Planetarium Programs – Waukesha
September 16 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
$5
Come to the Planetarium Programs in Waukesha this Fall 2026!
The Horwitz DeRemer Planetarium is located at the Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha.
All shows are held at the Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium located inside the Retzer Environmental Learning Center. Private show reservations are available for community groups, private parties, corporate events, or scout groups. If seats are available you can purchase them up to the time of the show. For more information or to register a group, call 262-970-4139.
Tickets are available at https://hdplanetarium.ticketleap.com.
All shows listed are $5.00/person unless otherwise noted
Planetarium Programs September 2026 Schedule:
- Wednesday 9/2 at 11:00am – Dinosaurs: A Story of Survival
- Wednesday 9/9 at 11:00am – One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure
- Wednesday 9/16 at 11:00am -Sunstruck
- Wednesday 9/23 at 11:00am – On the Blue Planet
- Wednesday 9/30 at 11:00am – Seeing: A Photon’s Journey across Space, Time, and Mind
SATURDAY SHOWS
- 9/5, 9/12, 9/26 at 11:00am – Cosmix
- 9/5, 9/12, 9/26 at 1:00pm -Cosmic Colors: Adventures Along a Spectrum
SPECIAL EVENT
- 9/19 from 9am-4pm (every 30min, last show begins at 3:30pm) – Retzer’s Apple Harvest Festival Featured Show: Up in the Air: Rainbows, Aurora, Meteors & More – $5.00/person
Planetarium Programs October 2026 Schedule:
- Wednesday 10/7 at 11:00am -Dark Side of Light
- Wednesday 10/14 at 11:00am – Spooky Space
- Wednesday 10/21 at 11:00am – Stars of the Pharaohs
- Wednesday 10/28 at 11:00am – Halloween: Celestial Origins
SATURDAY SHOWS
- 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31 at 11:00am – Spooky Space
- 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31 at 1:00pm -The Dark Matter Mystery: Exploring a Cosmic Secret
Planetarium Programs November 2026 Schedule:
- Wednesday 11/4, at 11:00am – Einstein’s Gravity Playlist
- Wednesday 11/11 at 11:00am -Beyond Our Senses: Bank Swallows
- Wednesday 11/18 at 11:00am – Voyage to Distant Worlds
- Wednesday 11/25 at 11:00am – Let It Snow
SATURDAY SHOWS
- 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 11/28 at 11:00am -The Little Star that Could
- 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 11/28 at 1:00pm – One Sky Project
Planetarium Programs December 2026 Schedule:
- Wednesday 12/2 at 11:00am-Mystery of the Christmas Star
- Wednesday 12/9 at 11:00am- George and Oatmeal Save Santa
- Wednesday 12/16 at 11:00am-Season of Light
- Wednesday 12/23 at 11:00am-Santa’s Secret Star
- Wednesday 12/23 at 1:00pm-Mystery of the Christmas Star
- Monday 12/28 at 11:00am- 3-2-1 Liftoff! Space Adventure Elon the Hamster
- Monday 12/28 at 1:00 pm- Aurora: Lights of Wonder
- Tuesday 12/29 at 11:00am- Did an Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs?
- Tuesday 12/29 at 1:00pm – Cosmic Mashups: Gravity, Galaxies, and Supermassive Blackholes
- Wednesday 12/30 at 11:00am-Khrumka’s Adventures in the Winter Forest
- Wednesday 12/30 at 1:00pm-Nine Planets & Counting
SATURDAY SHOWS
- 12/5, 12/12, 12/19 at 11:00am -Santa’s Secret Star
- 12/5, 12/12, 12/19 at 1:00pm – Let It Snow
About the Horwitz DeRemer Planetarium:
The Charles Horwitz Planetarium opened in May 2005. The state-of-the-art, 90-seat, Digistar-6 planetarium is owned and operated by the School District of Waukesha. With the new, high-definition laser projection system, guests can fly through the rings of Saturn, land spacecraft on Mars and travel at light speed to stars and distant galaxies… all without leaving their seats!
In the Spring of 2018, the planetarium was renamed: Horwitz DeRemer Planetarium after David A. DeRemer, who was the director of the planetarium from 1978 to 2018.
The planetarium is not only an accurate day and night sky projection system, but the program serves as a district and community science resource center. School and community programs are designed to meet state and national astronomy standards, but these programs also present fundamental science concepts of weather, climate, chemistry, physics, and earth science.
The entrance to the planetarium, lobby area, and the theater are completely wheelchair accessible.
Expand your experience by enjoying the Retzer Nature Center facilities and grounds!
Fall 2026 Planetarium Show Descriptions:
3-2-1 Liftoff! Space Adventure of Elon the Hamster (3K-3rd grade)
Elon is a hamster scientist who lives in a junkyard and tries to fit in with the local rat community, but no one takes him seriously. The rats ignore his scientific experiments, which often fail. One day he hears a crash and discovers a crater in his garden with a damaged robot inside. After fixing it, Elon learns the robot fell from a spaceship heading to Mars that leaves in three days. Determined to help, Elon begins a big adventure to return the robot to its ship before it departs.
