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

During the school year, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 3:30 pm, the Planetarium is only open for Arlington Public School students and staff.

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 one or 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

The next APS Weekend of the 2026-2027 school year is Saturday evening, November 7th, and Sunday afternoon, November 8th.

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 7th

Please join us at 6:00 pm to enjoy

Explore – The story centers around the motive of human travel to Mars, but the show presents and explains a much broader selection of science including history of astronomy, geocentric and heliocentric models, Kepler laws of planetary motion or orbital maneuvers.

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 to enjoy

Dream Big – From the Great Wall of China and the world’s tallest buildings, to underwater robots, solar cars and smart sustainable cities, Dream Big celebrates the human ingenuity behind engineering marvels big and small, and reveals the heart that drives engineers to create better lives for people around the world. CC available upon request.

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

Sunday, November 8th

Please join us at 1:30 pm for

The Great Solar System Adventure – Join our showman extraordinaire on a death-defying journey to the planets. Explore the wonders and perils of our Solar System in this breathtaking adventure.From the sun-scorched surface of Mercury to the icy expanses of Pluto and beyond, prepare to be subjected to the myriad dangers and wonders of our Solar System, on a breathtaking tour that reveals just how precious our home planet really is. 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

Explore – The story centers around the motive of human travel to Mars, but the show presents and explains a much broader selection of science including history of astronomy, geocentric and heliocentric models, Kepler laws of planetary motion or orbital maneuvers.

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 2026-2027 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 October 17th and 18th.

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 t he 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 2nd

Stars Tonight will occur on the first Monday (holidays excluded) of the month at 7:30 pm and lasts about 90 minutes.

Join us for Stars Tonight, our monthly wanderings through the seasonal night sky, as well as featured sky events and other, sometimes overlooked sky phenomena. In the hour and a half program, your host, retired planetarium director Jonathan Harmon endeavors to help the audience understand the changes in our sky throughout the day, night, and the year. Harmon encourages audience participation in this live, informal, interactive presentation. His passion is making accessible and understandable, the wonders of the sky by placing it in a context the audience can relate to.

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 2026-2027 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!