We are delighted to welcome you to the Planetarium!
Planetarium shows run 45-60 minutes. In addition to the show itself, we have a small exhibit area and a gift shop with books, toys, and, of course, Astronaut ice cream.
Plan to arrive early! Planetarium shows start promptly. Late admission is not allowed. Arrive 20-30 minutes before your show starts to purchase your tickets and look at the exhibits.
Parking: The closest parking lots are #9 and #1. Walk up the stairs to get to the Planetarium entrance. Call the Planetarium if you need handicapped parking.
Admission: $11 per person for one show, $20 per person for two shows back to back
Make a reservation: Reservations are recommended. All ticket sales are done at the door on the day of the show.
Call 908-231-8805
Email planet@raritanval.edu (Please provide your name, phone number, which show(s) you’d like to see, and how many tickets you’d like.)
Contact: planet@raritanval.edu for more information or with any questions.
Please Note: Planetarium laser shows include loud music, flashing lights, and rapidly moving graphics, all in a dark environment, and therefore may not be recommended for those who are sensitive to these conditions or have a medical condition that could be exacerbated by them.
Special Events
Cost: $11 for one show, $20 for two shows back to back
$2/ticket discount for RVCC Students and Employees (bring RVCC ID)
908-231-8805
Special Events
How do STEM workers, NASA professionals, athletes, and business executives cope with stress? Mindfulness. Meditation is a powerful tool for maintaining psychological health and resilience. Since the planetarium offers a dark and quiet space for relaxation, it is the perfect place for meditation. Enjoy a guided meditation experience in the comfortable, reclined seats in the RVCC Planetarium. Relax under a night sky filled with stars, then travel from Earth to beyond our galaxy. Recommended for ages 10-adult.
Join our eclectic group of witches and wizards as they guide visitors through a Harry Potter-themed tour of the night sky. Learn how astronomy was used as the inspiration for some of the characters' names. (Recommended for ages 8-adult)
Put on your pajamas or space suit and blast-off into outer space to visit the Moon, Sun and planets with “Rockin’ Rocket Ride”. A lively experience for young people, the show features selected music from "Journey Into Space" by Jane Murphy. (Recommended for ages 3-8)
Sensory - Friendly Shows
The Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) Planetarium in Branchburg offers special astronomy and music shows designed for families with children on the Autism spectrum or those with developmental disabilities. These sensory-friendly shows, which are appropriate for audiences of all ages, will provide a comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming to all families. During the show, the doors will remain open so children may freely leave and return if they choose. Lights will be left dim (instead of dark) and the audio will be lowered and kept at a consistent level.
Cost: $11 for one show, $20 for two shows back to back
$2/ticket discount for RVCC Students and Employees (bring RVCC ID)
908-231-8805
Sensory-Friendly Planetarium Shows
July 2026
Cost: $11 for one show, $20 for two shows back to back 908-231-8805
$2/ticket discount for RVCC Students and Employees (bring RVCC ID)
July Planetarium Shows
| Date | Time | Show | Ages |
| Wed., July 8 | 2:30pm | Cosmic Questions | 6-adult |
| 3:30pm | K-Pop Laser Concert | 6-adult | |
| Thu., July 9 | 2:30pm | Magic Tree House: Space Mission | 5-12 |
| 3:30pm | Earth, Moon, Sun & Coyote | 6-12 | |
| Fri., July 10 | 7pm | Sunset Meditation | 10-adult |
| 8pm | Revolutionary Skies | 10-adult | |
| 9pm | Redcoats to Rebels Laser Concert | 10-adult | |
| Wed., July 15 | 2:30pm | Cosmic Questions | 6-adult |
| 3:30pm | K-Pop Laser Concert | 6-adult | |
| Thu., July 16 | 2:30pm | Magic Tree House: Space Mission | 5-12 |
| 3:30pm | Earth, Moon, Sun & Coyote | 6-12 | |
| Fri., Jul 17 | 7:00pm | K-Pop Laser Concert | 10-adult |
| 8:00pm | Revolutionary Skies | 10-adult | |
| 9:00pm | Redcoats to Rebels Laser Concert | 10-adult | |
