- This page was last modified on 17 June 2025, at 00:48. Suggest an edit.
South Downs Planetarium & Science Centre facts for kids
The South Downs Planetarium and Science Centre is a special place in Chichester, West Sussex. It teaches people about space and science. Volunteers and space fans run it. The Planetarium opened in 2002 and is a registered charity. It is open all year and you can book special shows. These shows are great for schools, groups, clubs, and societies. You can visit during the day, in the evening, or on weekends.
In 2007, Sir Patrick Moore, a famous astronomer, said that the Planetarium paid for itself.
Contents
How the Planetarium Started
Building a Place for Space Learning
The idea for the Planetarium began in 1992. Members of the South Downs Astronomical Society wanted to create a learning center. They hoped to teach people about astronomy, space, and Earth sciences. This center would be on the south coast of England.
In 1994, West Sussex County Council gave them some land and a barn. This barn was rebuilt to become the main Planetarium building. The Planetarium is in the south of Chichester. It is now called the Sir Patrick Moore Building. It is on Kingsham Road in Chichester, West Sussex.
Finding a Star Projector
Around the same time, the Armagh Planetarium stopped using a special machine. This machine was a Viewlex-Minolta S-IIb star projector. It was made in 1977. The South Downs Planetarium was able to get it. The projector had not been used for many years. But astronomer Dr. John Mason fixed it. He was a former president of the British Astronomical Association.
Opening the Doors to the Stars
It took seven years to raise enough money for the project. Sir Patrick Moore helped lead this fundraising. The star theater, lobby, and other areas were finished. The Planetarium first opened in June 2001. Sir Patrick Moore and the Astronomer Royal, Sir Martin Rees, officially opened it in April 2002.
Sir Patrick Moore said in 2011 that four main people made the project a success. They were John Mason, John Green, Peter Fray, and Roger Prout. John Green received an award in 2004 for his work at the Planetarium.
In 2005, the British and Irish Meteorite Society gave the Planetarium a large collection of meteorites. These are rocks from space. In 2011, the Planetarium was shown on the BBC TV series The Sky at Night.
What You Can See and Do
Inside the Planetarium
The Planetarium has a large room with 100 seats. This is the auditorium. It also has displays, a shop, a library, and a computer room. The most important part of the star theater is the projector. It shows almost 4500 stars and other space objects onto the dome above you.
There is free parking next to the building. It is easy for people with disabilities to visit. The Planetarium is also a short walk from Chichester train and bus stations.
Public Shows and Learning
The Planetarium has new public shows every month. These are usually on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. They also have shows during school holidays. Besides the shows in the star theater, there is a learning center. It has high-definition screens. There are also displays on the walls and computers. These computers run many programs about space.