Department of Physics and Astronomy
Mailing address:
UW Planetarium
1000 E University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-6506
Fax: 307-766-2652
Email: planetarium@uwyo.edu
The Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium is named in honor of the Windy Ridge Foundation’s owner, who was a professor of meteorology in the Iowa State Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences. Vaughan taught courses in meteorology, earth sciences and agronomy, and before teaching at Iowa State, he worked at the Ames Laboratory.
Upon retirement, Vaughan moved to Laramie, Wyo., where he befriended a number of faculty members in UW’s Department of Atmospheric Science. He devoted his time to his love of astronomy and built a personal observatory in his backyard to make his own astronomical observations and also mentored UW students.
The University of Wyoming Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium is located in the basement of the Physical Sciences building. Enter the Physical Sciences 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 SCI-DIY makerspace with an elevator and stairs in our lobby area. The planetarium is wheelchair accessible.
Physical Sciences is located at D 9 in the University of Wyoming map.
For parking information please contact Transit and Parking Service at 307-766-9800 or visit the parking webpage.
Parking at the Ivinson Parking garage is free after 5PM on weekdays and all day on weekends. Street parking is available after 6PM.
Free daytime parking can be found on the campus adjacent sides of 9th, Ivinson, and Bradley.
If you have a bus or fleet of vehicles please contact the Campus Visitor Center to get parking passes.
Observatory tours are available after any public planetarium show by request.
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. The observatory is home to five 8' Meade telescopes and the 16" LX200 telescope, we also have a Coronado Solar telescope for daytime observing.
Next Public Observing Night: Ask for a telescope tour after any evening program.
Public Observing nights don't require reservations but check the weather and this page for cancellations or re-scheduling. We can also open up our Student Training And Research (S.T.A.R.) Rooftop Observatory by reservation with the planetarium coordinator via email. You can combine your field trip or private show with a visit to the observatory.
To get more information contact us via email or voicemail Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 4:00PM
email: planetarium@uwyo.edu
voicemail: 307-766-6506 (if you don't leave a voicemail we won't be able to return your call)
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Mailing address:
UW Planetarium
1000 E University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-6506
Fax: 307-766-2652
Email: planetarium@uwyo.edu
