Frequently asked questions about the Planetarium

A planetarium is like a cinema crossed with a lecture theatre. The hemisphere dome surrounds seated visitors, and our software and multi-projector setup allows us to immerse the audience in simulations of the night sky. We can control the date and time, fly around the Universe, show off astronomical datasets, images, videos, sounds, and more. All of our shows are hosted by a member of the Royal Observatory Greenwich Astronomy department, so there's often a chance to ask questions afterwards too. 

However, the Planetarium is neither a telescope nor a live view of the sky. Although we can easily simulate the cosmos overhead at a particular time and location, the bronze cone housing the Planetarium itself does not ‘open up’ or peer directly into the sky! 

On the dome we can also play ‘normal’ movies, host presentations from lecturers, and have done everything from album launches to livestreams, panel discussions and mindfulness sessions. We also help a lot of people with customised proposals, and have a 100% success rate so far! 

Shows at the Peter Harrison Planetarium generally run every day except Thursdays. Exceptions to this include select maintenance days and 24th-26th December each year.

See the current schedule

We have an exciting and diverse programme of shows, which vary depending on the time and date of your visit. 

Most of our shows are presented live by Royal Observatory astronomers, who make each show unique based on their own specialisms and interests. These shows include:

• The Sky Tonight - A classic guide to the night sky which explores the sky as it will be on the evening of your show.
• Ted's Space Adventure – This show for under 7s follows the adventure of a cartoon bear named Ted as he travels around the Solar System.
• Meet the Neighbours – Explores the Solar System and beyond, featuring two planets in close detail.
• Starstruck - Focuses on stars, from birth to death and everything in between. 

The other shows have pre-recorded narration. These shows are hosted by Royal Observatory astronomers who are happy to answer your questions at the end. Our current pre-recorded shows are:

• Moons Beyond Counting – Created in-house by the Observatory's planetarium team and narrated by Royal Observatory astronomers, this show features our solar system's many natural satellites.
• Audio Universe: Tour of the Solar System – Unlike traditional planetarium shows the soundtrack takes the lead role, making this show enjoyable irrespective of level of vision.

Our Community programming is created in collaboration with specific communities and partners, showcasing how diverse the world of astronomy can be and inviting different communities to learn about space with us. This programming includes:

• Morning Stars - Designed for those who would prefer a calmer and more relaxed environment in the Planetarium.
• Bilingual Families - Explore the Universe with us in a different language.
• Astronomy and Islam - A special show featuring the New Crescent Moon and historic Islamic astronomy.
• Chinese Astronomy - Explore topics in ancient and modern Chinese astronomy.

In general we aim to release planetarium tickets one month in advance. However, this release window sometimes shrinks at busy parts of the school term, and can be affected by works on the Royal Observatory site. 

Weekends and school holidays

10:30 - Community show

11:30 - Ted's Space Adventure  

12:30 - Pre-recorded show (changing every 6-12 months)  

13:30 - The Sky Tonight  

14:30 - Meet the Neighbours/Starstruck/Moons Beyond Counting (rotating each month)  

15:30 - The Sky Tonight

16:30 - The Sky Tonight

Term-time weekday afternoons (except Thursdays)

14:45 - The Sky Tonight

15:45 - The Sky Tonight

Planetarium shows are available to book online and by phone. Our shows are very popular, so to prevent any disappointment we recommend booking your tickets in advance. 

To book your tickets, please click here or find more information on each show on the Planetarium website. Members can book tickets here.

You can also book by phone by contacting the Bookings team on 0208 312 6608, open Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm.

Tickets on the day at the Planetarium are subject to availability. Tickets for each show are not available to purchase online or by phone less than two hours before the showing time, but if there is any capacity they will be available from the Planetarium box office. 

To avoid any disappointment, we strongly suggest booking tickets in advance and advise against turning up at the Planetarium without a booking. 

No, all tickets are non-transferable, non-exchangeable and non-refundable. Ticket holders are advised to arrive at the Planetarium at least 15 minutes before shows commence. Full terms and conditions are available at booking and are stated on tickets.

During a show, the Planetarium is dark - much darker than a normal cinema for example. This allows us to simulate the darkness of a night sky, and audience members, once they adjust to the lower light levels, to pick out dim stars, nebulae and other low-surface-brightness celestial objects. We bring the lights down slowly and usually start our shows gradually so that more details emerge as we proceed (while the audience's eyes adjust). 

Unfortunately, this means entering the Planetarium while a show is on must be avoided. Firstly, anyone coming in from the bright outside will not be easily able to see anything in the darkness of the Planetarium and we do not want to risk people tripping over anything (or anyone!), or colliding with things in the dark.

