Buehler Planetarium Now Open
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.