This Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at 5-8 PM PST, the Tulare County Office of Education Planetarium & Science Center begins it's 2026 season of public showings in their Peña Planetarium, and is located at 11535 Avenue 264 (and Mooney Blvd.), Visalia, CA 93277 ( see map here ).

This month's presentation will be "Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope" at 5:30 & 6:30 PM PST. These 37-minute planetarium presentations will be followed by a tour of the current night sky and are recommended for ages 8 and up; all ages are welcome. General admission is $5 per person, planetarium seating is limited, so advance tickets are available here.

I encourage all TAA members to share this information with their family & friends. Having the Peña Planetarium here in Tulare County is a gift to be treasured by our astronomical community, and we should support it as much as possible.

TAA resumed our public outreach at the Peña Planetarium 2025 public show and intends to continue this outreach in 2026 as well.

This Friday, TAA will be manning an information table at the event and, if the weather permits, set up a few telescopes in the west parking lot, with its great view of the western horizon, for public viewing...  Sunset will be at 5:43 PM, and a couple of bright early evening objects are in view: Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, and a waxing crescent Moon. So, we might have a good opportunity to show off this month's parade of planets.