Our mobile planetarium is an immersive educational experience.
Using state-of-the-art digital technology and an inflatable dome, your pupils can immerse themselves in a planetarium experience without stepping outside their school!
- Inflatable 5 metre dome
- 360 degree projection
- Interactive, high-quality, presenter-led shows
- Sessions are available for EYFS - Key Stage 3.
- Up to 30 children per show
- Wheelchair accessible
- Half or full day options
What is a mobile planetarium?
Our mobile planetarium is a portable dome that is inflated by an electric fan and has images and videos of stars, space and planets projected onto it by a 360 degree projector. It can be transported to different venues to teach about space and inspire. It is a truly immersive educational experience – you will feel like you are actually in space!
Watch our short video introducing you to our mobile planetarium:
Image gallery
About our sessions
We offer a range of fun, interactive, presenter-led sessions aimed at different stages of learning from EYFS through to KS3 in which we explore the night sky, the solar system and beyond.
Accessible sessions
We also offer accessible sessions tailored to specific audiences:
- ‘Audio Universe, Tour of the Solar System’ is a pre-recorded show which is aimed at audiences with visual impairments but accessible to everyone regardless of their level of vision.
- ‘Sensory Space’ is a calming sensory experience aimed at SEND schools or groups where moving images of space and the northern lights are accompanied by soothing music.
We strive to be inclusive of all audiences and take this into account when presenting all of our shows. Adjustments we can offer include:
- a social story
- low lighting (as opposed to pitch dark)
- lower volume of sound
- explanations of what is about to happen step-by-step in clear, literal language
- a “peek inside” the planetarium before entering
- any other reasonable adjustments your students might need that we are able to provide
A learning officer will arrive at your school approximately one hour before the start of the first show to set up the planetarium. When classes arrive at the planetarium, there will be a short safety briefing where everything will be explained clearly before entering the planetarium and enjoying a wonderful educational experience they will remember for years to come.
Useful information
- Availability: Our planetarium is available to hire on Tuesdays. From 9.30am – 3pm (including a 30 minute break for lunch). These times may be slightly different for schools that are further away to account for additional travel time.
- Planetarium dome size: Approximately 3.1 metres high and 5 metres in diameter. This fits into most school halls or gyms.
- Areas: We cover a radius of approximately 40 miles or 1 hour drive time from B4 7XG.
The mobile planetarium has been fully risk assessed and our risk assessment will be provided upon booking.
We also have an social story available to help prepare your pupils for our visit.
Costs
| Description | Half day | Full day | One extra show |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schools | £340 | £450 | £75 |
| Birmingham LEA schools with more than 50% free school meals | £300 | £395 | £66 |
FAQs
How does the mobile planetarium work?
The dome is stored in a large bag and then unrolled in your venue. It is inflated by a large electric fan. The air pressure inside holds its shape and gravity (its weight) holds it down! The dome is made from a thick material which is designed to create a dark environment and a surface to be projected on and when you are inside the planetarium you feel like you are really in space. A portable computer and 360 projector unit projects the images and video onto the dome.
You can watch our short video on setting up the planetarium dome.
How do we get out of the planetarium in an emergency?
The dome can be flipped down in seconds, allowing participants to exit quickly.
You can see this in our short video on inflating and deflating the dome.
Is the planetarium wheelchair accessible?
Yes! Wheelchairs can be accommodated by lifting up the side of the dome as there is no floor and it is not attached to the floor of the venue.
Which days are the mobile planetarium shows available on?
Tuesdays.
How many shows can you deliver in a day?
Space Explorers, Astronomy Explorers and Audio Universe: Maximum 5 shows.
Night Explorers, Sky Explorers: Maximum 6 shows.
Can we have shows back-to-back?
We leave a 15 minute buffer time between shows to allow for getting classes in and out of the dome and a health and safety talk before entering the dome.
What time can the first show start?
The fist show starts at 9.30am.
What is the latest time that the last show can start (or end)?
The final show will need to start at 2.15pm at the latest to allow time for packing away and travel.
Can you deflate the dome at lunch time?
Yes, the dome can be packed away at lunch if necessary.
Please be aware that time will need to be allowed for packing away and setting up again after lunch once the space has been cleared. Please also account for time needed for lunchtime staff to set up and put away lunchtime equipment.
How long does the mobile planetarium take to set-up and pack away?
- Initial set-up: 1 hour
- Final pack away: 30 minutes
- Pack away after lunch: 15 minutes
- Set-up after lunch: 30 minutes
Do our staff have DBS/CRB checks?
Yes, all of our staff have DBS checks and will bring photo ID and their DBS number with them.
Which areas can you travel to?
We can travel to most locations within roughly 1 hour’s travel time of Thinktank(approximately 40 miles). This includes most of the West Midlands and some parts of Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire.
If you are unsure whether we cover your area, get in touch with our bookings team on educationbookings@birminghammuseums.org.uk
Can the mobile planetarium be used outdoors?
The mobile planetarium is for indoor use only – the lightweight nature of the fabric and the fact that it is not attached to the floor means that there is a risk of it blowing away or being damaged by weather.
What are the requirements for the space that is used for the mobile planetarium?
- An indoor venue with a mains power outlet.
- The planetarium is 5 metres in diameter and 3.1 metres high, so please measure your space to ensure that this will fit without hitting hanging lights or fixtures.
- The planetarium equipment is very heavy and must be transported on a trolley, so the space needs to have flat entry or be wheelchair accessible.
- Please provide a room that can be used for the sole purpose of outreach sessions (no other sessions/activities to be going on in the same space due to sound levels).
How many people can the dome accommodate?
- Primary school bookings: 32 people (including pupils and teachers).
- Secondary school bookings: 25 people (including pupils and teachers).