Join us as we explore, through astrophotographer Travis Novitsky’s eyes, the human connection to the aurora, Milky Way, and the wonder of the universe above us. Travis is a proud member and lifelong resident of the Grand Portage Anishinaabe Nation in northeast Minnesota. His images not only reflect the natural wonders of the region but also honor the cultural significance of the cosmos within Indigenous traditions.

Travis Novitsky is a self-taught astrophotographer whose work is deeply connected to his love of the night sky and ancestral homelands. For over 35 years, he has devoted himself to capturing the beauty of the night sky over the North Shore of Lake Superior, with a particular passion for photographing the northern lights and star-filled skies.

Travis’s work has been featured prominently in projects that celebrate Indigenous perspectives on the night sky. He served as co-producer and narrator for the award-winning 2022 documentary Northern Nights, Starry Skies. He is also the photographer for the book Spirits Dancing – The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge & Cultural Connections to the Cosmos.

This event is open to the public. Not recommended for children under 4.

Event Information

Date	Start Time	End Time
Friday, November 7, 2025	7:00 PM	8:00 PM
Friday, November 7, 2025	8:15 PM	9:15 PM

Ticket Options

We also sell tickets at the door starting 30 minutes before the stated start time. However, we recommend buying tickets online in advance as shows do sell out. If tickets are sold out, you can have your name added to a waitlist at the door. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee admission to waitlist attendees.

General Admission	$6
*UWM Student	$5
*Planetarium Member	FREE

Instructions & Door Policy

Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of the show. If you purchase tickets in advance, you do not need to print anything. You can simply check in at the ticket table with your name starting 30 minutes before the show start time.

If you have not checked in 5 minutes before the show starts (for example, 6:55 pm for a 7:00pm show), we may release your ticket to someone on the waiting list.

Doors close 5 minutes after the show starts. Sorry, no late admissions.

Location & Parking

Address

The Manfred Olson Planetarium is located inside the UW-Milwaukee Physics building:

Physics Building Room 139
1900 E Kenwood Blvd
Milwaukee, WI, 53211

The main entrance to the Physics building is on Kenwood Blvd.

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Accessibility

There is one wheelchair-accessible entrance via the path between the Physics building and EMS building off Cramer St. (see map below).

Unfortunately, our rooftop stargazing deck is not wheelchair accessible.

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Map

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Parking

There is no free parking on campus. Please allow extra time to park when you visit.

Cunningham Lot parking is available for purchase just north of the Physics building. The entrance is at the corner of Cramer and Hartford. Please be sure to avoid the spots that are for permit holders (they say “This spot is reserved for staff/faculty”). Pricing varies from $1-2/hour depending on the time and day.

You may be able to find street parking (both metered and free) but be sure to read the street signs for restrictions.

Payment for parking spots can be done by using the Parkmobile smartphone app or pay stations located on the perimeter of the lot. Purchase a parking ticket from one of the booths by entering your license plate number and the amount of time you will be parked. The booth accepts cash, Visa, and Mastercard.
For additional information, please visit Transportation Services.

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Transportation

The Green Line and 66 bus routes have stops near the Physics building. Other nearby routes with on-campus stops are the Red Line, Gold Line, 22, and 30. For more info see the MCTS website.