This year (2026) we are delighted to see the emergence of a new digital projection system at the James Lockyer Planetarium, part of the Norman Lockyer Observatory. It offers 360 degree digital video projection, 4k resolution, in a 7 metre diameter dome. We were impressed (which isn’t easy) so we hope you will be too!
Come along and journey beyond the Earth’s atmosphere and immerse yourself in the cosmos!
We are hosting Wednesday-afternoon planetarium shows over the school holidays with a range of 4k full-dome digital shows from the European Southern Observatory, NoirLab, and others. Please see the table below for a list of the shows together with timings.
To find us, please click here: https://normanlockyer.com/visitor-information/finding-us/
| Date | Time | Show |
|---|---|---|
| 15th July | 2pm & 4pm | Sunstruck |
| 22nd July | 2pm & 4pm | To be confirmed. |
| 29th July | 2pm & 4pm | To be confirmed. |
| 5th August | 2pm & 4pm | To be confirmed. |
| 19th August | 2pm & 4pm | To be confirmed. |
| 26th August | 2pm & 4pm | To be confirmed. |
How it works: Our planetarium has a capacity of 30 people for full-dome digital shows.
- If up to 30 people arrive the visit will consist of a full-dome digital planetarium show (lasting 25 – 30 minutes) followed by a look at one of our historical telescopes, the Lockyer Telescope. This amazing Victorian telescope was used by Norman Lockyer to discover Helium back in 1869. This living telescope is still used today by visitors to the observatory.
- If between 30 and 60 people arrive they will be split into two groups. Both groups will get to see full-dome digital planetarium show and the historical Lockyer telescope, but not at the same time.
- If more than 60 arrive we kindly ask for your understanding that we have limited capacity. We will do what we can to accommodate you, but realistically we may ask you to come back another time, either the same day 4pm if you arrived at 2pm, or the following week.