The University of Toledo

About Us

Ritter Planetarium is a 40-foot domed auditorium that seats 92. It has a Spitz A3P' central star projector capable of reproducing the sky as seen from anywhere on the Earth at any time. The star projector (below) is also capable of speeding up time to show how the sky changes through the course of a night, week, month, or year. It is ideal for displaying and pointing out constellations and the Sun, Moon, and planets; and for giving the feeling of the Earth moving through space. It includes many auxiliary projectors and other devices designed to illustrate various astronomical phenomena and events.  Ritter Planetarium also recently installed a brand new lighting system.

Outside the planetarium is a lobby with several displays, many of them interactive. These displays are fun and educational for all ages. The planetarium also houses Discovery Corner, our gift shop. Here you can purchase various educational toys and other items. Ritter Planetarium also hosts other events for the public,  such as a 2006 lecture and book signing by author Dava Sobel. 

Brooks Observatory, located atop McMaster Hall on the University of Toledo campus, houses several refracting and reflecting telescopes for viewing the heavens. McMaster Hall also houses a solar telescope for viewing sunspots and other solar phenomena.