Aurora: Lights of Wonder (6th grade +)
Experience the aurora borealis as if you were there! Thanks to the pioneering work of astrophotographer Kwon O Chul. “Aurora: Lights of Wonder,” filmed on location in Yellowknife,
Northwest Territories, Canada, features high resolution, hemispherical video recorded in real-time with a special camera system that captures the subtle detail, colors, dynamism and beauty of the aurora. In addition, scientific explanations and beautiful artwork about the legend of the aurora are featured throughout the show.
Beyond Our Senses: Bank Swallows
Each spring, thousands of Bank Swallows Riparia riparia (also known as the Sand Martin) return to the bluffs of Lake Michigan, transforming it into a symphony of flight and survival. With senses beyond human perception, they build vast cliffside colonies, hunt insects on the wing, and raise the next generation in a race against time.
Beyond Our Senses invites audiences to witness the world through their eyes, a world of hidden colors, slowed time, and aerial mastery, revealing the unseen forces of the world that guide their
survival.
Cosmic Colors: An Adventure Along the Spectrum (5th grade +)
Cosmic Colors will take you on a wondrous journey across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Discover why the sky is blue and why Mars is red. Take a tour within a plant leaf and journey inside the human eye. Investigate x-rays by voyaging to a monstrous black hole and then back at your doctor’s office. You will even see the actual color of a dinosaur-based on recent evidence. Get ready for an amazing adventure under a rainbow of cosmic light!
Cosmic Mashups: Gravity, Galaxies and Supermassive Black Holes (6th grade +)
Supermassive black holes are found in most galaxies and we’re beginning to uncover how the merging of galaxies activates galactic centers.
Cosmix (5K-5th grade)
Have you ever wondered how the astronauts do their job? After watching “Cosmix”, it will be absolutely clear to you! But hold tight, it will be a crazy ride.
You will find out what a space flight looks like and how to prepare for it. You will jump from a spinning centrifuge straight into a cosmic rocket. And where will it take you? Why, to the International Space Station!
But don’t worry, we won’t bore you with technical details. On the contrary, practice is all that matters! You will learn to sleep in space, to cook cosmic foods, to use a cosmic toilet. And, just to be sure, how to wash yourselves properly.
Lastly, you’ll have one last grand finale! And by that, we mean a nerve-wracking return back to Earth in a red-hot spaceship cabin! Buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Dark Side of Light (3rd grade +)
Have you admired the beautiful night sky dotted with thousands of stars above your head? Isn’t it strange that the naturally dark starry night sky, the one that was a source of inspiration for your ancestors for thousands of years, is now so rare that we have to travel to designated areas to see it in its full beauty? Why and how do we as humans destroy our surroundings with light pollution? Dark Side of Light will teach us about the impact it has on humans, nature as a whole, as well as explain what we can do to keep our night skies dark.
Did an Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs? (6+ years)
See dinosaurs and asteroids like never before! Did a space rock six miles wide slam into the Earth 66 million years ago and wipe out 75 percent of all species alive, including the dinosaurs? Explore impacts and cosmic collisions across the Solar System in this dynamic show.
Dinosaurs: A Story of Survival (5K +)
Like almost all children, Celeste is fascinated with dinosaurs. She is preparing a talk for her class about how they went extinct when Moon, a very wise and magical character, poses a tantalizing
question: what if I told you that there are still dinosaurs among us? Celeste will join Moon in a journey through time. An exciting adventure that will show them the Earth as it was in a very, very distant past. They will see the fascinating transformations that these animals underwent over millions of years, creating giant creatures, armored beasts and super predators, until the day that a cataclysmic impact event caused a mass extinction on Earth. But all is not lost. Celeste will discover the key to their survival.
Einstein’s Gravity Playlist (9th grade +)
What are gravitational waves? How are these ripples in space-time created? Albert Einstein predicted their existence in 1916, and a century later, scientists detected these waves using incredibly precise laser technology here on Earth. See the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and Lucia, a PhD student in physics, on an exploration of gravitational waves and their importance in helping understand the universe.
George & Oatmeal Save Santa (Ages 3-7)
Santa Claus is missing! Mrs. Claus is worried and asks Oatmeal the snowman to help find him. Join Oatmeal and his friend, George, the planetarium wizard, as they travel the world in search of Santa. Along the way they are told constellation stories from many cultures and how to use the stars of the Big Dipper to find north. This show is particularly appropriate for young children and their families.
Halloween: Celestial Origins (10+ yrs old)
What do you associate with Halloween? Trick–or-Treating, costumes…astronomy? After all, Halloween is an astronomical holiday! Learn the history of Halloween and how it fits into the seasons as a “cross-quarter day.” Also explore the night sky and learn what planets, constellations, and stars will be out on your Halloween evening.
Khrumka’s Adventures in the Winter Forest (3+ years)
On their way through the fairy tale winter forest, little Khrumka and his friends watch the Northern Lights, witness the flight of an asteroid, and admire the constellations of the winter sky. Thrilling rides, magic and surprises await them on their fantastic fulldome journey.
