Those all-familiar words, “Space… the final frontier” come to mind as we step through the doors of Brisbane City Council’s Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium. Located at the foothills of Mount Coot-tha, in Brisbane’s Botanic Gardens, Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is the place to come to further your interest in space, the stars, the universe, and all things astronomy.
Renowned as being the home to the Cosmic Skydome – a 12.5-metre-diaemeter projection dome, the Planetarium also has a range of astronomy programs and fascinating displays.
Entry to Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is free. Yet, you’ll need to purchase your tickets for shows in the Cosmic Skydome.
With the exception of the observatory, all areas are wheelchair and pram accessible.
Cosmic Skydome a major drawcard
Many visitors to the Planetarium say a highlight is attending a show in the Cosmic Skydome. It’s a large circular theatre that allows audiences to lie back on reclined theatre seats to watch shows. The shows are projected by the state-of-the-art optical star projector onto the domed ceiling, which means you have a 180-degree view of the action, the night sky and space.
There are entertaining and informative shows for adults and children alike. These shows are often full-dome, immersive presentations, and finish with a guided tour of the Brisbane sky, when the astronomer points out the planets, stars and constellations you can see at night.
Children’s shows at the Planetarium
Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium has several shows suitable for children. For children aged five years and younger, check out:
These shows go for around 35 minutes.
If you have children aged older than five, there are other shows to enjoy, including:
- Cosmic Collisions
- Dark Universe
- Edge of Darkness
- Passport to the Universe
- Astronomy Live
- We Are Aliens!
- Worlds Beyond Earth
The general audience shows run for roughly 45 minutes.
Bookings are required for all Cosmic Skydome shows, and it’s best to book online to avoid disappointment.
Go on an astronomical journey
The Display Zone at Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium has two distinct areas. The Foyer, located at the front of the building, features interesting displays and artefacts. Marvel at scaled spacecraft models, fragments of asteroids and the old Zeiss star projector.
Perhaps of greatest interest for kids is the replica of United States astronaut, Neil Armstrong’s Apollo spacesuit.
Kids are always in aw of the replica of Neil Armstrong’s Apollo spacesuit. Source: Supplied
Wrapping around the perimeter of the Cosmic Skydome is the Gallery. It leads you through the Solar System and is certainly the place to be to explore the many wonders of the Universe!
You’ll see star formations in the Milky Way, external galaxies and ultimately the Big Bang. The images and descriptions are quite detailed and colourful. Kids will be engaged by the interactive touchscreen displays and a mini theatre showing short feature films.
They will also enjoy the section comparing modern telescopes with ancient instruments, like stone circles and astrolabes.
The Planetarium’s Display Zone is also home to Skylore: Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Astronomy. This exhibit features images and information from some of Australia’s leading First Nations Elders, who are sharing their star knowledge for the first time.
Dr Duane Hamacher is responsible for sourcing and curating the exhibition. He worked closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We are reminded while viewing this exhibition that First Nations People have been using the stars for tens of thousands of years. The sky is a map of wisdom and knowledge, the information of which is passing to younger generations.
Getting a closer look at the night sky
If you’re wanting a closer look at Brisbane’s night sky, consider joining Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium’s astronomers for a glimpse into the world of astronomy. It’s fascinating!
What you see depends on the month of the year, the weather and the Moon’s movements. Often you’ll see the Moon, planets and star clusters.
You can book a night tour on selected Saturday nights. They are subject to weather conditions, object positions and the time of year.
Who is Sir Thomas Brisbane?
Sir Thomas Brisbane was a keen astronomer, born and raised in Scotland. He studied astronomy and mathematics in Edinburgh. Sir Thomas was a distinguished officer in the British Army; he rose to the ranks of Major-General and served under the Duke of Wellington. He lead brigades in major conflicts in the early-1800s.
On Welington’s advice, in 1821, Sir Thomas became the Governor of New South Wales. He pursued his love of astronomy and built the first Australian observatory at Paramatta.
Sir Thomas launched a search for a new convict settlement site in 1823, which was named after him and is what we know to be the city of Brisbane today.
He returned to Scotland in 1825, continuing his love for astronomy and science, and did valuable astronomical research. He died in 1860.
Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am-4 pm, and Monday, 9 am-4 pm on Queensland school holidays. It is closed on all public holidays. General admission is free. Charges apply for the Cosmic Skydome shows.
Helpful links:
Things to do with kids in Brisbane
Free kids activities
What’s on for kids in Brisbane
School holiday activities in Brisbane
Vacation Care in Brisbane
