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 preschool 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.

The planetarium can accommodate up to 60 people including students, chaperones, and teachers. Showtimes generally run from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. 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, and chaperones are free!

Public Shows

We are happy to provide free shows for the community each month of the school year. After a 25 to 30 minute full-dome planetarium show, enjoy a night sky tour of constellations, stars, and planets you can look for in your own backyard this month. Please register using the links found below.

Shows start at 6:30 pm and finish at 7:30 pm

'Tis the Season

This show recounts the historical religious and cultural rituals practiced during the time of winter solstice - from Christian, Jewish, Celtic, Nordic, Roman, Irish, and Mexican cultures. It also takes a look at some of our more light-hearted seasonal traditions: from gift-giving to songs about lords a-leaping and ladies dancing, and customs from decking the halls with greenery and candles to Santa Claus. The show also considers possible astronomical explanations for the star of Bethlehem.

Register for this show by following the links below:

Thursday December 19

Friday December 20

Wauwatosa West High School
11400 W. Center Street
Enter the main doors (southwest entrance).  Continue straight into the school - the planetarium will be directly ahead, on the left side of the hallway.