Carr-Fles Planetarium

West Michigan’s only free, public planetarium

 

Planetarium Seating

The planetarium projects images of the stars, planets, and constellations on a domed ceiling for astronomy and cosmology classes taught by Jon Truax. Additionally, the planetarium also hosts an average of 5,000 visitors a year. For more information on visiting the planetarium, contact the Math & Physical Sciences Department secretary, Tamera Owens, tamera.owens@muskegoncc.edu, (231) 777-0289.

We have two types of shows for visitors: walk-in public shows and large-group private shows by reservation.

 

Free Public Walk-In Shows

  • Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 7:00pm. Doors open for seating by 6:45. Before the show, you may also want to visit our free science museum, across the hall from the planetarium. Click here for the full-year schedule of shows.
  • No reservations needed and no minimum number of people. (If you have a large group, see below.)
  • The program changes four times a school year, and all shows are free. The planetarium is closed for the summer, and will reopen Aug 29, 2023, with “Faster Than Light,” a virtual ride aboard the spacecraft of the future. Suitable for ages 8 and up. Program is 24 minutes and will be followed by a brief presentation of the current night sky projected on the planetarium dome. Preview – https://vimeo.com/221807968

Free Large Group Private Shows by Reservation (At least 15 people.)

Do you have a group of 15 or more who would like to go to the planetarium? We annually host many school field trips, church groups, clubs, social service agencies, scout troops, and birthday parties.

  • We have 44 theater-style seats + an additional 5 spaces for those who use wheelchairs, and we can schedule multiple showtimes for groups with more people.
  • You may also want to visit our free, hands-on science museum, across the hall from the planetarium.
  • You may choose which program to see from the list below. All shows are free!
  • Please schedule with Tamera Owens (tamera.owens@muskegoncc.edu, 231-777-0289) at least 2-3 weeks in advance, and even earlier for our busy times in December and May.
Dates available for 2023-24 Mondays Tuesdays Wednesdays Thursdays
Fall Semester 2023

Aug. 29.-.Dec. 7, Closed: Sept. 4 (Labor Day) & 5 and Nov. 22 & 23 (Thanksgiving)

 9:00am

and

12:30-6:00pm

 9:00am

and

12:30-6:00pm

 9:00am

and

12:30-1:00pm

 9:00am

and

12:30-6:00pm
Winter Semester 2024

Jan. 8 – Apr. 22, Closed: Jan. 15 (MLK Day), March 4-7 (Spring Break)

 9:00am

and

12:30-6:00pm

 9:00am

and

12:30-6:00pm

 9:00am

and

12:30-1:00pm

 9:00am

and

12:30-6:00pm
Summer Semester 2024

Dates will be posted later

 9:00am

and

12:30-6:00pm

 9:00am

and

12:30-6:00pm

 9:00am

and

12:30-1:00pm

 9:00am

and

12:30-6:00pm

 

Planetarium Program Options for Large Group Reservations

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

Larry Cat In Space (30 minutes, ages 3-7) This playful, imaginative cartoon presentation follows an inquisitive cat who takes a trip to the Moon. This program has cartoon slides, rather than full-motion animation.

Preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDMSYosNVoA

The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather (24 Minutes, ages 5-10) Based on the hit NBC children’s series, this animation takes the Patrollers on an expedition to learn all about weather, both on Earth and other planets.

Preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFhvAUAG4xQ

 

GENERAL AUDIENCE PROGRAMS

Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity (24 minutes) Features striking, immersive animations of the formation of the universe, star birth and death, the collision of giant galaxies, and a simulated flight to a super-massive black hole lurking at the center of our own Milky Way Galaxy.

Preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RiOatYjU_4

Dawn of the Space Age (41 minutes) This historic reconstruction of Man’s first trips into space gives you the chance to become a first-hand observer to the space race.

Preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6vGmibJAQ4

Dynamic Earth: Exploring Earth’s Climate Engine (24 minutes) Explore the inner workings of Earth’s climate system, ride on swirling ocean and wind currents, dive into the heart of a hurricane, come face-to-face with sharks and whales, and fly into volcanoes!

Preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSi5641-D18

Edge of Darkness (24 minutes) Using groundbreaking discoveries from recent space missions, this program will take viewers to see comets, Pluto, and its moons.

Preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnmLsh51tHE

Faster Than Light! The Dream of Interstellar Flight (25 minutes) A virtual ride aboard the spacecraft of the future. What rocket designs might one day conquer space?

Preview – https://vimeo.com/221807968

Incoming! (30 minutes) Tag along with robot explorers and discover how asteroids and comets have collided with our planet throughout history, changing the course of life on Earth.

Preview – http://www.calacademy.org/incoming-trailer

Mystery of the Christmas Star (30 minutes) This modern retelling of the Christmas story investigates the “star” and “sky signs” that declared the birth of Jesus Christ and caused the Wise Men to travel across the desert from Babylon to Bethlehem. This program avoids discussion of the Earth as billions of years old.

Preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIjCYN7WzAw

Oasis in Space (24 minutes) Transports the audience on a startling and beautiful voyage through our universe, galaxy and solar system in search of liquid water – a key ingredient for life on Earth.

Preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtgR8MgJtY

Stars: the Powerhouses of the Universe (26 minutes) Journey to the furthest reaches of our galaxy to experience star formation and destruction.

Preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0NXcrCwbWI

Solar Superstorms (30 minutes) Venture into superhot solar flare plasma, violent solar tornadoes, and the largest eruptions in the solar system: coronal mass ejections.

Preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BiMJ8WHF9k

Supervolcanoes (35 minutes) See how past and present supervolcanoes on Earth have changed our history or will impact us in the future, and explore them on other planets.

Preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JadQfs7iQGo

Two Small Pieces of Glass (25 minutes) Explore the discoveries made by astronomers through the last 400 years, from Galileo’s invention of the telescope using two pieces of glass, to the launch of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. This program is more sensory-friendly, with less dramatic music and slower-moving images.

Preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCPe1yeQy7Q

Undiscovered Worlds (30 minutes) With improving technology, the discovery of other planets brings us one step closer to the possibility of finding an Earth-like world.

Preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWYFEok7nh4

We Are Stars (25 minutes) A family-friendly adventure that starts in a Victorian fairground and follows nuclear fusion in stars, the development of our own solar system, and the evolution of life from the very first cells.

Preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSAU9ktkbLk