Weekend Public Tours
The Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium is open for public viewing on 10/23 & 10/24. Additional dates will be added soon. Please check back often for updates .
RESERVATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED
What will it take for humans to reach Mars? On this long journey, what challenges will astronauts face? How will they stay motivated and healthy on their spacecraft so far away from Earth? Our new movie offering, a Bell original planetarium show Mars: The Ultimate Voyage, explores these questions and more! After the feature we will escort you through the fall heavens with “Clash of the Titans,” our take on a classic tale of Greek mythology, showcasing the constellation highlights of the season. Then we cap off the evening’s celestial adventure by observing some celestial objects, weather permitting.
Please note that the Holcomb Telescope is under repair at this time, so observing will be limited to our fleet of Celestrons and our Seestar S50.
Doors open at 7:00 PM with shows at 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM.
Admission fees are $5 for children (under 18) and $8 for adults, payable by cash or credit. Butler IDs get in for free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the link above and will be given out at the door. Cash and credit are accepted from those arriving without reservations and if there are any available seats.
***Please be aware that there may be event parking pricing for $15 per car at Butler due to basketball and shows at Clowes or Schrott. Please check the event parking page and organize parking off-campus if you do not want to be subject to event pricing. Please accept our apologies; parking prices are beyond our control, unfortunately.
If the initial planetarium shows reach full capacity, we will schedule additional shows for that evening. If you find yourself attending a later show, we’ll streamline the evening for you by initiating telescope viewing right away, ensuring minimal delay during your visit.
If the weekend doesn’t align with your schedule, consider scheduling a private group tour for your organization or group at a different time.
Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium is conveniently situated on the north end of the Butler University campus. You can reach us by heading west on 46th Street or 49th Street from Meridian Street (see Butler University Campus Map). Parking is available in our parking garage for a fee. Please note that there are three separate sets of steps totaling 66 leading up to the telescope viewing area, as there is no elevator available. For disability-related accommodations, please visit Event Accommodations. Wheelchair accessibility is provided in the lobby and restroom areas temporarily. If you require ground-level viewing, we can arrange for a portable telescope; please contact us in advance to make these arrangements.
Butler University is committed to ensuring its programs, services, activities, and benefits are accessible on an equitable basis to all qualified individuals with disabilities. If you are planning to attend an event at the Holcomb Observatory and feel you may need a disability-related accommodation, please submit this form as well as emailing holcombobservatory@butler.edu.
For disability-related accommodation requests, please share your request with two weeks’ advance notice to allow adequate time to make arrangements. Although attempts will be made to honor accommodation requests with less notice, it cannot be guaranteed that a reasonable accommodation can be provided without two-weeks’ notice.
In recent years, the planetarium has undergone a substantial $300,000 renovation. We replaced the old analog Spitz AP3 star projector with a state-of-the-art fulldome Digitarium Kappa projector. In late 2022, we further upgraded the planetarium projector to the new laser-phosphor illumination Digitarium Lamda system, offering vivid colors and 225% more pixels on the dome than our previous Kappa projector. This enhancement provides visitors with a fully immersive experience and beautifully renders the night sky. Alongside the new projector, we introduced comfortable theater seating, a 5.1 surround sound system, new carpeting, and cove lighting, all made possible with the support of our corporate partner, Indianapolis-based Bowen Technovation. Additionally, between 2013 and 2015, our large telescope underwent a comprehensive $425,000 refurbishment by Astronomical Consultants and Equipment, thanks to a grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation via Frank Levinson, PhD.
Telescope observing is always free on public observing nights and contingent on good weather, so if the weather means you are unable to observe, please feel free to come back on any future clear public observing night, our expert tour guides will be more than happy to assist you.
Observatory partners
