The Gary E. Sampson Planetarium is a state-of-the-art facility specifically designed for the study of astronomy.  Installed when Wauwatosa West High School was built in 1967-68, the planetarium has been updated to include full-dome video projection capabilities and comfortable seating.  It is a field trip destination in Wauwatosa and beyond and acts as an additional classroom for the Astronomy course at West High School.

We offer field trip programs for students of all ages from prechool to high school seniors, as well as free public programs for guests from the Wauwatosa area.  The planetarium seats up to 60 guests and is fully accessible for guests with mobility concerns.

Why should I visit the planetarium?

• Because it is awesome!  See the night sky the way it was before light pollution erased most of the stars from view.
• Because it will help you better understand what you are reading and seeing about astronomy and space science.
• Because it is a unique educational and entertaining experience.

Visit Us:

The Gary E. Sampson Planetarium is at Wauwatosa West High School, 11400 West Center St., Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.  Enter the main doors (southwest entrance).  Continue straight into the school - the planetarium will be directly ahead, on the left side of the hallway.

Teachers:

See the "popular resources" section on the right to reserve a show for your class. We can accommodate up to 61 people in the planetarium, including students, chaperones, and teachers. Our showtimes generally run from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Slight changes to this timeframe can be made upon request. Classes outside of the Wauwatosa School District are charged $3 per student for the visit, chaperones are free!