Manfred Olson Planetarium
UW-Milwaukee Physics Building
1900 E Kenwood Blvd
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Jean Creighton, Director
stargaze@uwm.edu
Physics 150
Reservations
414.229.4961
The Manfred Olson Planetarium offers the following programs to the public.
For school programs, please see For Teachers.
For groups that want to book a private show, please see For Private Groups.
All public shows are intended for a general audience with the exception of children under age five. Some aspects of the planetarium experience (particlarly the darkened room) may not be suitable for children this young.
Join us for any of our shows in a climate-controlled theater with comfortable seats. Our planetarium is wheel-chair accessible, and all shows are inexpensive (some are free!), although donations are greatly appreciated.
Join us for the Friday Night Show, a public program offered throughout the year on Friday nights from 7:00 p.m. to 7:55 p.pm. Each show typically runs 6 to 8 weeks and has four portions:
For more information, see the Current Friday Night Show. For a list of shows, see the schedule: pdf, doc
General admission is $2.00. Tickets go on sale in the Physics building lobby at 6:30 pm. Shows often sell out; we advise arriving at least 20 minutes early to ensure seating.
Read about our Friday Night Show "Stars in the Spring" on the Play in the City blog, April 22, 2008.
We invite you to join us for AstroBreak, a FREE show in the Planetarium on select Wednesdays from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. It's a perfect way to unwind midday and learn about featured astronomical topics. See current AstroBreak schedule.
Please note: The presentation starts promptly at 12:15 p.m. To avoid being locked out, please plan to arrive a few minutes early.
Stars for Students is a new FREE show in the planetarium on select Tuesdays from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. The show is intended for students ages 12 and older, although all audiences are welcome. For a list of topics, see the current Stars for Students schedule.
Our stargazing program offers an opportunity to observe the night sky from the Observatory Deck on the roof of the Physics building on select evenings during the year. Join us as we peer through telescopes at stars, the Moon, planets, and other astronomical objects. The sessions are free and open to all members of the public. Get to the telescopes by taking the elevator at the east end of the Physics building to the 4th floor and making a left turn to the staircase that leads to the roof. Follow the signs to the Observatory.
Please note that stargazing is weather dependent. In the event of rain, snow, or cloudiness the stargazing session will be cancelled and signs posted. If you are interested in stargazing and would like to receive emails on scheduled stargazing nights confirming whether the session is taking place, subscribe to our stargazing mailing list.
All sessions last from 8:30 – 9:30 pm.
Fall stargazing schedule:
Though stargazing is free, donations are greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, our observatory is not wheel-chair accessible, and our guests must be able to climb a flight of stairs. Be sure to dress for the weather. A good rule of thumb is to dress as if the temperature were 15 degrees colder than it is.
Read about and see pictures from past special events by clicking on the following links.
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Please use the restrooms before the show starts as the doors of the theater lock automatically. |
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Our shows sometimes sell out; please arrange to arrive at least 10-15 minutes early to ensure seating. |
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Kindly bring no food or drinks into the planetarium theater. |
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Some aspects of the planetarium experience (especially the darkened room) may not be suitable for children under 5. |
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For safety reasons, please remain seated during the program as the planetarium environment is very dark. |
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Please turn off or silence your cell phone during the show, and abstain from opening it as the light will disrupt the darkened theater environment. |
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Dress in layers for your comfort. During warm days, the theater can become quite cool. |
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Come to the show with your astronomy questions! We always have a question and answer period at the end of our show. |
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Remember to bring change for parking. |
Please feel free to contact Jean Creighton if you have additional questions: (414) 229-4961 or stargaze@uwm.edu.
Friday Night Show
Discoveries of New Worlds
7:00 pm
AstroBreak
Select Wednesdays
12:15-12:45 pm
Schedule
Stargazing
8:30 - 9:30pm
Fall Schedule
Stars for Students
Select Tuesdays
2:30 - 3:00 pm