Planetarium
A page within Planetarium
The University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Planetarium presents programs to school groups, private groups, and the public. Our facility has been recognized in Physics Today, The Alumnus, and La Crosse Magazine. The goal of the Planetarium is to provide educational outreach for the area and to raise awareness of the value of astronomy. For more information about the Planetarium and it's programs, please contact us at 608-785-8669 or by email at allen.robe@eagle.uwlax.edu.
PARKING: If you only want information on Public Programs, Private Group Programs, School Programs, or Album Encounters, scroll down a ways on this page and/or click in the upper left of this page. For parking details, scroll down to near the bottom of this page.
Finding Cowley Hall and the Planetarium : LOOK FOR THE SMOKESTACK!! You can see it from quite a ways off. The smokestack is on the southwest corner of East Avenue and Pine Street. Cowley Hall is on the northwest corner. The Planetarium is Room 20 in the Basement of Cowley Hall.
ASTRONOMY CLUB OBSERVING SESSIONS : The monthly Dark Sky Observing Sessions are being held at Ridge History Park and the Galesville Schools Observatory. See http://lcaas.org for details. The next session (if clear) has not been scheduled yet and depends on winter weather conditions. A notice will be posted here when the next one is scheduled. Go/no-go messages will be posted on https://groups.io/g/LCAAS .
MONTHLY ASTRONOMY CLUB MEETINGS : The monthly meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month. The April meeting will be at 7:15 pm on Wednesday, April 5th at the UW - La Crosse Planetarium. Park in the Stadium Lot (Commuter Lot 2/C-2). Commuter Lots (C Lots) are not enforced after 7 pm. http://lcaas.org
Public Programs :
Public Programs are held at 1:00 pm on Saturdays during the fall and spring semesters. There are monthly Public Programs in October, November, December (the first 3 Saturdays), February, March, and April. Admission is $5.00 for Adults and $3.00 for Students (K-12 and University) and Senior Citizens (over 60). Each program begins with a talk on the current evening sky, followed by a multimedia audiovisual presentation on an astronomical subject. There are no Public Programs during the summer months or in January.
Admission is $5.00 for Adults and $3.00 for Students and Seniors.
The March Public Program "Moons - Worlds of Mystery and Wonder" will be presented at 1 pm on Saturdays March 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th.
Park in the Stadium Lot. The Stadium Lot (Commuter Lot 2 or C-2) is on the northeast corner of East Avenue and Pine Street. Commuter (C) lots are NOT enforced on weekends, so you do not need to use the Pay Station. If the Stadium Lot is full due to a UW - L football game (November 5th and 12th), basketball game, or track meet, use the Cleary Center Lot (Commuter Lot 12 or C-12) on the northwest corner of East Avenue and Farwell Street) or the Parking Ramp (on Farwell Street between 16th and 17th Streets). If you park in the Cleary Lot or the Parking Ramp, you will have to walk around the east or west side of the Student Union or Wimberly Hall to get to Cowley Hall.
Album Encounters :
Album Encounters are multimedia light and laser shows set to rock music. They are presented at 8:00 pm on Fridays when classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters. Admission is $5.00 for everyone. See the bottom of this page for parking information.
There will be no Album Encounters on Fridays, March 10th and 17th over mid-semester break.
The March 24th Album Encounter will feature Girl In Red's "If I Could Make It Go Quiet".
The March 31st Album Encounter will feature Pink Floyd's "A Momentary Lapse of Reason".
Albums used during the 2022-23 school year were: Bryan Adams' "So Happy It Hurts", Pink Floyd's "Meddle", Jack White's "Fear of the Dawn", Jethro Tull's Stand Up", Muse's "Will of the People", Doors' "L. A. Woman", Black Keys' "Dropout Boogie", Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon", Tame Impala's "Currents", Rolling Stones' "Tattoo You", Marcus King's "Young Blood", Beatles' "Revolver", Fleetwood Mac's "Bare Trees", Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here", Uriah Heep's "Chaos and Colour", Pink Floyd's "Animals", Metric's "Formentera", Jeff Beck's "Truth", Three Days Grace's "Explosions", David Crosby's "The Best of David Crosby",
Park in the Stadium Lot. The Stadium Lot (Commuter Lot 2 or C-2) is on the northeast corner of East Avenue and Pine Street. Commuter (C) lots are NOT enforced on weekends, so you do not need to use the Pay Station. If the Stadium Lot is full due to a high school football game or a track meet, use the Cleary Center Lot (Commuter Lot 12 or C-12) on the northwest corner of East Avenue and Farwell Street) or the Parking Ramp (on Farwell Street between 16th and 17th Streets). If you park in the Cleary Lot or the Parking Ramp, you will have to walk around the east or west side of the Student Union or Wimberly Hall to get to Cowley Hall.
