IMAX
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Turn your visit into an all-day science adventure – visit our exhibit galleries and watch an IMAX movie!
For the safety of our guests, all 3D glasses are cleaned and sanitized before every use.
Transport yourself to awesome new worlds and engage your senses in endless colors and soul-stirring sounds. Every element in our state-of-the-art theater is specially designed to create an immersive experience, ensuring movie magic each time the lights go down. Our IMAX with Laser projection system will draw you into the action like never before. Coupled with IMAX's next-generation 12 channel surround sound system, our seven-story screen brings to life worlds as small as an atom and as vast as the universe. Experience an IMAX movie and get the big picture!
The IMAX Concession Stand is temporarily closed through November 2023.
SHOWTIMES
NOW - OCTOBER 19
10:00 a.m. Mystery of the Maya (36 mins.)
11:00 a.m. Blue Whales (45 mins.)
12:00 p.m. Mystery of the Maya (36 mins.)
1:00 p.m. Blue Whales (45 mins.)
2:00 p.m. Mystery of the Maya (36 mins.)
3:00 p.m. Journey to Space 3D (41 mins.)
4:00 p.m. Blue Whales (45 mins.) — only on Saturdays and Sundays
OCTOBER 20 - JANUARY 15
10:00 a.m. Blue Whales (45 mins.)
11:00 a.m. Mystery of the Maya (36 mins.)
12:00 p.m. Blue Whales (45 mins.)
1:00 p.m. Deep Sky (40 mins.)
2:00 p.m. Mystery of the Maya (36 mins.)
3:00 p.m. Blue Whales (45 mins.)
4:00 p.m. Journey to Space 3D (41 mins.) — only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays
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IMAX
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NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI
The first image shared from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (known as Webb's First Deep Field) shows galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 overflowing with detail. This was the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe to date.
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NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Klaus Pontoppidan (STScI)
The first anniversary image from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) displays star birth like never seen before, full of detailed, impressionistic texture. The subject is the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex, the closest star-forming region to Earth.
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NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI
Called the Cosmic Cliffs, this landscape of "mountains" and "valleys" speckled with glittering stars is actually the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula.
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NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Anton M. Koekemoer (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
The Pillars of Creation are set off in a kaleidoscope of color in NASA's James Webb Space Telescope’s near-infrared-light view.
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IMAX
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NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI
The first image shared from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (known as Webb's First Deep Field) shows galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 overflowing with detail. This was the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe to date.
Image
Image attribution
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Klaus Pontoppidan (STScI)
The first anniversary image from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) displays star birth like never seen before, full of detailed, impressionistic texture. The subject is the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex, the closest star-forming region to Earth.
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Image attribution
NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI
Called the Cosmic Cliffs, this landscape of "mountains" and "valleys" speckled with glittering stars is actually the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula.
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Image attribution
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Anton M. Koekemoer (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
The Pillars of Creation are set off in a kaleidoscope of color in NASA's James Webb Space Telescope’s near-infrared-light view.
NOW PLAYING—Mystery of the Maya
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K2 Studios
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K2 Studios
An archaeologist takes a young Maya descendant through spectacular ancient ruins as they unlock the secrets of the past.
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K2 Studios
The Castle or Pyramid of Kukulcan in the ancient city of Chichen Itza is one of the tallest and most remarkable examples of Maya architecture.
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K2 Studios
A view of the Maya city of Tulum from the sea. Tulum was the only Maya city built on a coast.
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K2 Studios
A young Maya descendant sketches a Maya glyph.
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K2 Studios
The Maya had incredible architectural skills and built everything from simple dwellings to incredibly detailed palaces and temples.
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K2 Studios
An archaelogical site of ancient Maya ruins.
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K2 Studios
Descendants of the ancient Maya pray to the gods that they have worshiped for more than 100 generations.
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K2 Studios
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K2 Studios
An archaeologist takes a young Maya descendant through spectacular ancient ruins as they unlock the secrets of the past.
