PSA: PAGASA Is Hosting Free Planetarium Shows and Stargazing Activities This August
Here’s how to catch the space shows.
Published on Aug 4, 2026
(SPOT.ph) On any given night, you’re far more likely to spot towering skyscrapers and glowing billboards than a sky full of stars here in Metro Manila. So, it always feels like a treat when there’s an opportunity to look up to the heavens right here in the heart of the city. If a glimpse of the outer space sounds like your idea of a good time, then you’re in luck: the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is bringing back its free planetarium shows and telescope viewing sessions this August.
Just in time for Philippine Space Week, this special treat is for anyone curious about the cosmos. Here's everything you need to know about PAGASA’s free stargazing and planetarium schedule.
Check out PAGASA’s free planetarium shows and telescope viewing:
Happening from August 10 to 13, Philippine Space Week celebrates everything related to our knowledge of the stars, planets, and beyond. The four-day celebrations are spearheaded jointly by PAGASA and the Philippine Space Agency.
For their part, PAGASA’s Space Week festivities feature two main events set across their facilities in Quezon City.
To kick things off, the PAGASA Planetarium at the Science Garden Complex will host full-dome planetarium shows. These starry projections run daily throughout the four-day stretch, offering four time slots to choose from: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.
If you want to actually look through the lens at the night sky, you’ll want to catch the one-day finale. As soon as the sun sets on Thursday, August 13, PAGASA will shift the action to the PAGASA Astronomical Observatory inside UP Diliman for a special session of free telescope viewings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
How to join the free planetarium shows and stargazing activities
The best part is how easy it is to attend the planetarium shows and telescope viewing. There’s no need to stress over online registrations, grabbing tickets, or even paying admission fees—both of these events are free and open to walk-ins.
That said, you’ll want to plan ahead. The PAGASA Planetarium can only accommodate 88 people at a time, and slots are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. If your schedule only works for a specific time slot, showing up early is a must to secure a seat inside the dome.
The PAGASA Planetarium is located at the Science Garden Complex, Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue (formerly Agham Road), Quezon City. For more information, visit DOST-PAGASA’s Facebook page.
Celia Nachura writes to pay for plane tickets, tennis classes, and a pile of books she’ll never have the time to read. She is also the emotional support human to two dogs, Daisy and Nacho.