Secondly, the sudden brightness caused by the open doors may be quite unpleasant for the audience already seated. For the same reason, we prohibit filming and photography; in the dark of a show, even a dimmed LCD screen is distracting. 

Thirdly, most shows are live presentations, and the astronomer is effectively acting as a performer. They may be narrating (live, not from a script), controlling the simulation software, and interacting with the audience all at the same time. Out of consideration for the astronomer, we wish to minimise distracting interruptions. 

Seating is not allocated, so if you want to pick your seats we encourage getting into the queue early. Visitor Experience staff are on hand to help make sure young children are seated with their guardians. 

See below for information about wheelchair seating.

From choosing the best show and ticket type to being inside the planetarium, check out our full accessibility information here.

You can also find full accessibility information for all of our museum sites here.

There are four positions in the Planetarium suitable for a wheelchair, and every wheelchair booking also books one of the seats. This way, you can remain in your wheelchair if that is easiest for you, but you have the option of transferring to the seat next to your chair.  

Usually, we try to bring wheelchair users into the Planetarium a few minutes before the doors are opened, so you have a bit more time to get settled. We also try to do the same with any access issues if this would help, so please just ask a member of the Visitor Experience team. 

For more accessibility information related to the Planetarium and other Royal Museums Greenwich sites, visit our accessibility webpage.

Children under 5 will only be admitted to Ted's Space Adventure or certain community shows - you can see age restrictions on the individual show web pages. Babies (under 12 months) who cannot walk and must be held can be admitted for free: please book a free ticket for your baby by selecting the relevant ticket option when booking online or by contacting our Bookings team: email bookings@rmg.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 8312 6608. The office is open Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm.

All children (ages 1-15) must be allocated a seat and require a child's ticket. Please note that once your show begins you may leave the Planetarium at any point but, unfortunately, you cannot be readmitted to the show, so please ensure you use the toilet facilities beforehand.

Ted's Space Adventure is recommended for families with children aged 3-7. Older or younger children of any age will be admitted, provided accompanying adults understand the fact that the show may not be suitable for them. Adults without children will not be admitted to Ted's Space Adventure.

All our other public shows are recommended for adults and families with children aged 7+. We will admit younger children aged 5 and above to these shows, provided accompanying adults understand the fact that the show may be too advanced for them. Under 5s will not be admitted.

Community shows/planetarium events have recommended age ranges included on the individual show webpages, and unless otherwise stated under 5s will not be permitted. Please double-check the age ranges specified on the show webpage before booking. 

All children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Yes, Members will still need to book tickets in advance for our planetarium shows. Book online here.

The Peter Harrison Planetarium is located at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, inside Greenwich Park. It is on the lower floor of the Modern Astronomy Centre (often referred to as the 'South Building' because it is south of the historic apartments and the Meridian Courtyard. If you come to any part of the Royal Observatory site, Visitor Experience staff will be able to guide you to the Planetarium.  

It should be noted that the Planetarium is a 15-minute walk from the National Maritime Museum, Queen's House and farther from other parts of Maritime Greenwich at the top of a steep hill. We strongly encourage visitors to check their route beforehand, since Planetarium shows do not admit latecomers.  

We are London's only planetarium, and occasionally people still turn up to Madame Tussauds (which used to have one, albeit quite different, about twenty years ago). If you go to Madame Tussauds, sadly you are almost certainly going to miss your show... 

You do not need a Royal Observatory ticket to visit the Planetarium. However, if you would also like to visit the historic observatory then you can book a separate ticket here.

Public shows are often either pre-recorded shows or live shows created and delivered entirely by Royal Observatory astronomers covering a range of general space and astronomy topics. 

Community shows are created in collaboration with specific communities and partners, to showcase how diverse the world of astronomy can be and invite different communities to learn about space with us. This programming includes Morning Stars, shows designed for those who would prefer a calmer and more relaxed environment in the Planetarium; Bilingual Families in which you can explore the Universe in a different language; and cultural shows such as Astronomy and Islam and Chinese Astronomy.

We are also always looking to engage with more communities, so if you’re interested in collaborating, please get in touch with rogastronomers@rmg.co.uk.

There is a dedicated buggy park in the foyer for pushchairs and prams, but these may not be taken into the Planetarium itself. 

Please note that there are no cloakroom facilities available. Mobility aids can be accommodated, but we cannot store large items of luggage.

There is no eating or drinking permitted inside the Planetarium. 

You may take photos before or after the show, but photography or recording of any sort is forbidden during our shows.