Washburn University Physics and Astronomy

09/03/2026

Skies are forecast to be clear for our first Observatory Open House of the semester! We'll be looking at the planet Venus and various stars! Come see us any time between 8:00 and 9:30!

The Physics & Astronomy Department at Washburn University houses the Crane Observatory and a planetarium.

07/14/2026

Crane Observatory open house nights have been scheduled for the Fall 2026 semester! If it’s going to be too cloudy to see anything from the observatory, there will still be an indoor planetarium show. For more information, see www.washburn.edu/observatory

06/04/2026

Note the shout out to volunteer astronomer Brenda Culbertson Astronomer !

Read the news from the College, and find out about upcoming events, in the CAS June newsletter: https://us8.campaign-archive.com/?u=fc98bab8d24a96664851c7cd0&id=fcb7162e79

05/08/2026

Fun in Circuits and Electronics lab!

Picture 1: Washburn alumnus George Phelps (Physics and Math, '71) shares some of his circuit design projects with students

Picture 2: Physics students work on their end-of-semester circuit project

04/23/2026

Apr. 23: Because of predicted severe weather, for the safety of our volunteers and guests we will not be holding an open house or showing planetarium shows tonight. This was unfortunately our last scheduled event for the academic year. Check www.washburn.edu/observatory in early August for our Fall open house schedule!

The Physics & Astronomy Department at Washburn University houses the Crane Observatory and a planetarium.

04/09/2026

UPDATE: We're sorry, but the planetarium machine is experiencing technical difficulties, and we are not able to show the video we were planning to. If you would like to see it at home, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3kR2KK8TEs .

Because of expected clouds and rain, we will be presenting planetarium shows inside on the first floor tonight. We will be open 8:00-9:30, with the last show starting around 9:00. Tonight's show will be about the Artemis II mission. Hope to see you there!

This feed will provide continuous coverage of Artemis II mission activities with live commentary, beginning with tanking of the SLS (Space Launch System) roc...

03/26/2026

Because of expected high winds, we will be presenting planetarium shows inside on the first floor tonight. We will be open 8:00-9:30, with the last show starting around 9:10. If the wind is not too bad next to the building, we will also have a couple of the smaller telescopes outside the south doors of Stoffer near the planetarium. Hope to see you there!

03/12/2026

Because of expected high winds, we will be presenting planetarium shows inside on the first floor tonight. We will be open 8:00-9:30, with the last show starting around 9:10. Hope to see you there!

02/26/2026

Skies are forecast to be clear tonight, so we will be in the observatory! We'll be looking at the Moon, Jupiter, the Orion Nebula, and more! Come see us any time between 6:30 and 8:00!

On Thursday, Feb. 12, Crane Observatory on the fourth floor of Stoffer Hall welcomed visitors for its biweekly open house, where guests lined up from 6:30-8 p.m. to observe Jupiter...

02/12/2026

Skies are forecast to be mostly clear tonight, so we will be in the observatory! We'll be looking at Saturn, Jupiter, the Orion Nebula, and more! Come see us any time between 6:30 and 8:00!