UW Planetarium

The University of Washington Planetarium brings dynamic and interactive shows to students of all ages and backgrounds. Featuring data-driven astronomical images and presented by enthusiastic volunteers, we serve UW students, K-12 groups, and the public. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

All planetarium shows are free to attend, but we are unable to provide transportation to the UW campus. Can’t bring your group to campus? Consider seeing if the UW Mobile Planetarium can come to you!

About

The planetarium is a unique classroom on campus, built as part of the Physics and Astronomy building in 1994. The dome is 30 feet in diameter and originally included a Minolta MS-8, a precisely constructed optical/mechanical system that projected an accurate view of the night sky. The planetarium was transformed into a fully digital dome with an 8-million-pixel display in 2009 in collaboration with Microsoft’s WorldWide Telescope team (see Rosenfield et al. 2010). In 2015 and 2020, the UW Student Technology Fee funded new projectors and computers, ensuring the planetarium's relevance and capacity to serve the community.

The UW planetarium is under leadership of Program Director Lauryn Williams, with oversight by the Astronomy Director of Outreach Prof. James Davenport. The planetarium is equipped with state-of-the-art projectors and immersive audio systems, providing guests with an exceptional astronomical experience. 

Visiting

Shows have no fee, but donations towards the upkeep of our planetarium are gladly accepted.

Group Visits

Daytime shows are scheduled on Fridays during the UW academic year. Shows are generally 50 minutes in length. K-12 schools, homeschool groups, and other local educational organizations can request a show using the link below. Your group must have between 10 and 40 visitors.

The Planetarium is now taking bookings through the rest of the academic year!

Schedule a Group Show

Shows are available to be booked at 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, and 1 pm on Fridays on a first-requested, first-served basis. If you do not see these time slots available, either they have already been booked or we haven't yet released those time slots to be available to book. Our shows are very popular and book up quickly; please plan to book about 1-2 months ahead of your intended visit. Unfortunately, we do not offer any activities outside of the planetarium show itself.

General Public 

Our First Friday Public Shows are scheduled on the first Friday evening of each month during the UW academic year. Shows are generally 50 minutes in length. The general public can reserve free tickets using the link below. Reservation spots fill up quickly, but you can also join the waitlist to be notified if someone cancels their ticket.

First Friday Show Tickets

UW Affiliated Special Events

If you are part of a UW affiliated group or organization and you would like to reserve the planetarium for a special event, please fill out the form below.

 Special Event Reservation Form

If you have any other questions regarding booking a show that are not answered on this page, email planetarium@uw.edu.

Plan Your Visit

Location

Planetarium directions

The Planetarium is located on the UW-Seattle Campus in the Physics and Astronomy Auditorium (PAA) in room A220. The closest on-campus parking is the Central Plaza Garage (see below), which is a five-minute walk away.

In the image on the right, the main garage entrances are circled in red. From the garage, walk along Grant Lane towards Stevens Way. Turn right onto Stevens Way and walk south to the entrance of the Physics and Astronomy court yard, where you will see a large “Peanut” sculpture. Enter the Auditorium, which is the building on your left. The planetarium is at the end of the hallway on the second floor, which is accessible via the spiral staircase by the pendulum or the elevator to the right of the staircase.

Driving to Campus

Self-serve parking is available in the Central Plaza Garage on levels C02, C03, and C04. Drivers may bypass the gatehouse, park on levels C02, C03 or C04, and then use PayByPhone to purchase a parking permit. More information is available from UW Transportation Services or at any gatehouse. If you plan to park a bus on campus, you must request parking with UW Transportation Services Event Parking, who will help arrange load/unload locations.

The closest drop-off locations near the planetarium are the 30 minute load/unload zones located on W Stevens Way NE, just north of PAA.

While you are here, consider visiting the Burke Museum, or one of our many on-campus cafes.

Accessibility

An elevator is available for guests with limited mobility. If your group requires accommodations for any special learning needs, an ASL translator, or a non-English language translator, please write to planetarium@uw.edu.

Accessible parking is also available. For more information, see the accessible parking page.

Code of Conduct

In keeping with the University-wide Codes of Conduct, the UW Planetarium is dedicated to creating an inclusive and welcoming space for all visitors. We firmly emphasize the importance of respecting diversity and embracing people of all backgrounds, identities, and beliefs. Hate speech or discrimination based on race, gender, religion, ethnicity, or any personal characteristics will not be tolerated. We believe in mutual respect and the value of diverse perspectives. Your cooperation in upholding these values ensures that the UW planetarium remains a place where everyone can explore the mysteries of the universe in an atmosphere of respect and shared humanity.

If you witness or experience behavior contrary to these principles, please inform the Program Director or a member of our volunteering staff.

Get Involved

Become a Presenter

Our planetarium provides volunteer opportunities for UW students and members of the Seattle community who wish to become a planetarium presenter. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. We prioritize the safety and quality of the experience for all by ensuring that all volunteers undergo background checks and receive necessary certifications before participating in our programs.

If you would like to volunteer with the UW Planetarium us, please contact planetarium@uw.edu.

Support Our Programs

Your support helps UW students bring their passion for astronomy to the public. Please consider making a gift to the Friends of Planetariums fund.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do you offer shows on weekends? Unfortunately, we do not offer shows on weekends because campus buildings are locked on Saturdays and Sundays, making the planetarium inaccessible to volunteers and visitors.
  • What is the seating capacity in the planetarium? The planetarium can seat 40 people. Group reservations, including chaperones and students, are not to exceed this number because it is our fire code capacity. If you have a larger group, please make requests for multiple shows.
  • What should I do if my preferred date and time is not available on the posted calendar? Some dates and times during the current quarter may not be on the calendar because they are already booked. Our shows are very popular, and tend to book up 1-2 months in advance, so please plan accordingly. Shows are also scheduled on a quarterly basis, so in general we will not schedule a group visit more than 3 months ahead of time.
  • Do you offer shows during the summer months? Due to limited volunteer availability outside the academic year we do not offer regular summer shows or group visits.
  • Where can I or my group eat lunch on campus before or after a show? There is food court style dining at the Husky Union Building (HUB), though during peak lunch hours it may be difficult to find seating for a large group. See the Housing and Food Services webpage for more dining options on campus. There are also many off-campus restaurants along University Way.
  • What other activities do you offer for groups before or after the planetarium show? Because we are completely volunteer run, we unfortunately do not have the capacity to offer or help plan any activities on campus for groups outside of the planetarium show. Please plan your campus visit accordingly.

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