audience

The UWM Planetarium connects the community to the beauty of the night sky and the wonders of the cosmos through live, interactive programs that engage audiences in entertaining, innovative, and accessible ways. By bringing people together, we spark curiosity and share science in a welcoming atmosphere for all.

Read about our history in The Vision of the UWM Planetarium: Sparking Curiosity About Stars and Inspiring Community Conversations

Dr. Manfred Olson

Dr. Manfred Olson

Built in 1965, the Planetarium opened its doors in 1966 and was named after Manfred Olson (1903-1966), a professor of physics from 1931 to 1963. A native of Wisconsin, Olson’s 32-year career took him to such places as the University of Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory (1943) and to Los Alamos, New Mexico (1947-1949) as senior physicist in the research and development of Geiger counter systems. Upon retiring from UWM in 1963, he became the Planetarium director and a part-time lecturer in the Physics Department.

Dr. Jean Creighton

The Planetarium Today

Dr. Jean Creighton became director of the Planetarium in 2007 with the dream of heightening its visibility by offering astronomical programs to the general public and to private groups such as scout and school groups. Under her directorship, interest and attendance at the Planetarium has skyrocketed, giving children and adults alike the opportunity to share in her enthusiasm and love for astronomy!

The Facility

The Planetarium is equipped with a Spitz A3P optomechanical projector that projects stars, planets, the Sun, and the Moon on the Planetarium’s 30-foot dome. Four digital projectors and separate special projectors are also used for visual effects such a rotating Milky Way Galaxy and the Aurora Borealis. The Observatory deck on the roof of the Physics building is used for our stargazing sessions. We use a 14 inch Celestron on a Paramount MX+ robotic pedestal mount for stargazing. We also own and operate a 10″ Meade LX200, 8″ Celestron with Solar filter, and a 6″ Mead.

UWM resides on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, and Menominee homelands along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee, and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida, and Mohican nations remain present.