Planetarium and Observatory

The Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium

The Museum's Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium is one of the best equipped and most compelling facilities of its size in the nation. It opened in January 2002.

The planetarium building’s unique design allows its exterior to function as an astronomical instrument. Nighttime visitors can use the building's chamfered roof to locate Polaris, the North Star, around which all other stars in the sky appear to rotate.

The building's titanium-coated, stainless-steel outer covering sparkles with stars created by embedded fiber-optic lighting. This system emits a subtle glow without contributing to the light pollution above University Circle. Inside, the domed planetarium theater offers comfortable, stadium-style seating for 85 and is wheelchair accessible.

In July 2010, the Shafran Planetarium re-opened after a brief closure to install state-of-the-art equipment from SkySkan. The new digital projection system expands the planetarium's capabilities, allowing our astronomers to take you on virtual trips through the universe and beyond. SkySkan's DigitalSky 2 software far exceeds the capabilities of a classical planetarium projector. Guests can see astronomical bodies draw trails as they move through the sky, while planets zoom in with full motion and 3D texturing as they move to the foreground. The Museum also employs SkySkan's LED lighting system, which boasts the lowest power consumption for this type of lighting.

The Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium features the Leonard Krieger Visual Effects System: Definiti by Sky-Skan with support from the Leonard Krieger Fund of The Cleveland Foundation and the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, The Honorable John Kasich, Governor and former Governor Ted Strickland. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History recognizes the Ohio General Assembly and the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission for their support.

Astronomy experts present live shows that explain current celestial phenomena and include time for your astronomy-related questions. Find out more about our latest planetarium shows.

The Ralph Mueller Observatory

The Museum's Ralph Mueller Observatory houses a 10 ½-inch Warner & Swasey telescope built in 1899. The observatory is open to the public on clear Wednesday evenings from September through the end of May from 8:30 to 11 pm. Please arrive before 10 pm and dress for the weather.

Learn More About Astronomy

The Museum offers additional opportunities for visitors to learn more about astronomy. Take one of our astronomy classes – check our Classes and Programs  for availability. Or learn about the latest astronomy research by attending the annual lecture series Frontiers of Astronomy.

Become a Citizen Scientist

Help astronomers explore the Universe at Galaxy Zoo.