School and Private Group Programs:
There are several programs available for School and Private Groups. For more information on School and Private Programs, please see the upper left of this web page or contact Bob Allen, Planetarium Director, by email at allen.robe@eagle.uwlax.edu or by phone at 608.785.8669.
Additional Program Information :
- Public, School, and Private Programs last about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours.
- Maximum seating capacity is approximately 50 adults OR 70 kindergartners.
- The charge for private or school groups of 10 or more is $3.00 per person. The minimum charge per program is $30.00 for a group of 10 or less.
Directions and Parking :
LOCATION: The Planetarium is located in Room 20 in the Basement of Cowley Hall. Cowley Hall is on the northwest corner of East Ave. and Pine Street. LOOK FOR THE SMOKESTACK across the street on the southwest corner of East Avenue and Pine Street.
PARKING: ALL Commuter Lots and the Parking Ramp have Pay Stations. They are NOT enforced on weekends or after 7 pm weekdays. The Stadium Lot (Commuter Lot 2 or C-2) is the closest Commuter Lot to the Planetarium and it is on the northeast corner of East Avenue and Pine Street. If it is full, use the Cleary Center Lot (Commuter Lot 12 or C-12) or the Parking Ramp. The entrance to the Cleary Lot is on the northwest corner of East Avenue and Farwell Street. The Parking Ramp is on the north side of Farwell Street between 16th and 17th Streets. Pay Stations take coins, bills, cards, or the Passport Parking phone app. They need to be used from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday through Friday. Daytime visitors can also get a $3.00 half day permit for Commuter Lots at the PARKING OFFICE. It is on the northwest corner of Farwell Street and 17th Street. PAY STATION RATES ARE $1.00 PER HOUR. FINES ARE $25.00. The Planetarium can not be responsible for fines incurred.
The entrance to the Parking Ramp is on the north side of Farwell Street between 16th and 17th Streets. You can park on Levels 1, 2, or 3. The ramp is enforced 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday through Friday. It is NOT enforced on weekends or after 7:00 pm weekdays. The Pay Station is near the entrance. It asks you to enter your license plate information. You will have to walk around the east or west side of the Student Union or Wimberly Hall to get to Cowley Hall.
1. Album Encounters Parking: Park in the Stadium Lot (Commuter Lot C-2). If the Stadium Lot is full (due to a Friday night high school football game or a track meet), use the Cleary Center Lot (Commuter Lot C-12) or the Parking Ramp. The Stadium Lot is on the northeast corner of East Avenue and Pine Street. The Cleary Center Lot is on the northwest corner of East Avenue and Farwell Street. The entrance to the Parking Ramp is on the north side of Farwell Street between 16th and 17th Streets. Commuter (C) Lots are NOT enforced after 7:00 pm weekdays, so you do not have to use the Pay Station.
2. Public Programs Parking: The Stadium Lot (Commuter Lot 2 or C-2) is on the northeast corner of East Avenue and Pine Street. Commuter (C) lots are NOT enforced on weekends, so you do not need to use the Pay Station. If the Stadium Lot is full due to a UWL football game or track meets, use the Cleary Center Lot (Commuter Lot 12 or C-12) on the northwest corner of East Avenue and Farwell Street) or the Parking Ramp (on Farwell Street between 16th and 17th Streets). If you park in the Cleary Lot or the Parking Ramp, you will have to walk around the east or west side of the Student Union or Wimberly Hall to get to Cowley Hall.
3. School Group or Private Group Programs Parking: From 7:00 am to 7:00 pm weekdays, cars or vans can park in the Stadium Lot (C-2) or in the Parking Ramp (Levels 1, 2, or 3) and use the Pay Stations. The Stadium Lot Pay Station is near the corner of East Avenue and Pine Street. The Parking Ramp entrance is on the north side of Farwell Street between 16th and 17th Streets. The Parking Ramp Pay Station is near the entrance. The Pay Station will ask you to enter your license plate information.
Parking is offered on an hourly basis. Rates are $1.00 per hour. Fines are $25.00! The Planetarium can not be responsible for fines incurred. Lots are enforced from 7 am to 7:00 pm weekdays (Monday through Friday). Pay Stations accept coins, bills, cards, and the Passport Parking phone app.
Daytime visitors can also get a $3.00 half day permit for Commuter Lots at the PARKING OFFICE. That is on the northwest corner of Farwell Street and 17th Street.
Thank you for visiting the Planetarium website. Keep looking up and here's hoping you have clear skies!
Bob Allen, Planetarium Director
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Email: allen.robe@eagle.uwlax.edu