Planetarium

Our inflatable dome runs on a professional Digistar system — the same technology used in permanent planetariums around the world. Once set up in a school hall or large classroom, it creates a fully immersive, 360° environment in which pupils can explore the solar system, travel through deep space, and learn about the science of the universe in a way that no textbook or classroom presentation can replicate.

Sessions are delivered by trained astronomers from the Institute and are tailored to the age and prior knowledge of your group. We work with pupils from Key Stage 2 upwards, and our content can be aligned to curriculum topics including Earth and space, light, and the scale of the universe. A typical visit includes multiple sessions across a school day, allowing several classes or year groups to take part.

This is a free service, available to schools across East Anglia.

The Institute of Astronomy has been running school outreach for decades, reaching thousands of young people across the region each year. The planetarium is one of our most popular programmes, and demand is high — we are not always able to accommodate every request. We strongly encourage schools to get in touch early, and we will do our best to find a date that works.

To find out more or to register your interest, please contact us at outreach@ast.cam.ac.uk.