Audience

Schools

EXPERIENCE a live presentation that includes one of the show topics below and a tour of the night sky, featuring the constellations and their stories.

The calendar below displays dates and times for which we have openings for school group visits. Select the date and time you wish to attend and complete checkout to reserve your show. You can either pay now via credit card or opt to pay by check later. Visits must be booked no later than 2 weeks in advance.

If you wish to visit on a date or time that is not listed on this calendar, please fill out our reservation form.

To qualify for the school price, your group of students must visit during regular school hours during the school year (9:00 am – 2:00 p.m. on weekdays from September to June). If you are a summer camp or after-school group, your fee is different.  

Please note that there is a minimum of two adults for groups with minors. If possible, there should be one chaperone for every four children for children aged 6 and under. For children aged 7-17 years old, one chaperone for every ten children.

Fees & General Information

  • Fee: $75 for school groups
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • Seating: Up to 63 people
  • Reservations: At least 2 weeks prior to your visit.
  • Age Levels: See Show Topics below for age-appropriate shows. Our presentations are not appropriate for children younger than four years old.

Show Topics

  • Wonders of Night & Day | Ages 4–7
    Blast off to the International Space Station where we investigate what causes night and day. Experience what night and day are like on other planets such as Mars.
  • Solar System Expedition | Ages 6+
    Explore the solar system and marvel at the Sun’s powerful flares, Jupiter’s swirling storms, and Saturn’s intriguing moons. Travel to the icy worlds of the Kuiper Belt and behold the latest discoveries from Juno and New Horizons.
  • Life of a Star | Ages 10+
    Marvel at the dramatic changes of stars as they transform from stellar nurseries to exotic objects such as white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. Discover how stars fused the chemical elements in our bodies.
  • Moving to Mars | Ages 10+
    Explore what we have learned about Mars, especially the potential for life on the red planet and the obstacles we need to overcome to send humans to Mars in the 2040s.
  • Northern Lights | Ages 12+
    Enjoy the radiance of the night sky and colorful displays of dancing lights with a behind-the-scenes tour of the science behind one of nature’s most remarkable light shows.
  • Indigenous Voices | Ages 10+
    Experience the languages, star connections, traditional music, and cultural images of six Wisconsin Nations: Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Ojibwe, Oneida, Potawatomi, and Stockbridge-Munsee.
  • Scale of the Universe | Ages 14+
    Our Earth belongs to the solar system, which is part of the Milky Way galaxy.  This galaxy is one of trillions of galaxies in the universe. Amazing visuals will help you grasp the size of the cosmos in an enlightening and accessible way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you open to the public? What kinds of shows do you do?

Yes! Our live, public events are open to everyone. For a full list of events see our Calendar. We also book private reservations for schools and other groups.

What are your hours?

We do not have set opening hours. We are open during public events and by private reservation.

How long is a show?

Our live programs, which include stargazing and questions, typically run approximately 60 minutes.

Where do I park?

Please click here for parking instructions and map or visit Plan Your Visit for more information.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept checks, cash, and credit cards.

How do I purchase a membership?

You can purchase a membership online, by mail (PDF), or in person before a public show.

What is the seating capacity of your planetarium?

We can seat 63 people.

Are your programs appropriate for children?

Yes! We recommend that your child is four years or older and comfortable to sit in their own chair in the dark.

Is the planetarium wheelchair accessible?

Yes! Visit the Plan Your Visit page to see maps and more information.

Where is stargazing held?

On a clear night, stargazing is held on the 5th-floor observing deck of the UWM Physics building. For the schedule of dates and more information, see Stargazing.

How do I contact you?

For general inquiries, email us at planetarium@uwm.edu. Visit Contact Us for other ways to reach us.

Can I leave in the middle of a show?

We ask that you stay seated until the end of the show because opening the door will ruin the beautiful dark sky for the rest of the visitors. Visitors are encouraged to use the restroom in advance.

What should I wear?

Our planetarium is indoors. We suggest that you dress in layers because sometimes the theater can be too warm or too cold. We also ask that you avoid light-up shoes.

Plan your visit

This trip was wonderful for our school age kids! They were engaged, actively participated and have talked about it for the rest of the afternoon.

Olivia

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.