Best Planetarium Tempe Near Me

4worldlovers: The MCC Planetarium opened in August 2008 as part of the new Physical Science building at the Southern & Dobson campus. The planetarium projection system was updated in January 2018. We offer public planetarium shows during our monthly Astronomy Nights. We welcome school groups and private groups to schedule shows as well.

Our 52-seat Planetarium is used for our college astronomy classes and we host community groups of all ages interested in astronomy.

Our Astronomy Nights are open to the public on the first Friday of the month during the Spring and Fall semesters. The Astronomy Nights include free planetarium shows and telescope viewing.

4worldlovers: Additional telescopes supplied by members of the East Valley Astronomy Club are available for free public viewing, plus an astronomy related talk in the adjoining public library at 7:30 PM.

Minimum of $40 donation. Organized youth groups working on astronomy awards may be eligible for fee waiver.

From time to time the observatory is open for special events and solar viewing.

We ask that viewers do not physically touch the telescope or eyepiece (it is tempting for viewers of all ages) because the telescope is always moving by computer control, and touching will cause the image to shake.

Please refrain from using flashlights or looking at your cellphones during your visit to the observatory. The best viewing is obtained when your eyes are “dark adapted”. We use red lights to assist your night vision, and looking at bright lights will instantly cause your eyes to react and lose the ability to more easily see fainter objects.

The observatory staff will choose objects that are available for viewing that evening. We will try to see several objects during an evening, but that is dependent on the number of people waiting in line.

Please feel free to stay and watch our educational videos on the patio as you wait.

Ask our volunteers any astronomy related question that is on your mind, but please be respectful of other guests who are waiting to view.