Impact Season runs at the Royal Observatory throughout July, exploring the exciting world of comets, asteroids, meteorites and craters through the exhibition, Impact: collisions and catastrophes, alongside a programme of events running until the end of August. Visitors can explore the skies from the comfort of the Peter Harrison Planetarium, with every show including a live element presented by a Royal Observatory astronomer. 

July also sees a series of observing events during daylight hours, using the Observatory’s impressive 28-inch telescope. This month’s Summer Science in the Planetarium talk is given by Deputy Editor of Astronomy Now magazine, Dr Emily Baldwin, who takes the helm in the planetarium for a spectacular journey around some of the most dramatic craters in the Solar System.

All events, exhibitions and planetarium shows listed here are situated in the Royal Observatory’s Astronomy Centre. Entry to the Astronomy Centre is free of charge; admission charges apply to planetarium shows and to some ticketed events – see below for details.

Exhibitions

Impact: collisions and catastrophes
From the dazzling beauty of a meteor shower to the devastating impact of a giant asteroid, the Earth is constantly bombarded by debris from space. This new exhibition uses spectacular images, film and interactive exhibits to take a look at these fiery visitors and their effects on our planet, from tiny craters to death and destruction on a global scale. It also explores the vital clues that asteroids and meteorites provide about the violent formation of the Solar System and the origins of life itself. Plus there’s the chance to see and touch real space rocks in the ROG’s astronomy galleries.

Dates: until 29 August
Venue: Astronomy Centre, Exhibition Space
Admission: free

Talks & lectures

Summer Science in the Planetarium: A Cratering Tour of the Solar System
Impact expert and Deputy Editor of Astronomy Now magazine, Dr Emily Baldwin, takes the helm in the Royal Observatory’s planetarium for a spectacular journey around some of the most dramatic craters in the Solar System. This event is part of the popular Summer Science in the Planetarium series of talks.

Dates:  28 July
Time:   19:00
Venue:  Royal Observatory
Admission:  £10 | £7.50 concessions

Observing events

Daylight Skywatch

Our 18-tonne Victorian telescope is the largest of its kind in the UK and is powerful enough to view the closest planets and brightest stars even during daylight hours. Come and take a look through this amazing instrument and find out what there is to see when the Sun is still in the sky.
Note: In case of bad weather an alternative event programme will operate, see the website for details.

Dates: 23-31 July
Times: 18.30 | 19.10 | 19.50 | 20.30
Venue: Royal Observatory
Admission: £6.00
Age: 7+

Family events

Saturday Space Explorers
During Impact Season these monthly free family workshops focus on meteorites, with the chance to handle real space rocks and find out what we can learn from them. 

Date: 30 July
Times: 14.00 | 14.30 | 15.00 | 15.30 | 16.00
Venue: Learning Centre
Admission: free
Age: 5+

Planetarium shows

Peter Harrison Planetarium
The state-of-the-art Peter Harrison Planetarium is the centrepiece of the Royal Observatory's modern astronomy centre and is now the only planetarium in London. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

NB Planetarium closed all day 11 July

The shows

Impact: from Halley to Hayabusa
This show explores our understating of comets and asteroids, from the discoveries of Edmund Halley in 1705 to the daring Japanese Hayabusa probe mission to the asteroid Itokawa in 2005 and beyond. Find out about the violent processes that led to the formation of the Solar System, leaving our cosmic neighbourhood littered with icy comets and rocky asteroids. Plus discover what this cosmic debris can tell us about the origin of our world and the threat it poses to life on Earth.
Dates:  throughout July 2011
Times: 11.45 | 13.30 | 15.15 | 17.00 (weekends and holiday weekdays) 
              14.45 (weekdays during term time)
Venue:  Peter Harrison Planetarium
Admission: £6.50 adults | £4.50 children/concessions | £17.50 family ticket
Age:  recommended for ages 5+

Sky Tonight Live
Take a tour of what can be seen in tonight’s sky with a Royal Observatory astronomer. The journey takes in stars, constellations, planets and moons.
Dates: throughout July 2011
Times: 12.45 | 16.15 (weekends and holiday weekdays) 
            15.45 (weekdays during term time)
23 July – 4 September there will be an additional 18.00 show on weekends only
Venue: Peter Harrison Planetarium
Admission: £6.50 adults | £4.50 children/concessions | £17.50 family ticket
Age: recommended for ages 5+

