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 digital projection system. Planetarium shows include interactive sky tours exploring constellations and planets, followed by a stellar full dome production.

April Planetarium Shows

As spring reaches full bloom, April brings a spectacular month of cosmic events, historic space missions, and our favorite holiday...Earth Day! Look up this month for a bright glow of the full Pink Moon, a dazzling meteor shower, and new springtime constellations. Discover it all at the Trackman Planetarium, where you can explore the universe, unlock cosmic curiosities, and experience the wonders of the stars. Come see what’s shining above JJC. Your journey through the cosmos begins here.

Planetarium shows are free to attend. All ages welcome!

✮ ALL SHOWS ARE HELD 6:00-7:00 p.m. ✮

✧ Tuesday, March 31
“Birth of Planet Earth” Experience the astronomical tale of our planet's origins. Featuring cinematic, data-driven visualizations grounded in modern Astronomy, this film reveals how Earth emerged from the chaotic beginnings of our Solar System and became a living, thriving planet. What does its history tell us about the chances of finding other Earth-like worlds? Could life exist elsewhere in the Universe? How did it all begin? 

✧ Thursday, April 2
“Forward! To the Moon” NASA’s Artemis program is the next giant leap on the mission to the Moon... and it's happening now! See similarities between Apollo & Artemis, hear the perspectives of mission astronauts, and investigate what it takes to travel safely 240,000 miles from home (and back). This full dome production gives us a glimpse into what a sustainable future on the lunar surface might look like. Narrator Kari Byron of Myth Busters launches us on a voyage beyond Earth and into the next chapter of human space exploration.  

✧ Tuesday, April 7
“Journey to Mars” Embark on 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. An excellent show for all ages! 

 ✧ Thursday, April 9
“Dinosaurs: A Story of Survival” Did you know dinosaurs may still walk among us today? Venture back 65 million years to the Mesozoic Era, when colossal creatures ruled the Earth. Witness the awe-inspiring giants that once roamed our planet, and uncover the cataclysmic event that brought their reign to an end. A gripping journey through evolution, survival, and the prehistoric world like you’ve never seen before. 

✧ Tuesday, April 14
"Stars to Starfish" Explore the vast observable universe – From the immensity of the Cosmos to the deepest depths of the Oceans. Embark on a voyage through space and time from the Big Bang beginning to the birthplace of life on Earth, our oceans. This planetarium show features brilliant astrophotography and stunning underwater videography.  

✧ Thursday, April 16
"5,000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI" reveals the latest discoveries being made by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). This stunning new full dome film investigates what drives the expansion of the cosmos as DESI’s 5,000 robotic “eyes” create the most detailed map of our universe. 

✧ Tuesday, April 21
"Atlas of a Changing Earth" takes audiences on a breathtaking journey across a planet in transition. A new era of satellite mapping is revealing Earth’s changing surface with unprecedented clarity. Through stunning full-dome imagery from space, witness glaciers retreat, coastlines transform, and seas slowly rise as dynamic forces shape our planet. This award-winning production brings the science of our changing climate to life, offering a powerful new perspective on the world we all share. An Earth Day celebration!

✧ Thursday, April 23
"Climate Change in Our Backyard" discusses the topics of ecology, conservation, and environmentalism protecting our remarkable world. Learn how and why our climate is changing, humanity’s impact on Earth, the presence of Carbon Dioxide in our atmosphere, and what we can do in our own homes to support sustainability. Travel the world in our dome - From the peaks of mountaintops to the pits of Arctic ice. Free Earth Day planetarium show to inspire change. 

✧ Tuesday, April 28
"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 and explore new distant worlds and to find the 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.  

✧ Thursday, April 30
"Supermassive Black Holes: Uncovering the Invisible" Prepare for a journey into the deepest regions of spacetime where humans could never venture…until now. Explore formations of the Universe’s greatest phenomena. This full dome film will dazzle you with striking and immersive visualizations as we uncover the mysteries lurking inside supermassive black holes. 

Come back next month for the May show schedule...

About the JJC Planetarium

You're invited to explore the Universe at JJC's Trackman Planetarium! 

Located in Room F-1001 on Joliet Junior College's Main Campus, the Trackman Planetarium welcomes the public to experience the wonders of the cosmos. Our 55-seat, theatre-style dome offers an immersive environment where science comes to life. No registration required. 
Join us for free public shows every Tuesday and Thursday evening 6:00-7:00p.m. (unless otherwise noted). 

Interested in booking a field trip for your school? JJC's Trackman Planetarium makes learning about science FUN and memorable. JJC field trip opportunities are held on select Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays all year long! These free, unique presentations are tailored to your students' grade level and designed to align with classroom curriculum. Prepare for a stellar journey covering topics from science and mythology to history, literature, art, anatomy, and beyond. A trip to the Trackman offers an unforgettable learning experience in a unique one-of-a-kind setting.
 Space is limited. Reserve your spot early!

Private group presentations are also available during field trip hours or select Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Whether you're a Scout troop, library, day care, senior center, special needs facility, church, or lifelong learner organization, we offer engaging, private shows that inspire curiosity and spark discovery. 

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