W.M. Thomas
Bakersfield, CA
Need to Know!
- NAME:
William M Thomas Planetarium - ADDRESS:
1801 Panorama Dr.
(located on the Bakersfield College Panorama Campus in the Math-Science Building room 112) - LOCATION:
Bakersfield - STATE:
California - ZIP CODE:
93305 - SCHEDULE:
General Public:
Most Tuesday or Thursday evenings at 7:30.
Classroom Field Trips:
Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10:00 and 11:30 AM - COST:
Online or at the Ticket Office*
$8 adults;
$6 children + seniors
$2 children 5-12 yrs old
(*Tickets must be purchased ahead of time—they are not sold at the door. Note: There seems to be an additional $2 surcharge during purchase) - SEATING CAPACITY:
72 - FACEBOOK:
Visit Page - WEBSITE:
Visit Website - PHONE:
(661)-395-4011 - EMAIL:
N/A
Prices and Schedule subject to change. Please contact the Planetarium for current information.
SIDE NOTE:
The William M Thomas Planetarium has a Chronos star projector from GOTO and a SciDome all-dome video system from Spitz installed under a Spitz premium-seam 36-foot dome. Individual seating for 72 people all facing toward the same direction under the largest dome (36-foot diameter) in all of the Central Valley.
Opened in the fall of 1962 (and formally dedicated in early January 1963 with the name “Bakersfield College Planetarium”). The upgraded planetarium was named after Rep. Bill Thomas and dedicated on November 2, 2006. Congressman Thomas directed the $1 million in federal funds needed to move the planetarium into the 21st century.
The entire schedule of shows for the coming semester are posted on the William M Thomas Planetarium’s website at least one week before the semester begins. They also advertise the shows in the newspaper.
Tickets for shows will be available for purchase from the BC Ticket Office up to four weeks before a given show, but after the previous show.