| Wed., July 22 | 2:30pm | Cosmic Questions | 6-adult |
| 3:30pm | K-Pop Laser Concert | 6-adult | |
| Thu., July 23 | 2:30pm | Magic Tree House: Space Mission | 5-12 |
| 3:30pm | Earth, Moon, Sun & Coyote | 6-12 | |
| Fri., July 24 | 7:00pm | K-Pop Laser Concert | 6-adult |
| 8:00pm | Revolutionary Skies | 10-adult | |
| 9:00pm | Redcoats to Rebels Laser Concert | 10-adult | |
| Wed., July 29 | 2:30pm | Cosmic Questions | 6-adult |
| 3:30pm | K-Pop Laser Concert | 6-adult | |
| Thu., July 30 | 2:30pm | Magic Tree House: Space Mission | 5-12 |
| 3:30pm | Earth, Moon, Sun & Coyote | 6-12 | |
| Fri., July 31 | 7:00pm | Skies Over Hogwarts | 8-adult |
| 8:00pm | Skies Over Hogwarts | 8-adult | |
| 9:00pm | K-Pop Laser Concert | 6-adult |
NEW SHOW
Everyone has a cosmic question! We asked museum people and local celebrities to send us their space inquiries. Explore our answers and how we handled the big mysteries like aliens, black holes, and multiverse! Join us for a wild ride through the cosmos as we uncover the peculiar, the obvious, and the far-out. (Recommended for ages 6-adult)
NEW SHOW
Calling all K-Pop stans!! A brand-new laser show has just landed. Enjoy music from the band that brought you “K-Pop Demon Hunters” as well as BTS, Stray Kids, and much more!
Join Jack and Annie as they discover the secrets of the Sun, Moon, planets, space travel, and more. Who can help them answer the questions left for them by the mysterious "M"? This show is based on the same-titled, best-selling series of novels. (Recommended for ages 5-12)
Coyote thinks he knows everything about the sky, but he’s surprised by how many misconceptions he has about eclipses, moon phases, and the motion of the day and night skies. (Recommended for ages 6-12)
How do STEM workers, NASA professionals, athletes, and business executives cope with stress? Mindfulness. Meditation is a powerful tool for maintaining psychological health and resilience. Since the planetarium offers a dark and quiet space for relaxation, it is the perfect place for meditation. Enjoy a guided meditation experience in the comfortable, reclined seats in the RVCC Planetarium. Relax under a night sky filled with stars, then travel from Earth to beyond our galaxy. Recommended for ages 10-adult.
NEW SHOW
A new show celebrating America’s 250th birthday! Learn about the stars, celestial events, and scientists during the Revolutionary War period.
NEW SHOW
The British are coming…and bringing rockin’ music! Enjoy rock ‘n’ roll songs popular during the famous “British Invasion”. Bands include The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Queen. Then we'll switch continents and enjoy some classic rock songs from American bands including Journey, Guns N Roses, Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister, and more.
Join our eclectic group of witches and wizards as they guide visitors through a Harry Potter-themed tour of the night sky. Learn how astronomy was used as the inspiration for some of the characters' names. (Recommended for ages 8-adult)
August 2026
Cost: $11 for one show, $20 for two shows back to back 908-231-8805
$2/ticket discount for RVCC Students and Employees (bring RVCC ID)
AUGUST Planetarium Shows
| Date | Time | Show | Ages |
| Wed., Aug 5 | 2:30pm | Rockin' Rocket Ride | 3-8 |
| 3:30pm | Perfect Little Planet | 6-12 | |
| Thu., Aug 6 | 2:30pm | Rockin' Rocket Ride | 3-8 |
| 3:30pm | Perfect Little Planet | 6-12 | |
| Fri., Aug 7 | 7:00pm | Cosmic Questions | 6-adult |
| 8:00pm | Astronomy Tonight | 6-12 | |
| 9:00pm | Grateful Dead Laser Concert | 10-adult | |
| Wed., Aug 12 | 2:30pm | Rockin' Rocket Ride | 3-8 |
| 3:30pm | Perfect Little Planet | 6-12 | |
| Thu., Aug 13 | 2:30pm | Rockin' Rocket Ride | 3-8 |
| 3:30pm | Perfect Little Planet | 6-12 | |
| Fri., Aug 14 | 7:00pm | Sunset Meditation | 10-adult |
| 8:00pm | Unseen Earth | 10-adult | |
| 9:00pm | Grateful Dead Laser Concert | 10-adult | |
| Wed., Aug 19 | 2:30pm | The Little Star that Could | 6-12 |
| 3:30pm | Accidental Astronauts | 6-12 | |
| Thu., Aug 20 | 2:30pm | The Little Star that Could | 6-12 |
| 3:30pm | Accidental Astronauts | 6-12 | |
| Fri., Aug 21 | 7:00pm | Cosmic Questions | 6-adult |
