The OSU Planetarium receives partial support from the Department of Astronomy to provide for its use in courses taught to OSU students, as well as helping with maintenance and supporting some of our public education and outreach as part of the land-grant mission of the Ohio State University.
Additional funding for the Planetarium comes from a small endowment established by the late Professor Walter E. Mitchell Jr. who was a Professor of Astronomy at Ohio State from 1957 until his retirement in 1991. This fund honors the many contributions of Prof. Mitchell who was one of the original founders of the original OSU Planetarium in the 1960s, and who led its activities for many years.
You can contribute to the OSU planetarium's continuing public education and outreach activities in a number of ways.
Make a Gift to the Astronomy Planetarium Fund
Your unrestricted, tax-deductable gift to the Astronomy Planetarium Fund helps support our public education and outreach activities in the Central Ohio community. Past gifts to the Astronomy Planetarium Fund have helped fund the planetarium renovation, help pay for training for graduate students, and the development of new programs for schools, scouting, and community groups.
Give a Gift to the Astronomy Planetarium Fund
Become a Friend of the Planetarium
With the completion of our renovation we are developing a new way for you to support our educational activities by becoming a Friend of the OSU Planetarium. More details and a link to a giving site will be posted here once the Friends fund has been approved.
Become a Founder of the Planetarium
We invite you to join the new Planetarium Founders Society – an exclusive recognition society with great benefits – to support Ohio State University’s Department of Astronomy and have an incredible opportunity to see the kind of star shows you may not have realized are possible with modern digital technology. This program is available for a limited time only. Founders Society members are those Friends who contribute $1500 or more to support the Planetarium.
Become a member of the Planetarium Founders Society