Support Page Content
Planetarium
Phantom of the Universe
As Dark Matter continues to elude astrophysicists, help is called in from perhaps an unlikely source: particle physicists. Scientists who study the largest things in the universe are teaming up with scientists who study the smallest things in the universe, all in an effort to learn more about this material that seems to compose the majority of our galaxy. Come with us as we study the universe from the smallest scales to the largest, and use the world's most powerful particle accelerator to create new particles out of seemingly nothing, as we seek to unmask the Phantom of the Universe.
Showtimes:
- Friday, June 14th with Kyle Watters:
- 5:00 PM
- 6:30 PM
- 8:00 PM with Kyle Watters
- Saturday, June 15th with Alex Pettitt:
- 1:00 PM
- 2:30 PM
- Sunday, June 23rd with Laura Lege:
- 1:00 PM
- 2:30 PM
Ticket Prices
- General Admission: $7 ($5 ticket + $2 per ticket charge)
- Kids 12 and under: FREE (but must claim ticket)
- Sac State Students: FREE (but must claim ticket)
Kids Day Shows *new programming*
Have a budding astronomer in your house? Don't know what to do with them over summer break? How about a trip to the Sac State Planetarium?! Our Kid's Day shows are geared towards an elementary age audience, and feature some of the same material that students see in our field trip shows during the academic year. All presentations include amazing full-dome visuals of our universe, with four different shows being featured this month, focusing on four different parts of our universe and night sky. Come learn about the Solar System, stars and galaxies, constellations, or black holes! Each show ends with a time for Q&A with your host.
Showtimes:
- Monday, June 17th with Kirsten Johnson:
- 10:00 AM - "The Solar System"
- 11:30 AM - "Stars and Galaxies"
- 1:00 PM - "The Solar System"
- Friday, June 21st:
- 2:00 PM - "Black Holes" with Jason Johnson
- 3:30 PM - "Stars and Galaxies" with Kirsten Johnson:
- Tuesday, June 25th with Jason Johnson:
- 11:30 AM "Constellations"
- 1:00 PM, "Black Holes"
Ticket Prices
- General Admission: $7 ($5 ticket + $2 per ticket charge)
- Kids 12 and under: FREE (but must claim ticket)
- Sac State Students: FREE (but must claim ticket)
Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon
This fantastic sensory experience is a 42-minute long show whose audio is the full ten-track album "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd - nothing more, and certainly nothing less. The music is accompanied by visuals for each track, which each have a different theme; some futuristically looking forward and some a retro acknowledgment to Pink Floyd’s visual history, all relating to a time and space experience. Hosted by Jason Johnson.
Showtimes:
- Saturday, June 22nd
- 6:00 PM
- 7:30 PM
Ticket Prices
- ALL TICKETS: $17 ($15 ticket + $2 per ticket charge)
- Running Time: ~45 minutes
TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, JUNE 7 AT NOON.
Parking Information
The Sacramento State Planetarium is located in the Ernest E. Tschannen Science Complex (Science II)
The closest parking to the Planetarium is Parking Structure 2.
- Paid ticketed events include free parking on the TOP FLOOR of Parking Structure 2 ONLY, starting 1 hour prior to event start time. There is no free parking for Field Trips.
- Daily/hourly parking permits (valid in student parking spaces) are required otherwise. To purchase an $8 daily (or $4 two-hour) parking permit:
- Sign up for a PayByPhone account and download the app. When you arrive on campus, enter location number "5115" into the app to pay your parking fee.
- When you arrive on campus, pay with cash or credit at any permit machine located in all student parking lots/structures; view the campus map for locations.
Please view our campus map for parking lot locations.
Passenger Loading
Dropping off guests? There is a small parking lot of temporary parking spaces between the Bookstore and the Planetarium entrance that will get a vehicle the closest possible.
Important Information
- There are absolutely no food or drinks allowed in the Planetarium.
- Zooming through the universe on a 360º screen may cause motion sickness, please be advised.
- Field Trips are not handled by Hornet Tickets; please visit the booking site.
- Parking is not free for field trips. Please visit the UTAPS site for more parking information
- Will Call is available at the door or can be picked up in advance at the Hornet Ticket Office.
- Doors open about 15 minutes prior to show time. There is no late seating.
- There are no refunds for shows missed. Exchanges or refunds well in advance so that seats may be re-offered to the public may be considered.
- Shows are about an hour long, including a presentation, often a short film, and Q&A time.
Purchasing Tips
- The most SUCCESSFUL way to purchase tickets to the overwhelmingly popular Sacramento State Planetarium is online.
- Customers who have created an account with paciolan (our NEW ticketing company) and are successfully logged in at the exact time tickets are released have had the best luck in procuring these hot tickets!
- Create your account in advance and have your login information available to have the best chance at purchasing!
- Please know that while we do our best to accommodate those who call in, we cannot be as fast as the internet and are unable to select tickets once they are in the virtual shopping carts of online customers.
Stay Connected
Find out about upcoming show dates by following the Planetarium's social media accounts (found on their website) and/or joining their mailing list!