Public Show Updates

Thank you to all who have reached out regarding our star shows. Currently, we do not have any public star shows planned.

The Shiras Planetarium, nestled within Marquette Senior High School, primarily caters to the astronomy education needs of students within Marquette Area Public Schools. While we’ve historically offered public programming and welcomed visitors from across the region, our facility encountered a setback in 2017 when we lost our digital projection system. Since then, we’ve relied solely on our beloved Minolta MS-8 star projector, which has faithfully served our community for 32 years.

In recent times, maintaining the MS-8 has posed challenges due to the unavailability of replacement parts for critical components. While we’ve ordered replacements, they have yet to arrive. Even when those parts do arrive, the machine is still in need of complete refurbishment or replacement. Our priority is ensuring uninterrupted astronomy education for our MSHS students; however, we hope to accommodate limited school group visits if we receive the necessary parts.

To support our mission, a community group has been formed to preserve the Shiras Planetarium. You can learn more about their efforts at friendsofshirasplanetarium.org.

While robust astronomy programming is on hold, we’re excited to introduce ‘Lasers and Trivia,’ a new series kicking off in March with a Taylor Swift edition. Stay tuned for more themed events featuring rounds of trivia and laser tracks. We’re committed to exploring new avenues of engagement and have several ideas in the pipeline. You will see us continue to explore opportunities for utilizing our laser system while we work towards future technology upgrades.

Your unwavering support over the past 65 years means the world to us. Together, we’re determined to ensure the longevity of the Shiras Planetarium. While challenges lie ahead, we’re optimistic about the future and look forward to resuming stellar programming soon. Thank you for being part of our journey!