"INTECH planetarium is a great thing for the area and the country"
Sir Patrick Moore
During your visit to INTECH, come and experience the UK’s largest capacity planetarium. Our enormous tilted dome screen completely surrounds you, placing you right in the action. Relax back into your reclined seat and fly through the solar system, visit a black hole, or find out what you can see in the sky tonight. Both pre-recorded and live shows will be shown.
Schedule for the next week (for long-term schedule see below)
Planetarium tickets are +£2 in addition to entry prices, or £4.50 as a stand-alone (last show on a weekend only), unless otherwise advertised. No pre-booking for normal shows.
For further details, see below.
We would like to thank SEEDA for funding the installation of this world-class facility.
Digital technology:
Planetarium technology has advanced beyond recognition in recent years. We can show not only the stars, but full-screen video using our state-of-the-art digital projection system. Our cinema-grade surround sound system adds to the feeling of total immersion. There is simply nothing like it.
INTECH’s system, designed and installed by Global Immersion, relies on a bank of computers running six projectors spread out around the space. These projectors have been highly calibrated and blended to produce a seamless high-contrast image across the entire dome.
In addition to playing pre-rendered shows, UniViewTM software by SCISS allows real-time flight around a universe based on actual scientific data. This allows a seamless zoom from high-resolution Earth images to the entire observed universe.
Schedule:
Check out the planetarium showtimes calendar for the next week's detailed schedule. For dates further in the future, see below:
School days
· Occasionally, there will be a school day with no shows due to special events or corporate booking of the planetarium. See calendar for known dates.
· Public show(s) to be run at 2pm (and at 11:30am if no school shows)
Weekends/holidays:
· Normal schedule is 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm & 3:30pm.
· Occasionally, one or two showings may be replaced by other special events.
We can run up to a maximum of six shows per day, and may add extra showings on the day if scheduled shows are selling out.
Hampshire school holidays: 4-17th Apr 09; 26-29 May 09; 23 Jul - 2 Sep 09.
NO LATE ENTRY TO THE PLANETARIUM - please be ready with your ticket at least 5 minutes before the advertised showtime.
Prices & booking:
Planetarium tickets: sold in addition to normal entry tickets at just +£2 per person.
Planetarium-only tickets: last show of the day, weekends only. Tickets £4.50 per person. Check out the events calendar for special events that may also have single ticket prices.
Children under 14yrs: must be accompanied by an adult.
Children under 5yrs: we don't recommend the planetarium for children under 5yrs due to darkness and powerful images/sounds. However, we understand it can be difficult to split family groups so do not prevent entry. If bringing young children into the planetarium, please show consideration for other audience members. You will be asked to leave if your child is disruptive.
Children under 3yrs: have free entry if you are happy for them to sit on your lap.
If you wish to advance book for a school or other registered group (reduced prices available), please contact Jane King on 01962 891900. For further details, see the group visit and schools pages.
Please note that we do not take individual advance bookings for the planetarium. When the venue is busy enough that the planetarium sells out, car parking would also be an issue and we have no way of ensuring parking spaces for those with booked tickets.
Accessibility:
There are six spaces for wheelchair users at the back, giving 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 preferring same-level access.
The seats at the back of the planetarium sit almost upright, while those at the front are leant back. They all have head-rests and flip-up seats.
The planetarium has a hearing loop.
We regret that we do not provide written scripts 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. We do not currently have any signed or subtitled shows but can accommodate signers for large group bookings of presenter-led shows.
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 there's any other information you would like to see in this section, please contact us.
The future:
We are busy planning more events to cater for different audiences in the planetarium.
Although initially focusing on space themes, we will be extending our program to other subjects in the future. The INTECH 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 or being a guest speaker, please contact Jenny Shipway.