June 2011

Impact Season runs at the Royal Observatory throughout June, 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 also explore the skies from the comfort of the Peter Harrison Planetarium, with every show including a live element presented by a Royal Observatory astronomer. This month’s Summer Science in the Planetarium talk is given by Dr Chris Arridge from the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, who takes the audience on a unique tour of the giant planets beyond the Asteroid Belt. Plus, those who are inspired by the Observatory’s Impact Season can learn more at this month’s Meteorites and the Early Solar System course, led by Natural History Museum Researcher, Dr Dominik Hezel.

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

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: 25 June
Times: 14.00 | 14.30 | 15.00 | 15.30 | 16.00
Venue: Learning Centre
Admission: free
Age: 5+

Talks and Lectures

Summer Science in the Planetarium: Strangers and Giants

Dr Chris Arridge, Mullard Space Science Laboratory

Beyond the Asteroid Belt is the realm of the giant planets. Apart from the Sun they are the largest and most massive objects in the solar system and their influence is felt over enormous distances. Their rings and numerous moons lead some people to think of them as miniature solar systems in their own right and their deep, turbulent atmospheres are laced with powerful winds, violent storms and glowing auroral displays. In this unique planetarium show Dr Chris Arridge of the Mullard Space Science Laboratory takes us on a tour of these mysterious worlds and reveals some of the latest discoveries made by telescopes and space probes. This event is part of the popular Summer Science in the Planetarium series of talks.

Dates: 23 June
Time:19.00
Venue:Royal Observatory
Admission: £10 | £7.50 concessions

Adult Courses

Meteorites and the Early Solar System

This course offers a fascinating insight into the world of meteorites, which formed 4,600 million years ago in a vast cloud of dust and gas surrounding the young Sun. In conjunction with astronomical observations, the study of meteorites enables us to predict whether a distant star system is capable of forming planets or not. Join Natural History Museum Researcher, Dr Dominik Hezel, to explore the major aspects of meteorite formation and what we learn from them about the evolution of our solar system, planet formation and whether there is life elsewhere in the universe.

Date: 7 June – 5 July (Tues)
Time: 19.00–21.00
Venue: Learning Centre
Price: £50

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.

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 June 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 awe-inspiring gas clouds.

Dates: throughout June 2011
Times: 12.45 | 16.15 (weekends and holiday weekdays)
  15.45 (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+

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 June 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 June 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 June 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 June 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 and 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

National Maritime Museum, Royal Observatory, Greenwich 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: http://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