| 8:00pm | Unseen Earth | 10-adult | |
| 9:00pm | Best of Pink Floyd Laser Concert | 10-adult | |
| Wed., Aug 26 | 2:30pm | The Little Star that Could | 6-12 |
| 3:30pm | Accidental Astronauts | 6-12 | |
| Thu., Aug 27 | 2:30pm | The Little Star that Could | 6-12 |
| 3:30pm | Accidental Astronauts | 6-12 | |
| Fri., Aug 28 | 7:00pm | Pajama Night with Rockin' Rocket Ride | 3-8 |
| 8:00pm | Unseen Earth | 10-adult | |
| 9:00pm | Best of Pink Floyd Laser Concert | 10-adult |
Put on your space suit and blast-off into outer space to visit the Moon, Sun and planets. A lively experience for young people, the show features selected music from "Journey Into Space" by Jane Murphy. (Recommended for ages 3-8)
A family from another star system is seeking the perfect vacation spot. Fly over the surface of Pluto, our best-known dwarf planet; sail through the rings of Saturn; avoid Jupiter’s lightning storms; and walk on the surface of Mars. Which destination will the family choose? (Recommended for ages 6-12)
Travel with an average yellow star on his quest to get a “name” and a planet to call his own. A “cool” red star, a “hot” blue star, a dying star, double stars and the Milky Way Galaxy teach Little Star some important things about being a star. Imagine Little Star’s surprise when he discovers that several planets revolve around him. The show offers a great introduction to the different kinds of stars in space, as well as the planets in our solar system. (Recommended for ages 6-12)
Robo-kids Cy, Annie and their dog Armstrong get a lot more than they expected from their class field trip in an impromptu adventure. Travel along exploring the Sun, Earth and Moon, with a witty starship computer as navigator and guide. Race along on the surface of the Moon. Collect an asteroid sample in low gravity. Survive a solar storm. Find new appreciation for the unique beauty of Earth. Journey along with the Accidental Astronauts in this epic dome theater adventure. (Recommended for ages 5-12)
NEW SHOW
Everyone has a cosmic question! We asked museum people and local celebrities to send us their space inquiries. Explore our answers and how we handled the big mysteries like aliens, black holes, and multiverse! Join us for a wild ride through the cosmos as we uncover the peculiar, the obvious, and the far-out. (Recommended for ages 6-adult)
How do STEM workers, NASA professionals, athletes, and business executives cope with stress? Mindfulness. Meditation is a powerful tool for maintaining psychological health and resilience. Since the planetarium offers a dark and quiet space for relaxation, it is the perfect place for meditation. Enjoy a guided meditation and gentle astronomy experience in the comfortable, reclined seats in the RVCC Planetarium. Relax under a night sky filled with stars, then travel from Earth to beyond our galaxy. (Recommended for ages 10-adult)
Using the Planetarium’s DarkMatter digital theater, experience a guided tour of the night sky. Discover some of the popular constellations visible from sunset to sunrise, as well as the stories behind them. Hear about how and where in the sky to find the brightest planets. Weather permitting, the 3M Observatory will be open after the show. (Recommended for ages 8 to adult.)
For most of history, humanity never saw Earth as a whole until about 50 years ago. Since then, satellite technology has transformed our view of the planet, revealing dynamic patterns, rich data, and constant change. This program explores how Earth observation satellites revolutionize our understanding of Earth as a living system, enabling accurate monitoring, rapid disaster response, and deeper insight into ongoing environmental transformations worldwide. (Recommended for ages 10-adult.)
Sit back and relax, listening to some of the Grateful Dead’s greatest hits including “Truckin’,” “Touch of Grey,” “Sugar Magnolia,” and “One More Saturday Night.” (Recommended for ages 10-adult.)
Lasers dance across the Planetarium’s dome, accompanied by Pink Floyd songs including “Comfortably Numb,” “Another Brick in the Wall, part 2,” and “Money.” (Recommended for ages 10-adult.)
June 2026
No public shows in June. Public shows resume in July
