Astronomy Around Nebraska

The state of Nebraska has a wealth of amazing astronomy experiences. If this is your first time looking through a telescope, or if you have aspirations to pick up astronomy as a hobby, or would like to make astronomy a profession, there are resources for you here in Nebraska.

UNL Student Observatory

University of Nebraska Student Observatory telescope dome with light clouds and red sunset in the background.

UNL Student Observatory is located on the city campus in downtown Lincoln. This observatory is primarily used by UNL astronomy classes (ASTR 103, ASTR 117, ASTR 224), and hosts Open House nights for the public. The largest telescope at the Student Observatory is a 16" Meade LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain. The observatory also hosts portable telescopes, including 8" Meade's and Dobsonian telescopes.

Mueller Planetarium

Image inside of the Mueller Planetarium showing images of the constellations, the projector in the middle of the room, and the chairs.

The first planetarium in Nebraska, Ralph Mueller Planetarium, was opened in 1958. Located in the University of Nebraska State Museum – Morrill Hall, the planetarium hosts public showings on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Mueller Planetarium offers immersive fulldome shows and live programming on topics including astronomy, ecology, and physics under its 30-foot dome.

Find more information at https://museum.unl.edu/planetarium/

Hyde Observatory

Image of Hyde Observatory showing the building and surrounding sidewalks and park.

Hyde Memorial Observatory is a community-led astronomical observatory located in Lincoln, Nebraska, overlooking Holmes Lake. The observatory has multiple permanently mounted telescopes to view the stars, planets, nebulae, and more! It is open to the public on Saturday nights and is ideal for everyone, from those who have never looked through a telescope to seasoned pros.