Weekend Programming / Stars Tonight

During the school year, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 3:30 pm, the Planetarium is open for Arlington Public School students.

Beginning in September, there will be public programs two weekends a month, one hosted by APS and one hosted by the Friends of the Planetarium. Generally, the first weekend of the month will be an APS-sponsored weekend and two weeks later, there will be a Friends of the Planetarium-sponsored weekend. Both weekends are open to the public and the times and admission prices are the same. The Friends of the Planetarium programs have a different theme each month and at times include featured lecturers and / or activities. Both programs generally last an hour and include a short star-talk for the last 10-15 minutes of the showtime.

On the first Monday of the month (holidays excluded), please join former director of the Planetarium Jonathan Harmon for a look at the stars and celestial phenomena as we welcome back Stars Tonight.

APS Weekends

APS Weekends will be updated here each month.

The next APS Weekend of the school year will be Saturday evening, October 5th and Sunday afternoon, October 6th.

Saturday evening programs are at 6:30 and 8:00 pm. Sunday matinee programs are generally for children, occurring at 1:30 and 3:00 pm.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12 and seniors. Please note, at this time we can only accept cash ($20 bills and smaller) or checks and admission is first-come, first-served at the door. There are no advance reservations available at this time. Doors open 20 minutes prior to showtime.

Saturday, October 5th

Please join us at 6:30 or 8:00 pm to enjoy Dynamic Earth

Dynamic Earth shows how the Earth’s climate is determined by the many forces playing out on the planet. The program emphasizes the impact human activities are having on our climate.

After the show, join us for a look at the night sky from Arlington.

Sunday, October 6th

Please join us at 1:30 for Traveling with Light.

Through the conversation between a child and his mother, Traveling with Light tackles the importance of light in all areas of our lives. The movie presents different scenarios that reveal the complexity of light and its direct influence on our planet.

After the show, join us for a look at the night sky from Arlington.

Or, please join us at 3:00 pm for The Great Solar System Adventure

Come along as the “Great Schiaparelli” leads everyone on The Great Solar System Adventure! Explore both the wonders and perils of visiting the planets in our solar system. From the sun-scorched surface of Mercury to the icy expanses of Pluto and beyond, you’ll experience a breathtaking, death-defying tour that reveals just how precious our home planet really is. CC available upon request.

After the show, join us for a look at the night sky from Arlington.

Friends of the Planetarium Weekends

Information about the 2024-2025 FOAP Weekend Schedule can also be found on their website and FaceBook page.

The next Friends Weekend is September 21st and 22nd.

Saturday evening programs are at 6:30 and 8:00 pm. Sunday matinee programs are generally for children, occurring at 1:30 and 3:00 pm.Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12 and seniors. Doors open 20 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets for t he Friends of the Planetarium programs can be purchased 1-2 weeks ahead of time through the Friends. This link will be updated when tickets are available. If purchasing online, tickets for children and seniors are $3.50 to defray ticketing fees.

Stars Tonight

The next Stars Tonight will be Monday, October 7th.

Stars Tonight will occur on the first Monday (holidays excluded) of the month at 7:30 pm and lasts about 90 minutes.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12* and seniors. Due to the length of the program and time, Stars Tonight is not recommended for young children. Please note, at this time we can only accept cash or checks and admission is first-come, first-served at the door. There are no advance reservations available at this time. Doors open 20 minutes prior to the show and are locked at showtime.