Planetarium

The Southwestern College Planetarium will begin welcoming K–12 school groups starting Spring 2026.  We’re excited to offer an immersive experience that brings astronomy to life.

Who Can Attend

Planetarium shows take place in near-total darkness, which enhances the viewing experience.  Because of this, programs may not be suitable for children younger than 2nd grade.

Program Length and Seating

• Program Duration:  ≈ 45-minute presentation
• Q&A Time:  Students are encouraged to ask questions after the show
• Capacity:  72 fixed seats + space for 4 wheelchairs

Thanks to Proposition Z funding:

• Schools within the Southwestern Community College District:  Free admission
• Schools outside the district:  $5 per person

Parking

School busses are not charged for parking, but personal vehicles must obtain a visitor's parking permit.
Visitor's permits are $1 for 1 hour, or $3 for 1 day.
More information about parking on campus can be found on the SWC website at: Parking Services

Available Show Times

• Monday-Thursday at  9:00 a.m.
• Mondays & Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m.

Ready to Book Your Visit?

Teachers interested in scheduling a field trip to the planetarium can contact the planetarium director at:  swcplanetarium@swccd.edu 

We look forward to help your students discover the wonders of astronomy!

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The new planetarium is currently in the final stages of equipment installation and testing.  Public planetarium programs are expected to begin later in 2026.

We look forward to welcoming community members back for high-quality astronomy shows and educational events.  Please check this page periodically for updates as we approach our reopening date.

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Total Lunar Eclipse of 2026

In the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday, 03 March, a total lunar eclipse will be visible from the San Diego area.  Lunar eclipses occur when the Moon passes through Earth's shadow.  Althgough the eclipse begins earlier, the moon will enter totality at 3:04 a.m., and totality will end at 4:02 a.m.; greatest eclipse will occur at 3:34 a.m. (all times are Pacific Standard Time).  During totality it is common for the moon to appear deeply reddened as sunlight reaching the moon is filtered through Earth's atmosphere.  The moon will be visible toward the southwest throughout the eclipse.

Planetarium previews of the eclipse will be offered during the week prior to the eclipse for faculty, staff, and students.  Eclipse shows are currently planned for:
Wednesday, 25 February, 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, 26 February, at noon (i.e. College Hour)

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The original Southwestern College (SWC) planetarium opened in 1967 with a 30-foot diameter dome and unidirectional seating for an audience of 56.  Adjacent to the dome was an exhibit hall that included a heliostat, a specialized solar telescope that projected live white-light images of the Sun into the hall.  The building also included a rooftop observing deck equipped with telescopes used for astronomy lab classes and public observing events.

The Original Spitz A3P Projector

At the heart of the original facility was a Spitz A3P star projector, purchased for approximately $20,900. Manufactured by Spitz, Inc. from 1961 through the early 1970s, the A3P projected roughly 1,500 stars, including accurate colors for the brightest stars, the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, the Sun, Moon, and five naked-eye planets.  It replicated their apparent motions and included didactic projectors for demonstrating the ecliptic, celestial coordinate systems, and the local meridian.

Multiple axes of motion allowed the A3P to model diurnal motion, precession, and even simulate the night sky as seen from different locations on Earth—an invaluable capability for teaching topics such as celestial navigation.  The original planetarium complex also included a production room and three faculty offices.

Educational and Community Role

From its inception, the planetarium played an essential role in supporting the College’s astronomy curriculum, allowing students to visualize complex celestial motions in an immersive environment. It also hosted regular public programs covering a wide range of topics—from seasonal constellations and space exploration to archaeoastronomy.

Following the passage of Proposition 13, public funding for community outreach programs was eliminated, leading to the discontinuation of the public show series.  The planetarium, however, continued to serve local elementary and middle school groups for field trips and educational programs.

The original SWC planetarium was in continuous operation from 1967 until 2022 when the original building complex was razed to make way for new facilities funded by Proposition Z.

A New Planetarium for a New Era

The new SWC planetarium opened in fall 2025—the centential year of the introduction of the planetarium projector by the Carl Zeiss Company.  The new facility has a 35-foot diameter dome, concentric seating for 72 gurests plus space for four wheelchairs, a larger production space, and an entrance entrance gallery.  The dome is equpped with a state-of-the-art, full-color, programmable ChromaCove LED cove lighting system, and a robust multi-channel sound system.

The original Spitz A3P star projector was re-installed into, andreamains in active use in the new dome.  A new Zeiss ZKP-4 LED Skymaster star projector has been—funded through Proposition SW—is currently being manufactured by the Carl Zeiss Company in Jena, Germany.  Installation of the Zeiss ZKP-4 is anticipated during summer 2026.

Planetarium Directors

Richard "Dick" Morasso (c. 1965-1975)
Jon Olson (c. 1975-1990)
Grant J. Miller (1993–present)

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