Carr-Fles Planetarium

WEST MICHIGAN’S ONLY FREE, PUBLIC PLANETARIUM

The planetarium is closed for the summer and will reopen August 25, 2026

The Carr-Fles planetarium is an IMAX-style theater that projects images of the stars, planets, and constellations on a domed ceiling for use in astronomy and cosmology classes. It has 44 theater seats plus an additional 5 spaces for those who use wheelchairs, with a library of 22 programs.

In addition to college classroom use, we have an average of 4,000 community visitors a year, and we are now booking free private shows for Aug 2026 – June 2027 (Mon-Thurs). Minimum group size is 15, and we can arrange multiple shows for groups larger than 44. For reservations, contact Tamera Owens, (231) 777-0289, planetarium@muskegoncc.edu.

The planetarium opened in 1972 and was named in honor of MCC Astronomy instructor Stan Carr, who was instrumental in its original design, and Dr. Robert Fles, who served on the first Board of Trustees. A 2012 renovation brought state-of-the-art digital projection, sound, and lighting systems, a new library of shows, and a completely updated theater environment.