The planetarium was constructed at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1975. After the construction and installation of the Viewlex planetarium with the Minolta star projector, Paul R. Engle was appointed director of planetarium. The facility included a 17-inch heliostat to project an image of the sun on the dome. In 1979, Engle acquired tenure as a faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and later retired in 1990.
Since its opening in 1975 through the early 1990s, more than a half million people attended the planetarium. More than 50,000 people attended planetarium shows during the year of Halley’s comet. By 1986, the UA Little Rock planetarium was established as an integral part of the community in Arkansas.
Revitalization
The planetarium was closed for more than 20 years, but thanks to the excitement of the 2024 total solar eclipse, which brought thousands to UA Little Rock’s campus, people began talking about the observatory and planetarium again.
“It all started with the solar eclipse,” said Dr. Greg Guisbiers, associate professor of physics and astronomy. “I got a grant from the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium to purchase nearly 60 telescopes for members of the campus community and the public to celebrate the event and experience the wonder of the solar eclipse. I saw the momentum and excitement that was caused by the event. A lot of people were showing a renewed interest in space and astronomy. I thought it was a good idea to get the observatory reopened.”
After more than a decade of inactivity, the observatory was reopened in early 2025 and phase one of the planetarium renovation was completed that summer.
The planetarium is undergoing a full renovation, including major technology upgrades, improvements to the roof and flooring, and the installation of a state-of-the-art projection system that eliminates the traditional central projector, creating unobstructed views of the dome. The renovated space will feature modern, home theater-style seating for up to 89 visitors.
Once reopened, the planetarium will serve UA Little Rock students, faculty, and staff, as well as K–12 school groups and members of the general public.
The planetarium is on target to open in Fall of 2026.