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

Did an Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs?

Did a space rock six miles wide slam into the Earth 66 million years ago and wipe out 75 percent of all living species at that time, including the dinosaurs? Cosmic collisions are abundant in our solar system. See the numerous craters on worlds like the moon, Mars, distant Pluto, and of course some on Earth, even including one in Wisconsin! Explore the dinosaur disaster up close, including the evidence that has led to our current scientific consensus as to what killed the dinosaurs.

Appropriate for adults and kids as young as 3rd grade, at guardian's discretion.

Register for this show by following the links below:

Thursday, January 16

Friday, January 17

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.