About us
The Wayne State University (WSU) Planetarium is proud to feature a state-of-the-art Spitz SciDome IQ 2400 for a presentation of modern planetarium shows. Learn about the planets, our solar system, stars, galaxies and other wonders of the universe through our amazing fulldome films!
You'll find our staff on and off campus as we promote our physics and astronomy programs and planetarium, inspiring young people and adults to choose a career in science. The WSU Planetarium provides learning resources to the greater Detroit area and offers public planetarium shows, science lectures and special events venue spacing.
The planetarium features weekly public shows, programs for K-12 school groups, shows for special interest groups and specialized shows for Wayne State University students. Our shows are designed to entertain, educate and inspire you to explore and discover.
Our mission
To educate and excite the Wayne State University and metro Detroit community about astronomy and the sciences more generally. Our primary purpose is to engage students at Wayne State University with astronomy and astrophysics.
As part of this mission, we encourage future Wayne State students and their families in scientific literacy through our K-12 and community programming. Our planetarium provides a high-profile learning environment for school children in grades K-12 and Wayne State students enrolled in physical science courses and the astronomy bachelor's program.
Contact us
The WSU Planetarium is located in the Old Main Building (the building with the clock tower) at the corner of Cass and Warren Avenues on the campus of Wayne State University.
4841 Cass Avenue, Suite 0209
Detroit, Michigan 48201
📱 313-577-6455
📧 planetarium@wayne.edu
💬 Messenger: @WayneStatePlanetarium
Building access and parking
Main entrance 🏫: Enter the Old Main Building from the Cass Avenue entrance, walk down the stairs and continue straight ahead. You'll see our beautiful murals and the double doors of our planetarium on your right, suite 0209!
Accessible entrance ♿️: Enter the Old Main Building from the Hancock Street entrance, closest to the corner of Cass Avenue.
History of the Wayne State Planetarium
Wayne State University built our current planetarium in 1996 as part of the major renovation of Old Main. The planetarium features 59 seats under a 27-foot dome. The first system was an analog Spitz 512 projector, referred to as an optical-mechanical projector.
The hand-operated machine was one of the earliest Spitz planetarium star machines. Fun fact: = Spitz Corporation founder Armand Spitz had an assist from Professor Albert Einstein in designing the star "ball," a pentagonal dodecahedron.
