Special Events

World of Science Lectures

At 7 p.m. the first Friday of the month, the Planetarium becomes a forum for a local scientist to discuss his or her specialties. Past topics have included severe weather, glaciers, the Hubble Telescope, tornadoes, insects, and wildflowers. Admission is only $1 at the door. For a schedule, click here!

The "First (and Last) 35mm Film Festival

We'll use our 35mm film projector for the last time!   See all of our old 35mm movies dating from when the planetarium opened in 1987 . . .for one last time!   A full schedule appears here.  

"Backyard Astronomy" Workshop for fall, 2009

The planetarium will once again offer a workshop on how to do backyard astronomy.  For five consecutive Monday nights beginning September 29, from 7-8:30pm, participants will learn how to read a star chart, how to locate planets, how to watch meteor showers, what else is up there besides the stars and planets, and how to approach the purchase of a telescope.  No prior knowledge is assumed!   The cost is $20 per person.   More information appears in the fall “Live & Learn” guide.  Register by either using the form in that back of that guide or using this form and mailing it in to us.    CANCELED DUE TO LOW ENROLLMENT (AS OF 9/23/08).

See the real sky with the CU Astronomical Society!

Observatory open houses occur at dusk on July 12, August 9, September 6, October4, November 1 and December 6.   All night sky observing is weather permitting. See www.cuas.org for details.   The University of Illinois Astronomical Society will have the observatory next to the Foellinger Auditorium open on the first Friday of the months that classes are in session. For information see www.astro.uiuc.edu/~uias.