Opened in 2019, the Winn Science Center Planetarium cements St. Mark’s legacy as a national leader in science education.

This 78-seat Planetarium is equipped with a pair of 4K LED projectors that light up a 35-foot dome, while 5.1 surround sound truly immerses the audience. From intergalactic exploration to tours of the human body, the Planetarium is an interactive tool that helps teachers across campus inspire their students. 

Custom software allows Planetarium Director Dr. Michael Lane to tailor presentations to the needs of individual classes and age levels, as well as produce shows enjoyed by the entire community. As Dr. Lane takes visitors on a tour of the night sky, he teaches them to identify constellations and explains their rich history and mythology.

“The Planetarium overfills the senses and lets us teach the material in a way that is completely different from a classroom setting,” said Dr. Lane, who also holds the Leonard N. “Doc” Nelson Alumni Master Teaching Chair.  

Beyond astronomy, St. Mark’s educators use the Planetarium to teach human anatomy, Earth science, history, and even literature.

Saturday, April 19, at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

Learn how endangered species around the globe are being saved from extinction in this stunning film made specially for the dome and narrated by Claire Danes. Dr. Lane will also use the planetarium to take audiences on a guided tour of the universe. 

The St. Mark’s Planetarium regularly hosts shows for local schools, scout troops, and other interested groups.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact Planetarium Director Dr. Michael Lane at LaneM@smtexas.org or 214-346-8165.

In the 1960s, St. Mark’s rose to national prominence with the opening of the McDermott-Green Math Science Quadrangle. The building prompted TIME magazine to name St. Mark’s “the best equipped day school in the country.” A domed observatory, visible to drivers on Preston Road, inspired generations of students to explore St. Mark’s and ignite their curiosity. 

One of those students was Dr. Alan Stern ’75, who was inspired to pursue a career at NASA and went on to lead New Horizons, the first spacecraft to explore Pluto in 2015.

Another student was Steve Winn ’64, who recalled, “I saw the telescope and I wanted to go to this School more than anything else I could think of.”

The Winn Family helped St. Mark’s envision the next generation of science education, culminating in the opening of the Winn Science Center and renovation of the McDermott-Green Science Building in 2019. Since then, the St. Mark’s Planetarium has hosted hundreds of shows for thousands of students, alumni, parents, and visitors.

In 2024, the Planetarium helped students prepare for the historic total solar eclipse that passed directly over Dallas. The Planetarium also hosted special alumni shows, as graduates returned to view the eclipse on campus and fulfill a pledge to their former science teacher.