Let It Snow (All ages)
“Let It Snow” is a treat for the eyes and ears, featuring festive full-dome video images choreographed to classic Christmas music. Enjoy seasonal tunes by Frank Sinatra, Chuck Berry, Burl Ives, and Brenda Lee, and a finale by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This animated show will have audiences of all ages humming and singing along to the classics associated with the holiday season.
Mystery of the Christmas Star (8+ years)
Journey back over 2000 years to Bethlehem as we seek to discover a scientific explanation for the star the wise men followed to find the baby Jesus. This modern retelling of the Christmas story is sure to charm and captivate audiences of all ages.
Nine Planets and Counting (3rd grade +)
Maybe it’s ten, or twelve, or more. Take a tour to explore the variety of objects that populate our solar system. Along the way, the audience will examine each planet individually and then step back to look at the big picture: rocky worlds compared to gas giants and more. And just what IS a planet, anyway? The answer may surprise you.
On the Blue Planet (1st-5th grades)
The Earth is just one of the planets orbiting the Sun, but the only one where conditions are just right to support life. Explore the remarkable variety of life on Earth. How long has the Earth existed and what are the conditions that make it suitable for sustaining life? Why do penguins live in Antarctica and lions in Africa? Why do cedars grow in the tundra and vines in the jungle? This trip around the blue planet will help to answer these, and many more questions, about our unique and wonderful home.
One Sky Project (4th grade +)
“One Sky Project” features a collection of films that represent the perspective of a different culture or Indigenous society from around the globe. Every piece stands on its own as a story, or comes together with the others into a longer narrative, organized around themes of “Finding Patterns” and developing tools, or as we say, “To Seek Far”.
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure (2+ years)
Explore the night sky with our friends from Sesame Street™. Join Big Bird, Elmo, and Hu Hu Zhu as they take a trip to the Moon. See how the Moon is different from the Earth and learn how to find the Big Dipper and North Star from your backyard.
Santa’s Secret Star (3K +)
What?! Santa has lost his compass and can’t find his way home? Sounds like a disaster in the making! Can the stars help? Learn about the day and night sky and how the stars seem to make pictures in the sky in our newest holiday show for young stargazers. Learn how YOU, too, can find Santa’s secret star!
Season of Light (6+ yrs)
Light up the cold dark season with a warm and bright holiday show! Season of Light explores the reasons humans are so fascinated with lighting up our lives during the December holiday season.
This very popular show is an exploration of the astronomical meanings behind seasonal traditions, including the “Star over Bethlehem”.
Seeing: A Photon’s Journey across Space, Time, and Mind (6th grade +)
Ride a photon across the galaxy to your mind’s eye and experience how we see. “SEEING!” follows a photon’s creation and journey across the galaxy to a young stargazer’s eye. The viewer follows the photon into the girl’s eye, learning the structures of the eye and their functions, prior to taking a ride on the optic nerve. Seeing uses hemispheric 2D and 3D animations and video to teach how human vision works.
Sky Wars: Battles of Discovery (4th-8th grade)
Explore epic battles of change in the sky above us. Follow the struggles, as new discoveries alter our view of Earth and its place in the universe. Witness the connections, and conflicts, between
astronomy and astrology. And lastly, voyage into the galaxy to glimpse how future discoveries might start new battles about the sky above!
Spooky Space (6+ yrs)
Would you like to meet the stars of Halloween? Monsters, zombies, ghosts and their far more terrible counterparts in space? Oh yes, space has its monsters: black holes, zombie stars, and spectacular ghostly nebulae!
Stars of the Pharaohs (4th grade +)
This program highlights the amazing stellar alignments of the pyramids and other structures of the ancient world. Scientists describe and explain the life and power of the Pharaohs and their
significance on world history. Visually spectacular in high definition video!
Sunstruck (4th – 8th grades)
Travel back to the beginning of time and experience the birth of the sun. Discover how it came to support life, how it threatens life as we know it, and how its energy will one day fade away. Audiences will gain an enhanced understanding of the Sun and how it impacts the world.
The Dark Matter Mystery (9th-12th grades)
Today, we know that approximately a quarter of the universe is filled with mysterious glue: Dark Matter. We know it is out there, but have no idea what it is made up of. This planetarium show takes you on a quest of contemporary astrophysics. You will see why we know that dark matter exists and how this search is one of the most challenging and exciting searches science has to offer.
The Little Star that Could (3k-3rd grade)
This is a story about Little Star, an average yellow star in search of planets of his own to protect and warm. Along the way, he meets other stars, learns what makes each star special, and discovers that stars combine to form star clusters and galaxies. Eventually, Little Star finds his planets and learns that being average can also be very special.
Up in the Air: Rainbows, Auroras, Meteors and More (3rd grade +)
“Up in the Air” celebrates the sky above! Join our two rollicking, rambunctious narrators—Air and Space—as they explore cool sky sights like rainbows, clouds, lightning and thunder, auroras,
meteors, and sun dogs! (Yes, sun dogs!) Get ready to be amazed by the air you breathe every day—and by everything else that’s up in the air!
Voyage to Distant Worlds (4th grade +)
A tour of the objects in our solar system from the sun out to the Kuiper belt. This show includes the latest info from various observatories and robotic space probes.
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