Ever wanted to see the stars and realised that it's rarely the right time? Cloud, rain, sleet and snow can hamper our efforts as observers. Planetariums offer a brilliant and entertaining option to learn about the night sky.
The newest and most technically advanced Planetarium in Hampshire is at the WSC Science Centre near Winchester, Hampshire. Open from 10am to 4pm daily, their 150 seat, 17 metre dome offers spectacular vistas in better than high-definition, with clarity that is unlike anything you have seen before. Quite simply, it's one of the most advanced in the UK. Dr Jenny Shipway's tour of the night sky is a wonder to behold.
To the east just across the Sussex border in Chichester is the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium. With a 10 metre dome and 100 seats (from a Jumbo Jet so it's super comfy!) Dr John Mason and his team can expertly guide you across the night sky. Their shows are mesmerising and the building itself is packed full of space and astronomical equipment. Situated within the grounds of Kingsham High School (download map) it's well worth a visit on a regular basis.
Now, drive to the depths of Dorset on the coast, just before Sidmouth you will find the The Norman Lockyer Observatory. Steeped in history, this site celebrates British engineering on a huge scale. With an active observing and radio astronomy group, their observatory is a great asset and worth a visit on one of their Public Open Days.Visit their site for more details.
Head to Greenwich, London and visit the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, arguably the mecca for the amateur astronomer. As part of a £17.7M upgrade, the new Peter Harrison Planetarium also uses the latest digital projection system in their 120 seat, futuristic looking building.
Other Places...
Herstmonceux Observatory, near Hailsham East Sussex has 5 domes and runs the annual Astronomy Festival in September. Boasting an array of large telescopes and lots of activities, it's a great day out for the family .
The Science Museum, London has a fantastic Space exhibition and is free to enter. The history of Spaceflight and its endeavours are presented throughout its maze of galleries and are a great insight. The on-site 3D IMAX cinema is worth a visit too, especially the Moonbase movie, it's out of this world!
For more details of places to go and what's on, then please check out the events page or download the latest copy of our free AstroSouth Directory .
