Science & Tech · Space · 8 hrs ago
Greenwich to open a 120-seat planetarium with advanced laser projection
The National Maritime Museum is opening a 120-seat planetarium at Greenwich’s Royal Observatory.
Its £1 million laser projector can display more stars and create the impression of travelling far beyond Earth.
The planetarium is the centrepiece of a £16 million redevelopment that also adds astronomy galleries and interactive displays.
The site explains how people used the stars and planets to navigate at sea, and includes historic instruments and a 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite visitors can touch.
Children will also be able to view the night sky during the day through remote telescopes in Australia and Hawaii.
The new centre offers a London venue focused on astronomy after the London Planetarium stopped showing conventional astronomy.
The Queen is due to open the Royal Observatory on Tuesday, and it is due to welcome the public from next Friday.
The National Maritime Museum is set to open a 120-seat planetarium at Greenwich.
Its £1 million laser projector can display more stars than earlier systems, according to museum director Roy Clare.
The projector was made by US defence contractor Evans & Sutherland and is described as only the second of its kind in the world.
The planetarium is named after major donor Peter Harrison and is part of a £16 million redevelopment of the Royal Observatory.
The Queen is due to open the new Royal Observatory on Tuesday, and it is to open to the public the following Friday.
- Who
- The National Maritime Museum is opening the planetarium. It is named after donor Peter Harrison.
- What
- A 120-seat planetarium with advanced laser projection is opening.
- When
- The Queen is due to open the new Royal Observatory on Tuesday; it is to open to the public the following Friday.
- Where
- At the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London.
- Why
- The planetarium is part of a redevelopment of the Royal Observatory and is intended to offer visitors an immersive view of space.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Astronomers began work at Greenwich because stars and planets were key to marine navigation.
The London Planetarium effectively stopped conventional astronomy.
The Queen is due to open the new Royal Observatory.
The new Royal Observatory is due to open to the public.
- Planetarium capacity
- 120 seats
- Laser projector cost
- £1 million
- Projector maker
- Evans & Sutherland, a US defence contractor
- Redevelopment cost
- £16 million
- Planetarium location
- Royal Observatory, Greenwich
- Major donor
- Peter Harrison
What people are saying
Because of the capacity of the laser, you can display more stars than before. You can show whole heavens.