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Public Programming: Weekends / Stars Tonight / Sundays for Scouts Program

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, November 1st, and Sunday afternoon, November 2nd.

Saturday evening programs are at 6:00 and 7:30 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, November 1st

Please join us at 6:00 pm to enjoy

Beyond the Sun Movie PosterBeyond the Sun – While CELESTE is fighting off sleep in her room by reading a book on astronomy she receives an unexpected visit from MOON. Together, they will enjoy a journey through the Universe to discover what exoplanets are and how they can be detected. (This program is an option for APS 5th grade students.) CC available upon request. 

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

Or, please join us at 7:30 pm for

Dynamic Earth Movie PosterDynamic 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. CC available upon request. 

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

Sunday, November 2nd

Please join us at 1:30 pm for 

Movie poster of One World, One SkyOne World, One Sky – Big Bird, Elmo and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu, take viewers on a journey of discovery to learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the Sun, and the Moon. (This program is used with APS K students.) CC available upon request. 

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

 

Or, please join us at 3:00 pm for 

Beyond the Sun Movie Poster

Beyond the Sun – While CELESTE is fighting off sleep in her room by reading a book on astronomy she receives an unexpected visit from MOON. Together, they will enjoy a journey through the Universe to discover what exoplanets are and how they can be detected. (This program is an option for APS 5th grade students.) CC available upon request. 

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

Friends of the Planetarium Weekends

Information about the 2025-2026 FOAP Schedule can also be found on their website and FaceBook page.  FOAP events are open to the public. You do not need to be a member to attend.

The next Friends Weekend is November 15-16, 2025.

Saturday evening programs are at 6:00 and 7:30 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 the 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, November 3, 2025.

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.

 

Sundays for Scouts Program

During the 2025-2026 School Year, APS and the Friends of Arlington’s Planetarium will offer a Scouts Program twice a month after the Sunday matinees at 4:30. Please use this link to request a Scout Show.

Thank you!