Planetariums and Stargazing Near Milwaukee

Attend a public night and view the heavens through their club telescopes. Open house events are held monthly from April - October, and there is no charge for admission or parking.

From the top of the UWM Physics building, families can view the Moon, planets, star clusters, & other available astronomical objects throughout the year. There are also special stargazing events throughout the year, including free events and events specifically tailored for families!

Milwaukee Public Museum's planetarium is Wisconsin's largest and most modern, and is the first Planetarium in the world to debut a Digistar 6 computer projection system that fills the entire Dome Theater with stunning 3D animations, creating an immersive astronomy experience. See site for hours & showtimes, plus the Sky & Space Calendar.

The Northern Cross Science Foundation is a non-profit organization that exists to promote astronomy and related sciences, and to foster public education in these fields. Attend one of their many free public telescope viewing sessions located throughout Milwaukee--such as at Nature Preserves or State Parks. Everyone is welcome!

The Gary E. Sampson Planetarium is a state-of-the-art facility for studying astronomy, and is housed within Wauwatosa West High School. It seats up to 60 guests and is fully accessible. In addition to providing hands-on learning opportunities to students in the district, it is also open to the public for a small fee. Once a month during the school year, guests can enjoy a free full-dome planetarium show as well as a night sky tour.

The society possesses one of the finest amateur observatories in the world, featuring 9 observatory buildings over 3 acres, and is almost entirely financed, built, & maintained by its members. Be sure to check out Public Observation Nights, where you can learn to become active regular observers of celestial objects alongside a group of astronomy enthusiasts. Telescopes can be rented. The observatory is open for public viewing on specific nights. On the remaining nights it is available for the enjoyment of members.

The Pewaukee Astronomy Club operates the Harken Observatory, perched atop the Pewaukee Public Library. Weather permitting, they have free, public viewing events on select Saturday evenings. On these nights, club members will operate the equipment & project images down in the library conference room for viewing.

Retzer Nature Center preserves over 450 acres of prairie, forest, nature trails & more. Throughout the year, Retzer Nature Center offers a number of special events & festivals, as well as sporting equipment rental, such as snowshoes. Most notably, the nature center houses the Charles Z. Horwitz Planetarium, which has a 40 ft diameter dome, 90 theater-style seats, digital video & sound, & interactive science displays. Check site for year round public programs.

Designed and built in 1895, the Yerkes Observatory is located on 77-acres beside Geneva Lake. The observatory features a museum highlighting famous Yerkes astronomers, as well as a unique gift shop. Various ticketed tours are offered throughout the year.