Buehler Planetarium at Broward College
The Buehler Planetarium and Observatory
The cosmos is just the beginning!
Buehler Planetarium Announces Grand Reopening
Following a closure initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Buehler Planetarium and Observatory is pleased to resume public operations this April. The facility has undergone significant technological enhancements, made possible through generous grants from the Community Foundation of Broward and the Buehler Trust. The planetarium will continue to serve Broward College students while expanding its public outreach to include diverse programming for all ages, including specialized children’s shows and evening celestial observations.
Introducing our new director
Mark Bennett
Mark Bennett began his journey in the early 1980s as a workshop student at the Buehler Planetarium. In 1983, he accepted the role of Assistant Director at the Buzz Aldrin Planetarium within the West Palm Beach Science Museum. During his tenure there, he developed and presented live educational programs for schools and the public, while also managing the Gibbson Observatory.
In 1988, Mark joined the Miami Space Transit Planetarium at the invitation of its longtime Executive Director, Jack Horkheimer. Starting as Planetarium Production Coordinator, he went on to serve in multiple leadership roles over the next 37 years, including Operations Manager, Technical Director, Director of the Weintraub Observatory, and Director of Box Office Operations.
As Director of the Weintraub Observatory, Mark led an astronomy mentoring initiative as part of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Advanced Academic Internship Program. Through this program, students assisted in operating the observatory’s telescopes during public viewing sessions.
In 2005, Mark began overseeing the design and construction of the new Frost Science Museum campus, managing all aspects of the planetarium and box office build-out and system testing. The Frost Science Museum officially opened its doors in downtown Miami in May 2017. After 37 years at the Miami Planetarium, Mark is honored to join Broward College in 2026 as Director of the Buehler Planetarium.
Upcoming Events
See Campus Calendar
History of the Buehler Planetarium
Since its debut in 1966, the
Buehler Planetarium
has evolved from a local star-gazing site into a cutting-edge hub for astronomical education. Established through the generosity of Emil Buehler, the facility originally focused on school programs and hand-crafted lectures featuring manually operated projectors and custom special effects.
Here is a look at the planetarium’s journey through the decades:
In the Beginning: The 1960s
The Buehler Planetarium opened its doors to the public in 1966 with a specially modified Spitz A3P Star Projector. It projected 2,000 stars onto Buehler’s dome ceiling, 750 more than a normal model, and cutting-edge technology for its time. The inaugural director, Dr. Joel Martin, worked with Mr. Buehler and Mr. Spitz to design a unique teaching planetarium.
The 1970s
A new form of entertainment came to the planetarium in the form of light shows performed by a company called “Eye See The Light Show." This provided a balance in programming between education and entertainment with many attending both on the same night. A larger variety of educational programs and nights of public telescopic viewing and quest lectures.
The 1980s
A period of massive growth. While undergoing a total renovation in 1985, the facility utilized a portable planetarium to keep serving students. By 1988, it became home to the
Zeiss M1015 mechanical projector
(one of only three in the U.S.) and a state-of-the-art
Sky-Skan automation system
The 2000s
The facility expanded its reach by opening the
Buehler Observatory
in 2002, providing the public with guided access to high-powered telescopes. In 2005, the transition to digital projection began.
Modern Day
Today, the planetarium boasts
4K laser projection
and Digital Sky Dark Matter software, ensuring visuals are powered by real-time internet data and showing hundreds of thousands of stars and galaxies on the dome.
Where to find us
Buehler Planetarium
Broward College - Central Campus
3501 Davie Road, Davie, FL 33314
954.201.6681
planetarium@broward.edu
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