Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium

Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium Public Shows Fridays 7pm + 8:30pm, Saturdays 2pm, 7pm, 8:30pm, Even-date Tuesdays 7pm. Available by appointment M-F 8am - 4pm. The Harry C. Vaughan.

K-College education, public shows, private shows and events, Live presentations, musics shows, films. Vaughan Planetarium is located on the beautiful campus of the University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY and is operated by UW's Department of Physics and Astronomy. The planetarium was recently renovated with a brand new, state of the art digital projection system thanks to the generous donations by th

e Windy Ridge Foundation and benefactor Harry C. All programs are approximately an hour in length. Doors open ~15 minutes ahead of the show time. Seating is first-come first serve outside of designated ADA/wheelchair seating

Tickets are $5 for the general public, $3 for UW students/staff/faculty, veterans, first responders, or children. Seating is free for children under 5. Reservations or pre-purchase is not required, walk-ins are welcome. You can purchase tickets online with credit card, reserve tickets over email or voicemail, or walk-in and purchase tickets at the start of the show. purchase tickets online with credit card:

https://www.uwyo.edu/uwplanetarium/ticket.aspx

for information:

email: [email protected]

voicemail: 307-766-6506

The University of Wyoming Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium is located in the basement of the Physical Science building. Enter the Physical Science building at the south-western entrance closest to the classroom building and follow the signs down a level to our lobby. The planetarium is located under the computer lab with an elevator and stairs in our lobby area. The planetarium is wheelchair accessible. We will open up our Student Training And Research (S.T.A.R.) Rooftop Observatory by reservations with the planetarium coordinator. The tours will be very informal, stargazing and telescope use will be limited by clouds and weather. The University of Wyoming’s STAR Observatory is located on the roof of the Physical Sciences building through the western stairwell. There is no elevator/wheelchair access to the observatory. If you are interested in combining your planetarium visit with other activities on campus like the Geology Museum, Science Kitchen, or a campus tour, please request a visit through the Campus Visitor Center. We always recommend that at least part of your planetarium experience should be a live presentation by our talented staff but the films are also available by request for private shows, rentals, field trips, and other events. We also can do virtual field trips for your group over zoom or other online meeting software. Physical Science is located at D 10 in the University of Wyoming maphttp://www.uwyo.edu/uw/tour/_files/docs/uw-laramie-campus.pdf

For parking information please contact Transit and Parking Service at 307-766-9800 or visit their webpage at:
http://www.uwyo.edu/tap/parking/parkingoptions.html

We really enjoyed coming out and doing an observing nights with  last night. We look forward to more events this summer ...
06/08/2026

We really enjoyed coming out and doing an observing nights with last night. We look forward to more events this summer and will post them on our calendar as we confirm them. Thanks to everyone who came out.

Physicist and Astrophysicists were set loose to develop nuclear weapons and energy in the first half of the 20th century...
05/27/2026

Physicist and Astrophysicists were set loose to develop nuclear weapons and energy in the first half of the 20th century. Go beyond the headlines of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Cuban Missile Crisis, 3-Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima. We'll be exploring the history of nuclear weapons testing, power generation, and the modern risks and benefits of technology that either harnesses or unleashes energy hotter than the Sun!

New show times are Tuesdays and Thursday at 1pm and even-date Tuesday at 7pm!
05/21/2026

New show times are Tuesdays and Thursday at 1pm and even-date Tuesday at 7pm!

Astrobiology - Is there anybody out there? The search for extra-terrestrial life continues as scientists scour the solar...
05/01/2026

Astrobiology - Is there anybody out there? The search for extra-terrestrial life continues as scientists scour the solar system for signs of ancient or modern signs of life, radio telescope listen for signs from E.T., and next generation telescopes explore the planets of other star systems. Are we alone in the universe?

Live Presentation: Science of Sci-FiWe'll be looking at some our favorite films, tv shows, and media to discuss what the...
04/21/2026

Live Presentation: Science of Sci-Fi

We'll be looking at some our favorite films, tv shows, and media to discuss what they got right and wrong on the hard-science. We'll see funny physics faux-pas and ground-breaking visuals that advancing the body of scientific knowledge.

Check out the May 2026 public Show Calendar.For a full list of programs with descriptions, times, photos, and tickets pl...
04/21/2026

Check out the May 2026 public Show Calendar.

For a full list of programs with descriptions, times, photos, and tickets please refer to:

https://www.uwyo.edu/physics/planetarium/schedule.html

We will not be hosting any public programs at the planetarium on May 16 to accommodate Spring commencement. Go Pokes!

However, on that May 16 Saturday evening near Lander, WY at Sinks Canyon State Park we will be doing an outreach event, weather permitting, and setup some telescopes and do a live night sky presentation and observing session. The event is free and open to the public. We will be doing other telescope events more nearby at Curt Gowdy State Park this summer also so check our schedule!

The following weekend, May 22 - May 25 we will be closed in observance of Memorial Day.

Our topical Wyoming Skies program will each highlight different aspects of the moon, with the new moon coinciding with closest approach it will make Earthshine more visible. During the full moon, which will also be a blue moon, the moon will be a "micro" moon and appear smaller than normal.

Live Presentation: The history of time itself, the shape of space, and the fate of the universe. Are we in a cosmic egg?...
04/17/2026

Live Presentation: The history of time itself, the shape of space, and the fate of the universe. Are we in a cosmic egg? Will there be a final big crunch or a slow entropic heat death? Contemplate the inifinite with us in cosmology.

5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI is a fulldome film about the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) which...
04/17/2026

5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI is a fulldome film about the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) which is creating the most detailed map of our nearby universe using a unique instrument which can measure the spectra of many galaxies at once.

Experience the largest structures in the universe as never seen before by flying through a portion of DESI's initial data. Dive into modern cosmology, plus the scientific background and motivation for building a large map of galaxies. And, take a trip to Kitt Peak to see footage of the telescope in action while getting to know the amazing people from all over the world making this research possible.

"Distant Worlds — Alien Life?" is a beautiful planetarium film exploring one of the most enduring questions of humankind...
04/11/2026

"Distant Worlds — Alien Life?" is a beautiful planetarium film exploring one of the most enduring questions of humankind — are we alone?

For millennia our ancestors watched the stars, questioning the origin and nature of what they saw. Still today we ask these questions, knowing that the Universe is a vast place filled with billions and billions of stars and planets — but yet, Earth is the only planet we know for sure to be inhabited.

Enjoy a custom playlist of "out-of-this-world" music from top artists in 5.1 surround as the 4k resolution planetarium s...
04/09/2026

Enjoy a custom playlist of "out-of-this-world" music from top artists in 5.1 surround as the 4k resolution planetarium sky melts and becomes a canvas of color, patterns, and movement with our cutting-edge music visualization software and live VJ talent.

Friday/Saturday Evening Liquid Sky music programs may occasionally contain explicit language, please use your discretion when bringing children to music shows.

CAUTION: Music shows contain visuals that may not be safe for those with photosensitive epilepsy or other conditions triggered by light.

Address

Physical Science Building Basement
Laramie, WY
82071

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium:

Share