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UW-Milwaukee - College of Letters and Science Planetarium Website

Private Groups

We invite you and your group to explore astronomical topics at the Manfred Olson Planetarium theater at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

If you are a teacher interested in scheduling a visit for a school group, please see For Teachers.

If you belong to a Girl Scouts group, please see our Girl Scouts page.

Private shows are for . . .

  • Large groups of people (more than 20), who might not fit on a Friday Night Show.
  • Summer Camps
  • Groups who would prefer to visit at a time other than Friday at 7:00 p.m.
  • People who are celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, or other special events.
  • Groups with special needs (physical, mental, behavioral disabilities).
  • Girl Scouts, who have special requirements for try-its and badges.

How is a private show structured?

The planetarium show component (55-60 min) consists of

  • an introduction to the planetarium and the motion of the earth (5 min);
  • a tour of the solar system with up-to-date information on planets and important moons. (others topics are available upon request) (25 min);
  • a description of constellations and objects in the current night sky (15 min);
  • and a question and answer period (10-15 min)

The show can be shortened for young audiences (younger than 7 years old) or altered to meet special needs.

Optional hands-on activities

We also offer optional hands-on activities that explore the following themes:

  • Scale of the Solar System (suitable for people over 7 years old)
  • Star Maps (suitable for people over 9 years old)

The activities can last between 15 and 30 minutes depending on the activity and the age of the group.

When are private shows offered?

  • Typically, shows may be scheduled between 9 am and 4 pm. Please contact Jean Creighton at (414) 229-4961 or stargaze@uwm.edu for specific dates.
  • Some evenings (typically Monday or Wednesday) and select weekends are available upon request.

Fees

The planetarium show costs $100 per private group for up to 68 people. If you are a teacher bringing a student group, your fee is different! Please see the For Teachers page.

The fee for optional hands-on activities ranges from $30 to $60 depending on the size and age of the group and the particular activities chosen.

How to make a reservation

To make a reservation for your school group or for more information, please email Jean Creighton at stargaze@uwm.edu, or call 414-229-4961. If no one is in the office, please leave a message and Jean Creighton will get back to you as soon as possible.

After we have agreed upon a date and time, Jean Creighton will email you an invoice form. Kindly arrange for the check and reservation invoice form to arrive before your scheduled program. Please send a completed copy of the invoice form and a check made to "The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee" to:

Physics/Planetarium
UW-Milwaukee
P.O. Box 413
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0413

Please feel free to contact Jean Creighton if you have additional questions: (414) 229-4961 or stargaze@uwm.edu