The William R. Luebke Planetarium is an instrumental learning environment within the Science Community Center. Students studying astronomy utilize the planetarium as a learning laboratory traveling from planet to planet within our solar system and beyond. Such a tool allows one to experience the universe in a way far superior to what images in a textbook can convey. Other classes, such as Earth Science, Geology, Physics, Life Sciences, and the Humanities also visit the planetarium to bring a context to their learning that goes far beyond the classroom.
The planetarium itself consists of a Zeiss Skymaster ZKP-4 LED/fiber-optic star projector coupled with the Zeiss Velvet Projection System. Together, these top-of-the-line projection instruments display unparalleled images of the night sky and full-dome planetarium films onto a 40-foot suspended dome ceiling for an audience of up to 100 people.
The Planetarium is available for reservation by groups. Please visit the GVM Tours page for more information and requirements.
Ages | 0 - 3 | 4 - 12 | 13 - 54 |
55+ (seniors) |
Current YCCD Students/Staff |
Cost |
Not Recommended |
$4 | $6 | $5 | $5 |
Tickets available for purchase in the GVM Nature Shop. Planetarium shows are not recommended for children under 4 years of age. Show times are on Saturdays at 11am & 1pm. Each show is limited to the first 100. Please plan accordingly as the doors to the Planetarium do not open once the program has begun. No food or drink is allowed inside the planetarium.
Ticket purchases available online through our Admissions/Nature Shop page.
Date | Time | Show |
Saturday, April 21st, 2018 | 11:00am | From Earth to the Universe |
Saturday, April 21st, 2018 | 1:00pm | Earth, Moon & Sun |
Saturday, April 28th, 2018 | 11:00am | From Earth to the Universe |
Saturday, April 28th, 2018 | 1:00pm | Earth, Moon & Sun |
*Friday, May 4th, 2018 | 7:30pm | Habitat Earth |
*Friday, May 4th, 2018 | 8:30pm | Back to the Moon |
Saturday, May 5th, 2018 | 11:00am | Habitat Earth |
Saturday, May 5th, 2018 | 1:00pm | Back to the Moon |
Saturday, May 12th, 2018 | 11:00am | Habitat Earth |
Saturday, May 12th, 2018 | 1:00pm | Back to the Moon |
Saturday, May 19th, 2018 | 11:00am | Habitat Earth |
Saturday, May 19th, 2018 | 1:00pm | Back to the Moon |
Saturday, May 26th, 2018 | 11:0oam | Habitat Earth |
Saturday, May 26th, 2018 | 1:00pm | Back to the Moon |
*Friday, June 21st, 2018 | 7:30pm | Perfect Little Planet |
*Friday, June 1st, 2018 | 8:30pm | Two Small Pieces of Glass |
Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 | 11:00am | Perfect Little Planet |
Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 | 1:00pm | Two Small Pieces of Glass |
Saturday, June 9th, 2018 | 11:00am | Perfect Little Planet |
Saturday, June 9th, 2018 | 1:00pm | Two Small Pieces of Glass |
Saturday, June 16th, 2018 | 11:00am | Perfect Little Planet |
Saturday, June 16th, 2018 | 1:00pm | Two Small Pieces of Glass |
Saturday, June 23rd, 2018 | 11:00am | Perfect Little Planet |
Saturday, June 23rd, 2018 | 1:00pm | Two Small Pieces of Glass |
Saturday, June 30th, 2018 | 11:00am | Perfect Little Planet |
Saturday, June 30th, 2018 | 1:00pm | Two Small Pieces of Glass |
Great Valley Museum
Science Community Center
MJC West Campus
2201 Blue Gum Avenue
Modesto, CA 95358
209 575-6196
209 575-6466 fax
gvm@mjc.edu
Sunday | closed |
Monday | closed |
Tuesday | 9 to 4 |
Wednesday | 9 to 4 |
Thursday | 9 to 4 |
Friday | 9 to 4 |
Saturday | 9 to 4 |
Parking on the MJC campus is $2 Monday - Friday. Please bring small bills. Parking is free after 5 pm on Fridays and all day on weekends. Please check our planetarium page for planetarium show times.