Save the LHS Planetarium

06/19/2026

An update to the followers of Save the LHS Planetarium.

The good news first, the Friends of the Peters Planetarium group sucessfully arranged for and transported the planetarium on May 13th to a secure Hocking College location. Thanks to the facility teams at LHS and Hocking College helping the Friends at both ends of the transport. The planetarium and related equipment is in excellent shape after the move. The next phase is securing funding to renovate the building to house the updated planetarium.

Which leads to the bad news. The request for state capital budget funding this year was not approved for Hocking College building renovation earlier this month. An email from State Senator Tim Schaffer's staff explained what happened...
.."Senator Schaffer advocated for this project as part of his submission for this year’s state capital budget. Unfortunately, it is a highly competitive process to receive state capital funding and I can’t give you a definitive reason why this project wasn’t funded as Senator Schaffer does not make that final determination. However, we can certainly keep this project in mind for any upcoming funding opportunities that may become available such at next year’s state operating budget"...

In the months ahead the Friends along with the Hocking College administration will pursue other financing avenues via grants both public and private.

It is the Friends intention to continue the work started by the late Roger Grossenbacher to complete this project. The planetarium has been saved, it's new home at Hocking College has been secured, the challedge ahead is to get the funding needed to house the planetarium in it's new home.

Thanks to all who follow this page and to those who have donated to the Peters Palnetarium Fund already thank you doubly.

Send a message to learn more

04/08/2026

The next telescope night at Alley Park is scheduled for 8pm Friday, April 17. If the skies are not clear, there will be a vigil for Roger Grossenbacher, LHS science teacher and planetarium director. It will be open to the public and will probably start about 7-7:30.

Check Lancaster Parks event schedule for updates..

04/06/2026

What heavy heart The Friends of the Peters Planetarium have for the recent passing of Roger Grossenbacher, unofficial planetarium emeritus of the Peters Planetarium. Starting in 1971, Roger began his carreer at Lancaster High School teaching science and soon directing planetarium programs. His support of the planetarium over the years both while teaching and later as a private citizen was truly anazing. Please see his obituary and link below.

Also, consider donating to the Peters Planetarium Preservation Fund at: https://fairfieldcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2815

Roger W. Grossenbacher
March 3, 1939 — March 26, 2026
Lancaster
Roger W. Grossenbacher, 87, of Lancaster, Ohio, passed away on March 26, 2026. Born in Lodi, Ohio, he was the son of the late Woodrow and Frieda Grossenbacher.

Roger lived a life defined by boundless curiosity, a deep love of the natural world, and an unwavering commitment to sharing knowledge with anyone willing to learn. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Physics and Math from Case Western Reserve University, laying the foundation for a career devoted to education and discovery.

During his studies at Case Western, Roger worked at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Greenbank, West Virginia. Later, he worked at the Van Vleck Observatory in Middletown, Connecticut and on Mauna Kea in Hilo, Hawaii. Roger went on to become a beloved teacher, coach (In the Know and Science Olympiad), and Planetarium Director at Lancaster High School, where he spent decades inspiring young minds and nurturing a lasting sense of wonder in his students. Along the way, Roger was recognized as a Jennings Scholar for his outstanding teaching.

His hobbies and interests were vast: painting, drawing, photography, enjoying bluegrass and classical music, watching Cleveland baseball and basketball, geology, botany, entomology, travel, camping, hiking, climbing, carpentry, model-building, and aviation. Always active, Roger was devoted to volunteering in the community through the Boy Scouts of America, Habitat for Humanity, Lancaster Parks and Recreation, and Columbus Metro Parks. He led the effort to have signs installed recognizing the Grace Ray Moon Arboretum at Lancaster High School.

Roger is survived by his loving wife, Sally; his son, John (Angie), and his grandsons, Elliott and Alexander of Galena, Ohio.

