Embark on an immersive journey through our cosmic neighborhood as the Solar System Encounter returns to Discovery Cube Orange County! Featuring stunning, ultra-high-definition imagery from the James Webb Telescope. This stellar exhibit surrounds guests with colossal 360° models of the sun, planets, Earth’s moon, and even the dwarf planet Pluto. Vivid lights, breathtaking visuals, larger-than-life displays bring each world to life, inspiring visitors of all ages to explore, discover, and be amazed by the wonders of our Solar System.
Solar System Encounter will be back in orbit starting January 17 and will blast off February 22.
Included with General Admission or Membership.
📅 Dates: January 17, 2026 to February 22, 2026
🕙 Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Location: 2500 N Main Street Santa Ana, CA 92705
Dr. Bob, a Solar System Ambassador, will lead a presentation on Solar System Exploration which includes topics on asteroids, the Sun, rocky moons, Martian rover, Earth’s and ice surfaces, heliosphere and moon phases.
Presentation times will be between 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM on January 17-18, 31 | February 1, 7-8, and 21-22
🧱 Lego tables – Guests can build their own space vehicle and then race a friend on the track to see who vehicle is the fastest
Demonstration Lab Activities
🌠 Meteorites – Learn how to tell the difference between each one
🌋 Mars giant volcano- Learn how the planet used to look, see what is happening underneath the surface to cause a volcano to erupt, convection, and learn how currents work
♨️ Planets heat temperatures- See how a heat lamp interacts with ice, learn what an atmosphere does for a solar body
🚀 Alka-seltzer rockets- Learn about parts of a rocket
👨🚀 Rocket landings – Learn how spacecrafts land on solar bodies
****Activities subject to change.
Artemis Adventures is a groundbreaking exhibit that allows visitors to drive a remote-controlled lunar rover, offering a hands-on experience similar to astronauts during the Apollo missions.
Investigate the weather here on earth, the migration patterns of turtles, or take a far off journey to a distant moon in the Planetary Research Station!
The Rocket Lab is a collaborative workspace for making, learning, exploring, and sharing. It contains a variety of space themed exhibits focusing on the mysteries of outer space.
Our Mission is to INSPIRE and EDUCATE young minds through engaging science-based programs and exhibits therefore creating a meaningful IMPACT on the communities we serve.