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Image attribution
K2 Studios
The Castle or Pyramid of Kukulcan in the ancient city of Chichen Itza is one of the tallest and most remarkable examples of Maya architecture.
Image
Image attribution
K2 Studios
A view of the Maya city of Tulum from the sea. Tulum was the only Maya city built on a coast.
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Image attribution
K2 Studios
A young Maya descendant sketches a Maya glyph.
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Image attribution
K2 Studios
The Maya had incredible architectural skills and built everything from simple dwellings to incredibly detailed palaces and temples.
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Image attribution
K2 Studios
An archaelogical site of ancient Maya ruins.
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Image attribution
K2 Studios
Descendants of the ancient Maya pray to the gods that they have worshiped for more than 100 generations.
NOW PLAYING—Blue Whales 3D
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SK Films
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SK Films
Blue whales have been found in all oceans around the world except for the Arctic Ocean.
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SK Films
Newborn blue whales are big babies! They can reach about 23 feet in length and can weigh 5,000 to 6,000 pounds at birth.
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SK Films
The blue whale's favorite food is krill, or small shrimp-like animals. They can eat up to 12,000 pounds of krill a day during the feeding season.
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SK Films
Blue whales are currently listed as an endangered species.
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SK Films
Today there are between 5,000 to 10,000 blue whales in the Southern Hemisphere and about 3,000 to 4,000 blue whales in the Northern Hemisphere. Researchers like Dr. Diane Gendron and Jasivi Arcos (shown above) study blue whales so we can continue to help their populations recover.
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Image attribution
SK Films
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SK Films
Blue whales have been found in all oceans around the world except for the Arctic Ocean.
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Image attribution
SK Films
Newborn blue whales are big babies! They can reach about 23 feet in length and can weigh 5,000 to 6,000 pounds at birth.
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Image attribution
SK Films
The blue whale's favorite food is krill, or small shrimp-like animals. They can eat up to 12,000 pounds of krill a day during the feeding season.
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Image attribution
SK Films
Blue whales are currently listed as an endangered species.
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Image attribution
SK Films
Today there are between 5,000 to 10,000 blue whales in the Southern Hemisphere and about 3,000 to 4,000 blue whales in the Northern Hemisphere. Researchers like Dr. Diane Gendron and Jasivi Arcos (shown above) study blue whales so we can continue to help their populations recover.
NOW PLAYING—Journey to Space 3D
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Crowds watch Space Shuttle Endeavour being transported through the streets of Los Angeles to its home at the California Science Center.
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Space Shuttle Endeavour on the launch pad.
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NASA's next generation moon rover, the Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV). The SEV is one of NASA’s concepts for a new generation of flexible vehicles that can transport astronauts across near-earth asteroids and Mars.
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Rocket launch at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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Space Shuttle Atlantis on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
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Crowds watch Space Shuttle Endeavour being transported through the streets of Los Angeles to its home at the California Science Center.
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Space Shuttle Endeavour on the launch pad.
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NASA's next generation moon rover, the Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV). The SEV is one of NASA’s concepts for a new generation of flexible vehicles that can transport astronauts across near-earth asteroids and Mars.
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Rocket launch at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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Space Shuttle Atlantis on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Accessibility Services & Amenities View Details
Here at the California Science Center, we want all guests to participate equally in the excitement of experiencing science! We are committed to breaking down any barriers to access. If you have questions about accessibility that are not answered here, please call us at 213-744-2019; email us at [email protected]; or stop by our Information Desk just inside the main entrance.
Closed Captioning View Details
Closed captions for the hearing impaired are available. Learn more about Closed Captioning for our IMAX movies.
Special Offers for Members
Support a dynamic educational resource and enjoy a year of special experiences, including IMAX movie previews and ticket discounts. Join today to launch your science adventure!
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Tracie Spence Photography
Your patronage supports science learning
The California Science Center is a non-profit organization. Your IMAX ticket purchase helps fund our exhibit and education programs. The IMAX movies we show support our mission to stimulate curiosity and inspire science learning in everyone. Thank you for choosing the California Science Center IMAX Theater!
