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 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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Palomar Mountain dome telescope at night

 

 

October 17, 2026, from 2:55 p.m. to 10:55 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.

October's lecture, Into the Heart of the Milky Way: A Tale of Supermassive Black Holes, will be presented by Saloni Agrawal, a graduate student in astrophysics at San Diego State University whose research explores how stars and black holes form, evolve, and shape the galaxies around them.

At the heart of the Milky Way lurks something invisible, millions of times more massive than the Sun. How did astronomers discover it, what happens to matter that gets too close, and how do such enormous black holes come to exist at all? Join us as we follow the clues to Sagittarius A* and uncover one of the strangest objects in our cosmic neighborhood.


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 for October's event will be at Mira Mesa Park & Ride.

Please note this event is not ADA accessible. Contact us at adultprograms@rhfleet.org with further questions.

TICKETS

The Sky Tonight

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: Weekend Edition

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. 


 

A long image of the milk way galaxy in purple and red lights
The dumbell nebulae which looks like many stars clustering in the center and fanning out in a bowtie shape of red and purple with a green center
A total solar eclipse with only one quarter of the sun still shining from behind a black circle moon
Hundreds of stars clustered together
A white galaxy glowing against the dark shaped like the brim of a sombrero
The Crab Nebula with yellow and orange colors on the circular rim that branch and crackle into the center which is more blue
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Wed, 02/18/2026 - 14:41
Wed, 02/18/2026 - 14:41

Save the Date  

Sky Tonight Weekend Edition: Galaxies Galore
Oct 11 at 11:00am–12:00pm

Our own Milky Way Galaxy contains solar systems, nebulae, star clusters, and a supermassive black hole. Are all galaxies like the Milky Way? How many galaxies are there? How far away are they? Join us for a tour of the night sky and an introduction to the wonderful universe of galaxies

Palomar Observatory Experience
Oct 17 at 2:30–11:40pm

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.

Palomar Observatory
35899 Canfield Road
Palomar Mountain, California 92060
The Sky Tonight Virtual Edition: Galaxies Galore
Oct 21 at 7:00–8:00pm

Our own Milky Way Galaxy contains solar systems, nebulae, star clusters, and a supermassive black hole. Are all galaxies like the Milky Way? How many galaxies are there? How far away are they? Join us for a tour of the night sky and an introduction to the wonderful universe of galaxies!

Sky Tonight: Astronomy around the World
Nov 4 at 7:00–8:00pm

For all of human existence, people have observed the sky. It has meaningful cultural and scientific importance. Let’s explore how humanity views the universe.

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