Observatory/ Planetarium

    • The School District U-46 Planetarium, located at 312 Watch Street in Elgin, opened its doors in September 1963 for students to learn about astronomy under the dome. The planetarium is an addition on the back of the 1910 Elgin National Watch Company Observatory; a building on the National Register of Historic Places. During its continuous operation over the last 60 years, over a million students have been mesmerized by the majesty of the night sky through lessons at the planetarium. 

       

    The building is occasionally open to the public for evening sky shows during the school year. Click the "Public Sky Show" tab on the left for more information. The facility is not open during the summer.

    You can take a virtual Able Eyes tour through the building using Google Maps. L1 is the first floor and L2 is upstairs. Click the arrows on the embedded image to the right to "walk around" or click here to go to full screen

     Call (847) 888-5019 or email josephkellenberger@u-46.org for more information. 

    Use this QR to take the tour.

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Quick Links

  • 2024-25 Public Shows: 

    Check the full page on the left for more details

    Saturday/Sunday September 7th/8th

    Historic Elgin House Tour *Open House Only, no sky show*

    Wednesday, October 16th, 2024

    What's So Super about the Moon?

    Friday, December 13th, 2024

    The Geminids and Jupiter

    Tuesday, February 25th, 2025

    Preparing for the March Lunar Eclipse

    Thursday, April 24th, 2025

    Chasing Mercury

     

    The U-46 Planetarium is a school district classroom and is not open in the summer. 

    1910 Observatory & 1963 Planetarium Facts