Family and friends may visit Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 2:00 - 4:00 and 6:00 - 8:00 in the Frank E. Smith Funeral Home, 405 N. Columbus St. Lancaster, OH 43130. A private family service will be held at a later date. Caring Cremation® has taken place.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice, FAIRHOPE Hospice and Palliative Care (fairhopehospice.org), or Lancaster Parks and Recreation.

To send an online condolence, and sign the guest book, please visit www.funeralhome.com.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Roger W. Grossenbacher, please visit our flower store.

https://www.funeralhome.com/obituaries/roger-grossenbacher

View Roger W. Grossenbacher's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

02/21/2026

******************* Planetarium Update ****************************

Followers of the Peters Planetarium,

Hope all is well with each of you so far in 2026, particularly after the harsh weather the past few weeks. The Friends of the Peters Planetarium committee continues to work diligently assisting Hocking College to secure funding for the move and reconstruction of the space to house the upgraded planetarium. Currently the Fairfield Foundation holds over $210,000 in donations in The Peters Planetarium Preservation Fund. To each and every one of you that have contributed to the fund, THANK YOU!

Lancaster City Schools has committed to pay for the professional disassembly of the planetarium which will happen soon after the classes are over this year, likely sometime in May. Thanks to Nathan Hale and the LCS business office for partnering so willing with us in the planned hand off to Hocking College.

Donations secured to date will most likely cover the reassembly of the existing star projector and dome with upgrades to sound, lighting, computer controls and the addition of digital projection. Monies are needed, however, for reconstruction of the space at Hocking to accommodate the planetarium. The estimated cost of reconstruction is in the neighborhood of $900,000. Hocking College with help from the Friends is working on an application to be filed with the Ohio legislature requesting funds from the upcoming biennial capital budget. The application dead line is March 12th.

The Friends have already received written letters of support from individuals, organizations and businesses in the area. The Friends are reaching out to you, our Facebook followers, to consider contacting via email or letter asking state legislators closely aligned both personally and geographically with the project for their support. Contact information below are for those Senators and House members whose constituents will be most positively impacted having this educational resource in their area.

Thank You!

Ohio Senate Contacts

Tim Schaffer, District 20 (Includes Fairfield County where planetarium currently resides)
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
First Floor 137
Columbus, OH 43215
614-466-8076
https://ohiosenate.gov/members/tim-schaffer/contact

Brian Chavez, District 30 (Includes Athens County where planetarium is to reside)
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor 034
Columbus, OH 43215
614-466-6508
https://ohiosenate.gov/members/brian-m-chavez/contact

Shane Wilkin, District 17 (Includes Hocking and adjacent counties)
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Second Floor 221
Columbus, OH 43215
614-466-8156
https://ohiosenate.gov/members/shane-wilkin/contact

Ohio House Contacts

Jeff LaRe, District 73 (Includes part of Fairfield and adjacent counties)
77 South High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614-466-8100
https://ohiohouse.gov/members/jeff-lare/contact

Kevin Miller, District 69 (Includes part of Fairfield and adjacent counties)
77 South High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614-466-2500
https://ohiohouse.gov/members/kevin-d-miller/contact

Mark Johnson, District 92 (Includes part of Hocking and adjacent counties)
77 South High Street
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614-644-7928
https://ohiohouse.gov/members/mark-johnson/contact

Kevin Ritter, District 94 (Includes part of Athens County where planetarium will reside)
77 South High Street
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614-466-2158
https://ohiohouse.gov/members/kevin-ritter/contact

12/02/2025

Lancaster Friends and Neighbors,

Please consider giving to the Fairfield Foundation Peters Planetarium Preservation Fund, December 2, 8:00AM - December 3, 8:00PM.

Smaller contributions are no less valuable, and we thank you for your gift, no matter the size. All donations go directly to the relocation and renovation of the planetarium and programming.

Thank you!

Friends of the Peters Planetarium contacts:

Ed Shrider: 740-243-1221, [email protected]
Penny Wasem: 740-653-6339, [email protected]