#KnowTheO: The Mallory Kountze Planetarium

The Mallory Kountze Planetarium currently has no public or private shows until further notice. Please stay tuned for updates on future public and private shows.

The Mallory Kountze Planetarium at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has been offering sky gazers a glimpse of the great unknown since 1987. As a major component of the $14.5 million construction of the Durham Science Center, which was designed by HDR and built by Peter Kiewit Sons, Inc., the 50-seat planetarium has entertained and educated people of all ages for more than 30 years.

Though the planetarium is currently closed for public showings due to COVID-19, it normally sees about 10,000 paid guests through public and private programs each year. Schools often bring buses of children from across Omaha, and sometimes as far away as Missouri, to check out the planetarium’s educational and entertaining shows.

Quick Facts About the Planetarium

• The planetarium features a 33-foot aluminum dome.

• The Spitz 512 Star Projector has 2300 accurately-drilled holes, each representing a particular star.

• In 2005 it was upgraded to include a mostly full-dome video system that enables a big screen, immersive, virtual environment.

• New programming can be downloaded from anywhere in the world in just minutes.

• The planetarium also doubles as a "smart classroom" for UNO physics students