By Heather McRea | hmcrea@scng.com | Orange County Register

PUBLISHED: January 17, 2026

Dressed like an astronaut and holding her stuffed Elmo doll, 5-year-old Clare Dornan of Corona is in her element while looking at videos during Discovery Cube’s Solar System Encounter exhibit in Santa Ana on Saturday, January 17, 2026. Her mother, Summer Dornan, says Clare already knows a lot about the solar system from watching educational TV and wants a job in the space industry when she grows up. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

An out-of-this-world encounter has touched down at the Discovery Cube Orange County.

The children’s learning museum in Santa Ana opened its new Solar System Encounter on Saturday, an immersive look at Earth’s neighbors.

The exhibit combines ultra-high-definition images taken by the James Webb Telescope with giant models of the planets and suns. Helping young visitors with their journey through the cosmos will be presentations by Solar System Ambassadors on select dates, including today, Jan. 18. See online for other times.

The exhibit, which will remain at the Discovery Cube through Feb. 22, is included in general admission to the Discovery Cube. Find more information at discoverycube.org/orange-county.