Welcome to the UW campus planetarium

NEWS: Mark and Kristine's Student Tech Fee proposal to upgrade the planetarium is well underway! $90K worth of new equipment was installed during Fall Quarter, 2005. We are now equipped with a permanently mounted digital projection system (in addition to the starball), a library of digital visualizations, and a new sound system! By the end of Spring Quarter, 2006 the upgrade will be complete with the installation of special effects projectors and new constellation outlines. For details, check out our proposal.

Built with the new building in 1994, the planetarium provides a detailed and accurate simulation of the night sky. School groups studying astronomy, public groups (astronomy clubs, scouts, etc), and on-campus groups are welcome to visit the planetarium on Fridays during the regular University school year. Planetarium shows are by pre-arrangement (see Arrange a Visit).

In this site you will find information on times and dates the planetarium is open, connections to school activities to do before and after your visit, and information about this volunteer outreach effort.

Please note, because of limited space and resources, we are not able to offer public "walk-in" shows. However, the Willard Smith Planetarium at the Pacific Science Center offers shows for the general public daily.