Astronomy Nights

Tickets are given out for free on a first come/first serve basis. They are given out directly in front of the planetarium starting at 5:30pm on the day of the event. If you'd like to guarantee seats for a particular time slot, please visit our PurplePass page for tickets. Masks are encouraged, but no longer mandatory while indoors on campus. Shows will be starting every hour to allow for a Q&A period with an astronomer about the show!

Mesa Community College invites the public to explore our amazing Universe in our state-of-the-art Planetarium located on the Southern & Dobson Campus!

MCC Astronomy Nights are held on the first Friday of the month during February, March, April, & May and September, October, November, & December.

MCC Astronomy Nights include planetarium shows, telescope viewing, information tables, hands-on activities, and more! Planetarium shows and indoor activities occur rain or shine, but telescope viewing of the night sky is only offered when the sky is clear.

Planetarium shows run from 6:00-10:00 PM, with shows starting every hour.

All tickets to planetarium shows on Astronomy Nights must be reserved online through the Mesa Community College Planetarium page at PurplePass tickets.

Name of Show Date
Forward! To the Moon February 2, 2024
Mars: The Ultimate Voyage March 1, 2024
Totality! April 5, 2024
Tour the Universe w/ Pink Floyd May 3, 2024

The MCC Planetarium is now Digistar 6!

The MCC Planetarium underwent major renovations in January 2018. The upgrade includes a new 4K projection system, new graphics computers, and new planetarium software. Our new view of the Universe is gorgeous!

Other Information:

The line for seating forms approximately 15 minutes before show time. There is no late seating for planetarium shows. Please arrive at least 15 minutes ahead of show time.

During Astronomy Nights, we also offer telescope viewing of the Moon, planets, and other celestial sights. Unlike the planetarium shows, telescope viewing will only occur if the skies are clear.

The planetarium is wheelchair accessible.

Astronomy Nights are held at the MCC Planetarium on the south side of the Physical Science Building (PS 15). This building is just east of Dobson Road, on Planetarium Way north of the Dobson Road-US 60 interchange and one light south of Southern Avenue. Please see the map for our location on MCC's Southern & Dobson campus.

The Planetarium is labeled with "PLANETARIUM" in large black letters which are visible from Dobson Road and Planetarium Way.

Free parking is available in the lots south of the Physical Science Building.