We are Astronomers
This visually striking show explores the nature of modern astronomy, from space telescopes to particle accelerators and deep space networks to the internet. It includes a short presentation given by an ROG astronomer and is narrated by David Tennant.
Dates:  throughout July 2011
Times:  12.45 | 13.45 (Weds – term time only)
Venue:  Peter Harrison Planetarium
Admission: £6.50 adults | £4.50 children/concessions | £17.50 family ticket
Age:  recommended for ages 5+

Space Safari
Join Ted, the teddy bear, for live music and rhyme as he journeys throughout the solar system looking for the Great Bear in the sky.
Dates: throughout July 2011
Time: 11.00 (weekends and holiday weekdays)
          12.45 | 13.45 (Mondays during term time)
Venue: Peter Harrison Planetarium
Admission: £6.50 adults | £4.50 children/concessions | £17.50 family ticket
Age: suitable for ages 7 and under

Meet the Neighbours
Earth travels around the Sun with seven other planets, hundreds of moons and millions of asteroids. Meet our neighbours in space in this new live planetarium show narrated by a Royal Observatory astronomer.
Dates: throughout July 2011
Times: 14.30 (weekends and holiday weekdays)
          12.45 | 13.45 (Tues, Fri during term time)
Venue: Peter Harrison Planetarium
Admission: £6.50 adults | £4.50 children/concessions | £17.50 family ticket
Age: recommended for ages 5+

Star Life
Explore the fascinating lives of stars – how they are born, grow up, grow old and die. Plus discover how black-holes and pulsars form and how beautiful clouds of glowing gas come into existence.
Dates: throughout July 2011
Times: 12.45 | 13.45 (Thurs - during term time only)
Venue: Peter Harrison Planetarium
Admission: £6.50 adults | £4.50 children/concessions | £17.50 family ticket
Age: recommended for ages 5+

Exhibitions & galleries

Time and Space at the Royal Observatory

The Astronomy Galleries: Learn all about astronomy and our place in the universe in four visually striking galleries. With amazing hands-on exhibits helping to provide answers to big questions, the galleries explore how astronomers study space and explain recent developments in modern astronomy.
Admission: Free

Time Galleries: Explore the importance of time in all our lives through the interactive exhibits in galleries on ‘Time and Longitude’, ‘Time and Greenwich, and ‘Time and Society’.
Admission: £10 adults | Entry for children under 16 is free | Concessions £7.50
The entry charge is an annual pass and includes admission to Flamsteed House, the Meridian Courtyard and the Meridian building in addition to the Time Galleries.

General information

From Friday 29 April the Royal Observatory, Greenwich will be operating extended summer opening hours for Flamsteed House, the Time Galleries, Meridian Line Courtyard and the Meridian Building (the Modern Astronomy galleries will close at the usual time of 17.00). Extended hours are as follows:

• 29 April–22 July – weekends, bank holidays and school holidays only: Last admission 18.30, galleries close 19.00
• 23 July–4 September – every day:  Last admission 18.30, galleries close 19.00

The site opens at 10.00 as normal throughout this period.
The National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House are open: 10.00 –17.00 daily.

General admission to National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House is free. Admission to the Royal Observatory’s historic Flamsteed House, Time Galleries, Meridian Line Courtyard and Meridian Building is £10 for adults (£7.50 concessions). Entry for children under 16 is free. The £10 entry is an annual pass (visitors are able to return as many times as they like within 12 months for no additional charge). Admission to the Royal Observatory’s Astronomy Centre which houses three state-of-the-art modern astronomy galleries is free of charge.

For updated information prior to visit please visit our web site www.rmg.co.uk or phone (020) 8858 4422.

For advance bookings for charged events please call 020 8312 6608 or email bookings@rmg.co.uk

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For further information or images please contact:
Jenny Orton
National Maritime Museum Press Office
Tel: 020 8312 6545/6732 | 07960 509802
Email: press@rmg.co.uk