Planetarium
Welcome to the Astrium Planetarium
"INTECH planetarium is a great thing for the area and the country"
Sir Patrick Moore
The Astrium Planetarium at INTECH Science Centre is the UK's largest capacity planetarium.
The enormous domed screen completely surrounds the audience, placing you right in the action. Relax back into a seat and get sucked into a black hole, fly through the solar system or even explore the human body. A fantastic shared experience that will have children reaching their hands up to touch the stars as they fly by.
INTECH Science Centre would like to thank SEEDA for funding the installation of this world-class facility and Astrium for generous sponsorship supporting its development and use.
What's on?
Public planetarium shows run nearly every day of the year. These include pre-recorded 360o fulldome film shows and live (presenter-led) shows on a variety of topics.
Daytimes: short term schedule (for likely future scheduling, see below)
Evenings: Saturday Night specials, during adults' After Dark evenings and on Stargazing Nights (usually Nov & Jan). There are also short planetarium shows after each Space Lecture (monthly).
Prices & booking:
The planetarium is not included in the cost of your entry ticket, allowing visitors the choice of whether to pay for this. Prices below are for non-group visitors in normal daytime showings.
If buying a general entry ticket to the Science Centre: after paying admission it is just +£2.20 per person per show. Pre-book admission + planetarium online.
Planetarium only day-time: tickets £4.75, available for shows that end at closing time (and others as shown on the schedule). Pre-book planetarium-only tickets online (25p fee).
Tickets may also be pre-booked by calling 01962 891925.
How would YOU describe the planetarium?
Find out more:
How does it work?
Planetarium technology has advanced beyond recognition in recent years. It is not just stars; now viewers can see full-screen video using a state-of-the-art digital projection system. The cinema-grade surround sound system adds to the feeling of total immersion. There is simply nothing like it.
INTECH Science Centre’s system, designed and installed by Global Immersion, relies on a bank of seven computers running six projectors arranged around the audience (hidden behind holes). There is no central projector to disrupt your view. You can see one projector clearly at the back above the desk (the large black one).
Each projector creates one part of the image. The projections fade out at the edges to blend into the neighbouring sections to give a 'seamless' appearance. The projectors are reguarly calibrated to ensure brightness/contrast/colour matching across the entire dome.
In addition to playing pre-rendered shows, UniViewTM software by SCISS allows presenters to fly visitors through a virtual universe based on actual scientific data. Each star and galaxy is accurately plotted and planets are 'wrapped' in real images from spacecraft wherever possible. Nothing is pre-recorded, everything is rendered in real-time, making each show unique.
The presenter can set time and date to show objects in the correct locations/orientations for the time of the show and then pilot a seamless flight from our Earth around the solar system and out to the edge of the visible universe, bringing in labels or markers as required, or speeding up or slowing down time to demonstrate the movement of objects.
Schedule:
Check out the show schedule for the short-term confirmd schedule. If planning further ahead, this is how the schedule is likely to look:
School days:
The planetarium is usually busy with school groups until lunchtime.
There is usually a public show at 2pm and often another at 3:30pm.
Rarely, a school day will have no scheduled shows. See the bottom of the show schedule for known future dates. These will be due to special/private events or to allow maintenance of the facility.
Weekends/holidays:
Shows run every day except at Christmas (24-26 Dec) when INTECH Science Centre is closed.
There are usually at least four different shows on the schedule to suit all ages. Start times are usually 10:40am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm and 4:30pm. There are also now special weekend live shows which run for around an hour include Q&A.
Occasionally, one or two showings may be replaced by other special events. These dates are advertised as early as possible in the events calendar. Extra shows may be added on days with extended opening hours.
IMPORTANT: NO LATE ENTRY TO PLANETARIUM! Please be ready with your ticket at least 5 minutes before the advertised showtime
Bringing children:
Children under 14yrs: must be accompanied by an adult.
Children under 5yrs: The planetarium is not recommended for children under 5yrs due to darkness and powerful images/sounds. The experience can be rather overwhelming for some, or for others so exciting that the children can't help but call out! However, the Science Centre understands it can be difficult to split family groups so does not restrict entry for this reason. Be aware that you will be asked to leave if your child is disruptive. You might like to come to one of our "Chatterbox Monday" shows where chatting and calling out is allowed.
Children under 3yrs: free entry if you are happy for them to sit on your lap. However, please think hard before bringing such young children in as they will need to sit still and quietly through the show which is clearly not natural behaviour for most toddlers!
Accessibility:
Mobility
There are six spaces for wheelchair users at the back with great views of the screen. Mobility scooters can be driven straight in through the main entrance. Adjacent seats are available for family and friends, or for anyone else preferring same-level access.
The seating is raked, with wide and broad steps down to the front. Seats at the back of the planetarium sit almost upright, while those at the front lean back. They all have head-rests and flip-up seats. Some seats (not level access) have space for a single leg to be extended at an angle, please let us know when booking if you would like us to reserve one of these for you.
Planetarium seats are 51cm wide, constricted to 46.5cm by the arm-rests. We can provide padded office chairs (40cm wide, no arm-rests) in the wheelchair spaces upon request; please ask when booking.
Hearing
The planetarium has a hearing loop, requiring the T setting.
The Science Centre regrets that written scripts are not provided for the shows as it would be too dark to read them inside the planetarium and torches would be very distracting for other audience members.
Subtitled/BSL shows available on demand to groups and schools:
- Astronaut can be screened with summarised subtitles projected over the show
- Flight Through the Universe can be run as an adapted version with subtitles and/or BSL
- We can also accomodate (or arrange) sign-language interpreters on request: please ask when booking.
Autism
There is a social story for autistic school visitors to INTECH Science Centre, which includes images of the exhibition and planetarium, available for download here. You may also like to use our online planetarium tour to explore the space.
Epilepsy / other
The shows "Astronaut" and "We are Astronomers" have scenes containing flashing lights which may affect those with light-sensitive epilepsy.
If you have a balance/neurological condition (eg vertigo, MS), please be warned that motion on the giant screen may make you feel disorientated and uncomfortable.
If you would like to see the theatre space in advance to orient yourself or others then this can be done online in our planetarium tour.
If there's any other information you would like to see in this section, please contact us.
The future:
INTECH Science Centre are busy planning more events to cater for different audiences in the planetarium. Please sign up for the newsletter to receive the most up to date information by emailing andylane@intech-uk.com
The Astrium Planetarium is a fantastic resource for all of Hampshire and, as an immersive environment, can be used for music, theatre and many other events. It will also continue to be used as an auditorium for science shows and corporate events, as the seats can be adjusted to sit upright.
If you are interested in being involved with the planetarium, for instance by volunteering to help at events, please contact