Immerse yourself in the stars! Explore the universe at the De Anza College Planetarium!
Art in the Planetarium
Gayle Tanaka's "Blue Print" series charts her grandparents' emigration from Japan to California, and their later experiences as farmers in Watsonville, shopkeepers in San Francisco and wartime internees in Wyoming and Arizona. The series maps family constellations of immigration, incarceration and assimilation.
"I have long been drawn to astronomical and astrological charts and maps," says Tanaka. "As a child, I loved to find the constellations in the sky. We are all actually a part of at least one fundamental personal constellation, our family. My grandparents and parents, beneath the ancient constellations, acted out their lives, creating myths for me. But unlike the ancient constellations, my position and meaning is not yet fixed. Against the backdrop of the stars, I enact my own becoming."
Come to a Planetarium show and see these works in person.
Shows and Events
The De Anza College Planetarium is one of the largest school planetariums west of the Rockies. Join us at this unique community resource for:
See more of our campus video tour on the Video Tour webpage.
Field Trips
We host hundreds of field trips every year from schools all over the Bay Area and beyond. Each program is tailored to NGSS standards and hosted live by the Planetarium staff. Audience questions are always welcome during these presentations.
Field trip shows are available for booking Monday–Friday from September - June. This school year field trips will be held in-person. Programs run an hour and 10 minutes for in-person shows. Visit the Field Trips webpage for more details.
Astronomy Shows
Astronomy shows are offered to the public on most Saturdays from October through May. Each presentation includes a featured fulldome show, plus a live tour of the night sky and space, conducted by our trained presenters. Audience questions are always welcome during these presentations.
Our rotating schedule features different shows each week—and you can learn about a different set of constellations during each season of the year. Check our calendar for show titles and admission prices.
Laser Music Shows
Immerse yourself in vibrant images and music! Our cutting-edge Laser Fantasy system uses sophisticated software and multiple projectors to create dazzling aerial beams and captivating, colorful laser graphics on the interior of our 50-foot dome.
Each show is built around the music of a favorite artist or genre—from Pink Floyd to Michael Jackson, EDM and more! Laser shows are live events, conducted by our professional laser operators, which means each night’s performance is unique.
Location
The Planetarium is located on the De Anza College campus, behind the Science Center building near parking Lot E.
Parking
Parking will remain FREE through December 2024.
We recommend parking in Lot E for weekend shows. Please allow time to park and locate the building before the show begins.
Contact Us
To book a field trip or a special event, please contact the Planetarium Office via email. Planetarium shows are offered to the public most Saturdays, October–May, between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Fall 2024 Office Hours: Beginning September 16, 2024.
- Tuesday - Friday | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Saturdays | 12:45 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Box Office Hours | 1:45 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
De Anza College Planetarium
21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Cupertino, CA 95014
planetarium@deanza.edu