Planetarium Nights

In the beginning of the 17th century, the invention of the telescope by Galileo revolutionised our knowledge of the Universe. In the 20th century with the advent of rockets, it became possible to go above the earth’s atmosphere and observe X-ray and gamma ray radiation which are the marks of the hot and violent Universe. Neutrinos and cosmic rays also provide vital information. Finally, the detection by the LIGO experiment of gravitational waves from two merging black holes opened a new window in astrophysics. This film presents images of the cosmos as revealed by all these different messengers.

Plus What’s in the Sky Tonight (WITST), a presenter-led tour through the night sky.

Pink Floyd’s iconic album ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’, originally released in March 1973, turned 50, and what more fitting a place to celebrate it and experience it than in a Planetarium, through the music set to visuals. With the help of modern technology, the idea of a show combining breath-taking views of the solar system and beyond, played out to 42 minutes of The Dark Side of the Moon in surround sound, has been embraced by the band. NSC Creative have led the visual production efforts, working closely with Pink Floyd’s long time creative collaborator Aubrey Powell from Hipgnosis. 

Each song has a different theme; some futuristically looking forward and some a retro acknowledgment to Pink Floyd’s visual history, all relating to a time and space experience, embracing up to the minute technology that only a Planetarium can offer. A truly immersive and all-encompassing surround sound and visual treat that will transcend reality and take you way beyond the realms of 2D experience. 

In Big Astronomy, journey to three world-class observatories in Chile’s rugged Andes Mountains and arid Atacama Desert – remote, extreme regions that happen to have the perfect conditions for astronomical research. Along the way, you’ll meet an inspiring cast of astronomers, engineers, technicians and support staff who keep these mega-machines running.

Plus What’s in the Sky Tonight (WITST), a presenter-led tour through the night sky.

Do maths have a colour? Do they have a sound? Media-artist Rocco Helmchen and composer Johannes Kraas try to answer these questions in their latest fulldome edutainment show Chaos and Order – A Mathematic Symphony.  The show captivates audiences by taking them on a journey into a fascinating world of sensuous, ever-evolving images and symphonic-electronic music.