Public Shows
The 2019-2020 season at O. Wayne Rollins Planetarium features 30 Friday-evening public shows. Guests are encouraged to arrive early for the best seats. No late seating is permitted. Public planetarium shows, with the exception of Cosmic Concerts, include a live-narrated “seasonal stargazing” segment in addition to the featured full-dome program.
ADMISSION
- Adults: $5 per show
- Children & Non-YHC Students: $3 per show
- YHC Students, Faculty and Staff: Free
- Purchase tickets in advance online!
Any remaining tickets will be available at the door 30 minutes prior to each show.
For answers to frequently asked questions about our public planetarium shows, click here.
CAPCOM GO! The Apollo Story
This immersive full-dome program—named CAPCOM for the capsule communicator at Mission Control—showcases the achievements of the Apollo program and what it took to put the first humans on the moon. The immense challenges they overcame will inspire a new generation to become the explorers, designers, engineers and dreamers of the future. The show is the perfect way celebrate the 50th anniversary year of the Apollo 11 mission. CAPCOM GO! The Apollo Story is a production of NSC Creative.
August 16 at 8 p.m.
August 23 at 8 p.m.
September 20 at 8 p.m.
September 27 at 8 p.m.
Ooky Spooky Light Show*
This show is a delight for the entire family. Classic and favorite Halloween tunes such as “Monster Mash,” “Ghostbusters,” “Thriller” and “Night on Bald Mountain,” as well as several pop songs with lyrics on the “creepy” side, will come to life in this amazing full-dome graphics and light show. The visuals are fun and spooky, and they will leave audiences smiling in delight.
*Cosmic Concerts are non-astronomy programs containing loud music, flashing lights, spinning stars and other effects that some may find disruptive. They are not recommended for those who may have conditions that could be aggravated by this experience.
October 18 at 7 p.m.
October 18 at 8 p.m.
October 25 at 7 p.m.
October 25 at 8 p.m.
Did an Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs?
Did a space rock six miles wide slam into the Earth millions of years ago and wipe out a majority of all living things at that time, including the dinosaurs? Explore this impact and other cosmic collisions, which are abundant across our solar system. See the numerous craters on worlds like the moon, Mars and even distant Pluto. This show is appropriate for children and families.
November 15 at 7 p.m.
Skies Over Georgia
Featuring a live presenter and using the planetarium’s digital and optical star projectors to their fullest, this traditional star show allows audiences to explore the heavens as they appear above the mountains of North Georgia. Learn how to identify the planets and stars currently visible in the night sky, take a guided tour of the constellations and hear some of their fascinating stories. This show is appropriate for general audiences.
November 15 at 8 p.m.
March 27 at 8 p.m.
Observatory Open House
On these special evenings, the Young Harris College Observatory is open to the public for telescopic viewing, if the skies are clear. The observatory features a 14-inch telescope and is located around 1.5 miles from campus at Twiggs Overlook on the exit road leading from Brasstown Valley Resort. Maps will be available at the planetarium. Observing sessions last up to one hour. Please note: there is limited parking, no shuttle service and no restroom facilities. Additionally, it’s an uphill walk from the parking area.
November 15 at 9 p.m.
March 27 at 9 p.m.
July 17 at 9 p.m.
Let It Snow*
A Holiday Music Journey
This family-friendly show with modern visualizations features a variety of holiday classics—from Frank Sinatra and Chuck Berry to Burl Ives and Brenda Lee—and includes a stunning multimedia finale by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The merry soundtrack is visually enhanced with artistic animation and full-dome holiday scenery, making it a fun and entertaining experience for audiences of all ages.
*Cosmic Concerts are non-astronomy programs containing loud music, flashing lights, spinning stars and other effects that some may find disruptive. They are not recommended for those who may have conditions that could be aggravated by this experience.
November 22 at 7 p.m.
December 6 at 7 p.m.
December 13 at 7 p.m.
Season of Light
Special Holiday Presentation
This perennial holiday favorite is a show about the coldest and darkest of seasons—a time that holds some of the warmest and brightest celebrations of the year. Narrated by NPR’s Noah Adams, the show explores the traditions surrounding the world’s most endearing holiday customs, all of which involve lighting up the winter season—from the burning Yule log and the lighting of luminarias to sparkling Christmas tree lights and candles in windows. The program also explores possible astronomical explanations for the star that led the Wise Men to Bethlehem. Come and celebrate the season through the wonder of the planetarium’s star-filled sky.
November 22 at 8 p.m.
December 6 at 8 p.m.
December 13 at 8 p.m.
Explore
This show explores the story of humanity’s fascination with the stars—from ancient stargazers to the breakthrough discoveries of scientists like Johannes Kepler. Have you ever wondered how our modern spacecraft can navigate quickly and accurately to Earth orbit and beyond? Kepler’s Laws are fundamental in physics and astronomy and central to modern spaceflight. The show demonstrates how those laws work using simple, easy-to-understand animations and clear explanations.
January 24 at 8 p.m.
January 31 at 8 p.m.
February 21 at 8 p.m.
February 28 at 8 p.m.
Magic Tree House: Space Mission
Travel to space with Jack and Annie in their Magic Tree House® as they answer questions left in a mysterious note. The brother-sister duo is taken on an adventurous journey of learning with special friends. This exciting voyage will carry visitors to the planets and far out into the universe, where Jack and Annie nearly get...well, we don’t want to give it away! The adventure is just beginning. This show is appropriate for children and families.
March 27 at 7 p.m.
Led Zeppelin Cosmic Concert*
Led Zeppelin’s cosmic concert remains one of the most popular music shows ever performed in planetariums. Back by popular demand, this full-dome video extravaganza is ready to rock Rollins Planetarium! This one-of-a-kind concert transports the audience into a series of fantastical and surrealistic settings, taking visitors on a captivating journey led by this legendary rock band. The motions are calculated to heighten the feeling of transport, drawing audiences deeper into the ever-changing landscape of sight and sound. The soundtrack includes Led Zeppelin classics such as “Kashmir,” “Black Dog,” “Over the Hills and Far Away,” “Stairway to Heaven” and “Rock and Roll.”
*Cosmic Concerts are non-astronomy programs containing loud music, flashing lights, spinning stars and other effects that some may find disruptive. They are not recommended for those who may have conditions that could be aggravated by this experience.
April 24 at 7 p.m.
April 24 at 8 p.m.
May 1 at 7 p.m.
May 1 at 8 p.m.
Wildest Weather in the Solar System
Join us on a spectacular journey to witness the most beautiful, powerful and mysterious weather phenomena in the solar system. You’ll fly through the thick atmosphere of Venus, magnetic storms on the sun, liquid methane showers on Titan and a 400-year-old hurricane whirling at hundreds of miles per hour on Jupiter. After seeing a storm with the power of a 100-megaton hydrogen bomb and a dust storm that can engulf an entire planet, you’ll be glad you live on Earth!
May 15 at 8 p.m.
June 5 at 8 p.m.
June 12 at 8 p.m.
July 10 at 8 p.m.
July 17 at 8 p.m.