How Big? How far?
Show Details
11/19/26
- Show runs 7:30-8:30PM, Doors open at 7PM
- Tickets for sale starting October 16 at Vallitix!
- Cost: $12 adults; $10 children + seniors (includes $4 Vallitix processing fee)
The William M. Thomas Planetarium will present the solar system tour show created by its director, Nick Strobel, called “How Big? How Far?” on Thursday, November 19, from 7:30 to 8:30PM. Doors will open 30 minutes before the show starts for seating and will be closed during the one-hour program with no late admittance. Tickets will be available from Vallitix online only starting October 16 (tickets will NOT be sold at the door). The William M. Thomas Planetarium is on the second floor, northwest end of the Math-Science Building, Room 112. The map below shows you where is the Planetarium. No food, drink, or gum/candy is allowed in the planetarium. Children must be 5 years or older.
The one-hour show will begin with a short tour of the evening sky using the planetarium's Goto Chronos star projector followed by the 30-minute all-dome “home grown” show “How Big? How Far?” Unlike other solar system shows, you will see how the Sun and planets compare to the Earth and also learn about the vast distances between the planets. Near the end of the show, you will take a trip to the next star system to see what the sky would like from there and finally take a trip up out of the Milky Way to see how the solar system compares with a typical galaxy.
For Dr. Strobel’s last semester at Bakersfield College, he wanted to share with the general public the show he created for the school field trips and his astronomy classes. It is the most requested show for the field trips!
Map to Planetarium and Parking Information
See the Planetarium Location page for where to find the Planetarium on the second floor of the Math-Science Building and how to get to it for those with mobility challenges. Also see the Online Campus Map for more information on the location of the planetarium, and our Parking Information page.
