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 handicapped accessible. The Skymaster ZKP3/S projector – the first of its kind in the world – can show the positions of more than 5,000 stars, nebulae and galaxies, as well as the Moon and visible planets. The theater also features a digital sound system.

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 105-year-old, 10 ½-inch Warner & Swasey telescope. 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.