The Academy is open daily! Weekends sell out early: Please reserve your tickets as far in advance as possible for the greatest availability.
Morrison Planetarium
Our 75-foot dome will immerse you inside cutting-edge visualizations and hyper-realistic virtual environments. From faraway galaxies to the workings of our own planet, experience the cosmos like never before.
The planetarium is open daily! We’re thrilled to welcome you back to the dome. For your safety, reservations are required and capacity is limited to 50 guests per show. Please view the FAQs below for information on how to make a reservation, showtime information, and health and safety details.
Morrison Planetarium shows are fueled by cutting-edge scientific data, resulting in stunning visualizations of the latest observations, discoveries, and theories about our Universe. Every star, planet, spacecraft, or galaxy a viewer encounters in the planetarium precisely mirrors a real-world counterpart, and when this virtual cosmos is projected onto Morrison’s 75-foot-diameter screen, the dome itself seems to disappear, resulting in a uniquely immersive experience.
Planetarium show passes are free, but reservations are required and capacity is extremely limited at this time. Planetarium shows may not be appropriate for children under 7, and we regret that we cannot permit any child under 4.
Now playing: Big Astronomy
Showtimes: 10:30 am (weekends only); 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm daily
Journey to remote, rugged regions of Chile to visit some of the world’s largest telescopes in the Academy’s newest planetarium show. After meeting the remarkable people who make this amazing technology run smoothly, you’ll learn more about the latest discoveries from these observatories.
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Now playing: Tour of the Universe
Showtimes: 4:30 pm daily
Go faster than the speed of light to explore the farthest reaches of the known Universe in this live presentation that uses NASA’s OpenSpace software. We’re also simulcasting the show from the planetarium every Wednesday at 4:30 pm PT—tune in on the Academy’s YouTube channel or the Morrison Planetarium Facebook page!
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Lecture series
The planetarium welcomes some of the brightest stars in the astronomy world to the stage as part of the Benjamin Dean Astronomy Lecture series—rebooting as a streaming program this June!
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About the dome
Mimicking the tilt of planet Earth, the frame of the dome—composed of 100 percent recycled steel—supports a NanoSeam projection screen that seems to disappear when lit, creating a true-to-life recreation of luminous, faraway space and skies.
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Universe Update
Your hub for all things astronomy, Universe Update features expert Academy insight on everything from eclipses to quantum physics to SETI—the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
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Licensing Inquiries
For more information on licensing fulldome shows from the California Academy of Sciences, please contact:
Taikera Conyers
Frequently asked questions
The planetarium is now open! We want to make sure you have all the info you need for a safe, stellar experience. Please click the + below to expand each FAQ, and email us at info@calacademy.org if you don’t find what you need.
How do I make a reservation?
Reservations are required for the planetarium, rainforest, and Shake House earthquake simulator, and making them is fast and free with your smartphone. When you get to the Academy, keep an eye out for lobby signage with QR codes. Then:
- Aim your smartphone camera or QR code reader app at the QR code posted in the lobby or at the entrance to the planetarium
- Tap the URL that appears
- On the webpage that opens up in your browser, tap the planetarium icon and your desired showtime
- Enter your name, phone number, and size of your party (maximum 8) and confirm your reservation
You’ll receive a text message confirming your reservation and showtime, as well as a reminder five minutes before showtime. Please be sure to arrive on time as we may not be able to accommodate latecomers.
There is no charge to make a reservation with your smartphone, but message and data rates may apply depending on your carrier. If no reservations are available, please try again later as additional showtimes are released later in the day. Need help making a reservation? Ask any Academy staff member for assistance.
What if there are no showtimes available during my visit?
Reservations for the planetarium are available on a first-come, first-served basis with a maximum of 50 guests per show, and there are an extremely limited number of showtimes available per day for your safety. We regret that we can’t guarantee the availability of reservations during periods of high demand, especially weekends and holidays, and recommend making your reservations as soon as you arrive for the greatest selection of available timeslots.
If no timeslots are available, please try again later as additional reservations are released later in the day, or tune in to a simulcast livestream on YouTube and Facebook every Wednesday at 4:30 pm PT. Please help us maximize timeslot availability by only making reservations that you can keep, and canceling if you can’t make it.
Academy members and donors enjoy priority reservation access at the time of booking—and the freedom to visit all year long. Join today for as low as $99/year.
What health and safety protocols will be in place in the planetarium?
Staff and guest safety in the planetarium is our top priority. Capacity is limited to 50 guests per show, with 4-5 shows per day. Before every show, ushers will ensure at least 4 empty seats, or 6+ feet, are between parties to maximize physical distancing. During every show, guests must keep their masks on at all times, and food and drink are strictly prohibited. After every show, our janitorial staff will clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces, including handrails and armrests.
We appreciate your patience and understanding and look forward to increasing capacity over the coming months in accordance with local, state, and CDC guidelines.
Morrison Planetarium's quarterly report on meteor showers, space events, and astronomy-related news.
Keep tabs on our planets with Morrison Planetarium's quarterly guide to planetary activity.
Know what's up with Morrison Planetarium's Skywatcher's Guide—a quarterly compendium of heavenly happenings.