Herbert Trackman Planetarium

Dedicated to continuing its tradition of outstanding astronomical instruction and entertainment since 1973! The Trackman Planetarium features a 30' diameter dome and a state-of-the-art OmniStar Digital Projection system. Planetarium shows include interactive sky tours exploring constellations and planets, followed by a stellar full dome production on a wide range of astronomical topics.

January Planetarium Shows

Celebrate the start of a New Year immersed in this month's free programs. Visit the Trackman Planetarium to learn all about our current night sky and upcoming celestial events. Explore cosmic curiosities, experience the wonders of the Universe, and embrace the stars at JJC. 

Planetarium shows are free to attend. All ages welcome!

✮ ALL SHOWS BEGIN PROMPTLY AT 6PM 

✧ Thursday, January 2 
“Music Under the Stars” Celebrate the start of a new year with full dome music videos including Elton John, Queen, Marillion, and more! This show will include a live tour of the night sky before we immerse in a symphony of timeless tunes. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the classics!

✧ Tuesday, January 7
“Max Goes to the Moon” Max the Dog and his friend Tori take the first trip to the Moon since the Apollo era. Their lunar adventure proves so inspiring that nations all across the world come together to establish a great Moon colony. A full dome adaptation of the award-winning children’s book. Fascinating fun for the whole family!

✧ Thursday, January 9
“The Sun: Our Living Star” reveals the impact our star has on every aspect of life here on Earth. It is the source of energy that drives our weather systems, seasons, biology, and time. Learn how the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft is making history on its journey through the Corona. Discover the Sun’s dynamic nature and experience rare imagery of its turbulent surface in our immersive full dome.

✧ Tuesday, January 14
“Galileo: Power of the Telescope” – Astronomer Galileo Galilei revolutionized humanity’s understanding of the cosmos through the eyes of a telescope. Travel back in time to 17th century Italy beside the “Father of Science” to witness his life, experiments, and powerful discoveries.  

✧ Thursday, January 16
“Mars: The Ultimate Voyage” Explore a monumental journey to the Red Planet – rewriting what is possible for human space exploration and breaking barriers of technological advancement. Take a look into ongoing efforts toward the next mission to Mars, the challenges astronauts will face, and what humanity’s future might look like on the martian surface. A great show for all ages!

✧ Tuesday, January 21
“Legends of the Night Sky: Orion” Take an imaginative look into the legendary story of Orion the Hunter, our most beloved winter constellation. This show brings the myth to life in a fun-filled animated adventure. Follow Orion’s journey as he comes of age, courageously battling beasts, foiling the plot of an evil king, and winning the heart of Artemis, the beautiful moon-goddess. Learn the story of how the Orion constellation was placed in the night sky, forever travelling throughout the seasons. A great show for kids!

✧ Thursday, January 23
“The Planets” Take a trip through our stellar neighborhood and beyond. Encounter the Sun, many planets, Moons, and asteroids of our solar system and learn how it has evolved over billions of years. Travel further out to discover exoplanets and the faraway stars that make up our night sky constellations. A fascinating show for the whole family!

✧ Tuesday, January 28
✮ Planetarium Closed ✮

✧ Thursday, January 30
“Out There: The Quest for Extrasolar Worlds” This show tells the story of how human curiosity has driven us to look outwards for millennia- to discover new distant worlds and to find extraordinary unfamiliar forms of life that could exist in the mysterious realms of the Universe. As we traverse more and more of the cosmos, what we have found so far has surpassed even our wildest expectations - There are planets everywhere! A huge diversity of different worlds are out there... Just waiting to be discovered... at the Trackman Planetarium.

Come back next month for February's show schedule...

About the JJC Planetarium

The public is invited to visit the Trackman Planetarium located in F-1001 on the Main Campus of Joliet Junior College. We have 55 theatre-style seats available in the dome and no registration is required to attend. Free events are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6-7pm.

Interested in booking a field trip for your school? JJC's Trackman Planetarium makes learning about science FUN and memorable. We are currently offering field trip opportunities on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for the 2025 school year! These free, unique presentations are curated to the grade level and understanding of your students and complement any classroom curriculum. Prepare for a stellar journey exploring the fields of science, mythology, history, literature, art, and more. Book now as availability is limited.

Private presentations for other community organizations are available during daytime school hours or on select Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

✮ Contact fieldtripcoordinator@jjc.edu or call (815) 280-2601 for more information ✮