDEO
Show times: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30


Be transported to a tropical reef, a one-of-a-kind world: colorful and foreign, full of adventure and danger, riddles and mysteries, old legends and myths ... a world inhabited by creatures that are humorous and courageous, lovable and bizarre, charming and dangerous.
32 minutes
* Public shows offered. Click here for details.

California Content Standards Addressed:
Science Grade 2 2a-f
Grade 3 1a, 2a, 3a-d, 4b, 4d, 4e
Grade 4 3a, 3b, 5a, 5c
Grade 5 3a, 4a, 4b, 5b
Grade 6 2d, 3a, 5a-e
Grade 7 3a, 3e, 4a, 4b, 4f
Grade 8 2a, 4d, 4e
Ecology Grades 9-12


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Our Sky Family Our Sky Family
Grades K - 1
Show times: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30
See a preview of this program


This fascinating show introduces the planets and the concept that we are actually part of the solar system. Students find themselves taken on a magical trip through the solar system where cartoon personifications of the planets present photographs and information about themselves.
32 minutes
* Public shows offered. Click here for details.

California Content Standards Addressed:
Science Grade K 1a, 3a, 3c, 4c, 4d
Grade 1 1a, 3c


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Our Place in Space Our Place In Space
Grades 2 - 4
Show times: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30
See a preview of this program


Our Place in Space explores the cause of day and night, the importance of our star the sun, the beauty of the constellations, and the variety of objects that make up the universe.
32 minutes
* Public shows offered. Click here for details.

California Content Standards Addressed:
Science Grade 2 1a, 1b, 1e, 4a, 4d, 4e
Grade 3 1a, 2a, 3d, 4a, 4e
Grade 4 1b, 3a, 6a


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Rusty Rocket's Last Blast Rusty Rocket's Last Blast
Grades 2 - 4
Show times: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30
See a preview of this program


Join Rusty's last class of rocket rookies as they explore how rockets work, relive some great moments in space exploration, take a quick tour of our solar system, and discover how very far it is to even the nearest planets.
35 minutes
* Public shows offered. Click here for details.

California Content Standards Addressed:
Science Grade 2 1d, 1e, 4d
Grade 3 1c, 4a, 4d, 5c
Grade 4 1b, 3a, 6a, 6b


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The Planet Patrol: Solar System Stakeout The Planet Patrol: Solar System Stakeout
Grades 3 - 6
Show times: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30
See a preview of this program


Join Sam Snork, planetary investigator, and his protegé, Elmo, as they search for the source of some unusual T.V. transmissions. During this adventure, they will discover new information about the planets in our solar system as well as what makes Earth so special.
40 minutes
* Public shows offered. Click here for details.

California Content Standards Addressed:
Science Grade 3 1a, 1c, 1e, 2a, 4d, 5a-e
Grade 4 1f, 1g, 6c
Grade 5 1a, 1b, 1c, 5a, 5b, 5c, 6d
Grade 6 3a, 3b, 3d, 4b, 7a, 7e


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The Explorers The Explorers
Grades 4 & up
Show times: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30
See a preview of this program


The Explorers focuses on the human spirit of exploration throughout time and space. The dome is used to identify constellations, to observe what daily motion can tell us about wayfinding, and to study changes in the sky as the observer's latitude changes. During a live section in the program, the audience will get a chance to use their knowledge to navigate using techniques used by Polynesians for thousands of years. Then . . . it's on to Mars!
45 minutes
* Public shows offered. Click here for details.

California Content Standards Addressed:
Science Grade 4 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c
Grade 5 3a, 4b, 5c, 6d, 6f, 6g, 6h
Grade 6 3a, 4b, 5c, 6d, 6f, 6g, 6h


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Lunar Odyssey Lunar Odyssey
Grades 4 and up
Show times: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30
See a preview of this program


Come aboard as Trans-Lunar Tours takes you on a fantastic Lunar Odyssey. Throughout the trip, experts in lunar mythology, history, science, and astronomy give you a guided tour of the awesome beauty and mysteries of Earth's nearest neighbor in space.
40 minutes
* Public shows offered. Click here for details.

California Content Standards Addressed:
Science Grade 4 3a, 6a, 6c
Grade 5 1e, 1h, 5b, 6d, 6e
Grade 6 4b, 7a, 7e


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A Christmas Story A Christmas Story
Grades 3 & up
Show times: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30

See a preview of this program


"A Christmas Story" is told lovingly by a father to his young daughter. During the story he explains the origins and importance of some of our holiday season traditions. After dinner, the family is off to the planetarium for a brief introduction to the winter sky and some possible explanations for the Star of Wonder.
35 minutes
California Content Standards Addressed:
Science Grade 3 1a, 1b, 3d, 4a, 4c, 4d
Grade 4 3b, 6a, 6c
Grade 5 5b, 5c, 6d, 6h
Grade 6 4a, 4b, 7a, 7e
History and
Social Science
Grade 3 3.2-1
Grade 4 4.1-2
Grade 5 5.1-2
Grade 6 6.3-1, 6.7-6


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Santa Snork Saves the Seasons Santa Snork Saves the Seasons
Grades 3 - 6
Show times: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30

See a preview of this program


When we go out to look at the winter constellations, why is it cold? Is it like this everywhere on Earth, and more importantly, why does the Earth have seasons? Planetary investigator Sam Snork not only saves the seasons, but he also presents an alien interpretation of "A Visit from Saint Nicholas."
40 minutes
California Content Standards Addressed:
Science Grade 3 1a, 1f, 2a, 4a, 4e
Grade 4 1g, 2f, 3b, 3c, 4a, 5c
Grade 5 1g, 2f, 3b, 3c, 4a, 5c
Grade 6 3a, 3d, 4a, 4b, 4c, 5e


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To schedule a visit to the Peña Planetarium, please call the Impact Center reservations office at (559) 733-6433.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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Sara Sutton,
Impact Center Supervisor
phone: (559) 733-6871
phone: (559) 733-6328
fax: (559) 730-2747




Jim Vidak
County Superintendent of Schools


Tulare County Office of Education
2637 West Burrel
P.O. Box 5091
Visalia, CA 93278-5091
phone: (559) 733-6300
fax: (559) 737-4378
TTY (hearing impaired): (559) 733-6307


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