The SUNY Oneonta planetarium operates the Evans & Sutherland Digistar 6 system- one of the world's most advanced fulldome digital theater systems! It features a digital projector capable of bringing you sharp views of the stars, planets, and constellations visible in the night sky. Additionally, the system can show full dome movies and animations, providing you with a complete planetarium show experience.
The planetarium is used in a variety of science classes across campus, and offers a fun and enriching experience for all students. Are you a student interested in learning more about the planetarium? Join the Nebula Society! This student-run organization designs and runs shows for the campus community, and all majors are welcome!
Planetarium shows for the general public and school groups are also available during the school year. See below for our current show schedule.
Spring 2025 Public Planetarium Shows
The SUNY Oneonta planetarium offers family-friendly shows for the public on Friday nights and Saturdays throughout the Spring 2025 semester.
Tickets are $3 per person per show. This small fee helps us offset the increasing cost of planetarium maintenance and allow us to offer the highly requested Saturday shows.
Please arrive 10 minutes early as doors close promptly at showtime.
Tickets will be available for purchase from this website starting mid-January. Please follow the Science Discovery Center and Planetarium on social media for more updates.
Show Schedule and Topics
Friday Nights
Join us for a tour of the night sky present by SUNY Oneonta faculty on Friday nights! These 45 min shows will be a live presentation of constellations visible in the night sky, plus some current events related to Astronomy. Spring 2025 will feature shows related to the Winter sky, solar and lunar eclipses, and a celebration of the Hubble Space Telescope’s 35th anniversary. Shows start promptly at 7 p.m.
Show dates (ticket links will be added to the dates below soon)
Winter Night Sky
1/24/25
2/7/25
Solar and Lunar Eclipses
2/21/25
3/7/25
3/21/25
Hubble’s 35th Anniversary
4/4/25
4/18/25
5/2/25
Saturday Mornings
February 8 – March 15
10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: Betelgeuse's Galactic Vacation: An Alien's Search for Planets! (Written and produced by SUNY Oneonta graduate student Mackenzie Sadler!)
Join our friend Betelgeuse, an alien from the Andromeda Galaxy as he searches for a planet in the Milky Way for vacation! This family friendly show explores different exoplanets and what makes a place suitable for life. The 25-minute film will be followed by a brief tour of the night sky. (Suitable for ages 5 and up)
March 22 – May 10
10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: Max Goes to the Moon
In this 35-minute film, we follow a dog named Max on his journey to the Moon. A brief tour of the night sky and constellations will be shown after the movie. (Best for ages 3-12)
February 8 – May 10
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: The Sky Tonight
This 45 minute live tour of the stars showcases the constellations visible in the evening sky and takes you on a journey through our Solar System and beyond. (Suitable for all children and adults).
Show dates (ticket links will be added to the dates below soon)
2/8/25
2/15/25
2/22/25
3/1/25
3/8/25
3/15/25
3/22/25
3/29/25
4/5/25
4/19/25
4/26/25
5/3/25
5/10/25
- Lap children 2 and under do not require a ticket. Tickets are non-refundable unless shows are cancelled due to weather. Doors close right at showtime, so please arrive 15 minutes early.
- Ticket fees only apply to the shows listed above. They do not apply to student events, college admission/alumni events, or school field trips. Please contact the Science Discovery Center with any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Planetarium shows kid-friendly?
Yes! All of our planetarium shows are designed for the general public. Suggested age ranges for each show are listed with the show description.
Can Planetarium show tickets be purchased at the door?
Planetarium show tickets must be purchased online. You can stop by or call the Science Discovery Center before a show for ticket assistance, if needed.
The show is sold out! If I show up, can I still get a seat?
No. Our planetarium has strict capacity restrictions. Please purchase a ticket for a future show.
I bought tickets but I can no longer come to the show. Can I get a refund?
Tickets are non-refundable, but they are transferable! Please feel free to donate your tickets to another family if you cannot attend the show.
School, Community and Private Groups
We regularly host educational groups from preschool through high school for planetarium shows that supplement in-class instructional units and also offer private planetarium shows.
Learn more about field trip and group visit opportunities
Contact
If you have questions about the planetarium, please contact:
A.J. Read Science Discovery Center
607-436-2011
sdc@oneonta.edu
Dr. Josh Nollenberg
Joshua.Nollenberg@oneonta.edu
Dr. Valerie Rapson
Valerie.Rapson@Oneonta.edu