Carr-Fles Planetarium

Our planetarium is an IMAX-style theater that projects images of the stars, planets, and constellations on a domed ceiling for astronomy and cosmology classes. It has 44 theater seats plus an additional 5 spaces for those who use wheelchairs, and a library of 19 programs

The planetarium opened in 1972 and was named in honor of MCC Astronomy instructor Stan Carr, who was instrumental in its original design, and Dr. Robert Fles, who served on the first Board of Trustees. A 2012 renovation brought state-of-the-art digital projection, sound, and lighting systems, a new library of shows, and a completely updated theater environment.

In addition to classroom use, we also host an average of 4,000 community visitors a year for free shows. See below for available dates for walk-in public shows.

You can also make a reservation for a private group show, with day and evening times available, Mon-Thurs. Minimum group size is 15, and we can arrange multiple shows for groups larger than 44. Private shows can select any of our 19 programs. For reservations, contact Tamera Owens, (231) 777-0289, planetarium@muskegoncc.edu.

2024-2025 Public Show Schedule

• Tuesday & Thursday evenings at 7:00pm. Doors open for seating by 6:45pm. See dates below.
• Public shows are walk-in only, no reservations are needed.
• Shows are free and around a half-hour long. A live demonstration on the planetarium dome is included.
• If you arrive early before the public show, you can also visit the John Bartley Science Museum in room 1073, across the hall from the planetarium. The museum is free and is open until 7:00pm on Tues/Thurs. Allow about 20 minutes to explore this year’s exhibit, “Electricity and Magnetism.” More info HERE.
• To receive a reminder for the beginning date of each public show (4 emails a year), please contact planetarium@muskegoncc.edu to be put on the list.

2024 Fall Public Show “Solar Superstorms”

Dates: Tues/Thurs @ 7pm August 27 – October 31 (closed on Sept 3 for college break)

Venture into superhot solar flare plasma, violent solar tornadoes, and coronal mass ejections.

PREVIEW:

2024 Holiday Public Show “Mystery of the Christmas Star”

Dates: Tues/Thurs @ 7pm November 5 – December 12 (closed Nov 28 for Thanksgiving)

This modern retelling of the Christmas story investigates the sky signs that declared the birth of Jesus Christ and caused the Wise Men to travel across the desert from Babylon to Bethlehem.

PREVIEW:

2025 Winter Public Show “Unseen Universe” NEW PROGRAM!

Dates: Tues/Thurs @ 7pmJanuary 14 – March 27 (closed Mar 4 & 6 for spring break)

New technology allows us to experience the distant universe far beyond our vision. An uplifting look at the new era of astronomy and what has yet to come.

PREVIEW:

2025 Spring Public Show “Birth of Planet Earth”

Dates: Tues/Thurs @ 7pm April 1 – June 5 (closed May 6-15 for semester break)

Explores the question of how Earth became a living planet in our solar system’s violent birth, and what are our chances of finding other Earth-like worlds.

PREVIEW: