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Kid City, Craveology Cafe, and North Star Science Store are temporarily closed for renovation.
The Sky Tonight
Monthly Planetarium Events
The Sky Tonight is the Fleet’s live astronomy series led by Resident Astronomer Lisa Will, designed to connect you to the celestial events unfolding all around us. From seasonal constellations and planetary movements to the latest space discoveries, each program reveals the stories, science and wonder behind what you can see, and how to experience it for yourself.
Whether gathered beneath the immersive Giant Dome Theater, joining virtually from the comfort of your home, or standing under darker skies on Palomar Mountain, The Sky Tonight invites you to slow down, look up and find your place in the universe.
- The Sky Tonight: Palomar Observatory Experience
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June 20, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Join us for an adventure through the stars like never before as we take The Sky Tonight on the road to the Palomar Observatory! Enjoy a private tour of the Palomar Dome, learn the history of the observatory, engage in a unique lecture from a local astronomer, and explore the stars from historic Palomar Mountain in this brand-new, 18+ experience.
June's lecture, Is Anyone Out There? SETI and New Science from Palomar, will be presented by Shelley Wright, Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics and Physics at UC San Diego.
How common is life in the universe? Is there other intelligent life out there? For over 50 years, astronomers have searched for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), mostly at radio wavelengths. Now a bold new experiment is underway at Palomar Observatory. Panoramic SETI deploys a unique network of telescopes designed to watch the entire sky simultaneously, hunting for brief flashes of light that could signal an alien civilization. I'll describe how this innovative observatory works, what "technosignatures" we are searching for, and what other exotic astrophysical phenomena PANOSETI is uniquely positioned to discover.
Tickets include a choice of Mendocino Farms meals and light refreshments during the lecture. Guests may bring their choice of food or adult beverages to enjoy on the bus and during the lecture.
Bus transportation is required and included with your ticket. Pickup and drop-off locations subject to change.
Please note this event is not ADA accessible. Contact us at adultprograms@rhfleet.org with further questions.
- The Sky Tonight
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Monthly planetarium show at 7 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month. Join us before or the show to gaze at the stars in the actual night sky! Our partners, the San Diego Astronomy Association, will be on the Prado by the Bea Evenson Fountain viewing the night sky through different telescopes (weather permitting).
- The Sky Tonight: Virtual Edition
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Monthly planetarium show at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month, via Zoom
- The Sky Tonight: Weekend Edition
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Monthly planetarium show at 11 a.m. on the second Sunday of each month
Fleet Members receive $10 off. Adventurer Level and above are FREE (Palomar Observatory Experience not included). Not a Fleet Member? Join Today!
Doors to the theater open approximately 10 minutes prior to showtimes. No late entry will be allowed once the event has begun.
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Wed, 02/18/2026 - 14:41
Wed, 02/18/2026 - 14:41
Save the Date
The Sky Tonight Virtual Edition: The Smallest Stars
May 20 at 7:00–8:00pm
Some are close, but you cannot see them in the night sky. Some are small, but have flares stronger than our Sun’s. They might not end with a bang, but they are interesting objects in their own right. Join us to learn about the smallest stars.
Sky Tonight: Mineralogy in the Universe
Jun 3 at 7:00–8:00pm
The Earth is not the only rocky world in the solar system. There are other planets, moons, asteroids, and meteorites that contain minerals, but are they the same as we find on Earth? And how did they form? We’ll find out as we explore mineralogy in the universe.
Sky Tonight: Mineralogy in the Universe
Jun 3 at 8:15–9:15pm
The Earth is not the only rocky world in the solar system. There are other planets, moons, asteroids, and meteorites that contain minerals, but are they the same as we find on Earth? And how did they form? We’ll find out as we explore mineralogy in the universe.
Sky Tonight Weekend Edition: Mineralogy in the Universe
Jun 14 at 11:00am–12:00pm
The Earth is not the only rocky world in the solar system. There are other planets, moons, asteroids, and meteorites that contain minerals, but are they the same as we find on Earth? And how did they form? We’ll find out as we explore mineralogy in the universe.
