Science Events in Launceston

Join us at the Launceston Planetarium for our new live show series with the QVMAG Planetarium team. Join our QVMAG astronomers, Chris and Johnny, on a fascinating journey through the cosmos. In this live talk series, we will explore a wide range of topics covering the science, stories and surprises of our Universe – from tides here on Earth through the nature of light and time to the large-scale structure of the Universe. We will also look at the question of life elsewhere and some of the misconceptions and conspiracy theories that abound on the fringes of the internet. With each talk discussing a different celestial subject, this series is sure to inspire and reveal something new every time. Each Planetarium show is followed by a live tour of the current night sky.

Join us in the Launceston Planetarium for our next screening of Unseen Earth. This show presents the story of how satellite technologies have revolutionized our understanding of our home. We witness Earth not merely as a static blue marble but as a dynamic, ever-changing ecosystem. Thanks to advanced orbital observations and in-situ measurements, we gain unprecedented insights, enabling us to react swiftly even to sudden environmental shifts and natural disasters. Discover how continuous advancements in satellite technologies and coordinated global Earth observation programs empower us to monitor our planet more accurately than ever before and respond more effectively to its ongoing transformations. Each Planetarium show is followed by a live tour of the current night sky.

Join us in the Launceston Planetarium for our new show Dark Side of Light. Light pollution. Have you ever heard of this term? How can something as essential as light even be associated with pollution? And yet there it is. For several centuries, we have become accustomed to lighting up artificial light sources after dark, considering them natural. But it’s not. Living organisms, both plants and animals, have adapted to the natural cycle of day and night for tens of millions of years. Our biorhythms work in accordance with sunrise and sunset. The artificial disruption of this cycle has serious consequences, not only for our health but also for the environment and the economy. So why is the increasing level of artificial lighting dangerous for us? Dark Side of Light, Each Planetarium show is followed by a live tour of the current night sky.

Join us at the Launceston Planetarium for our next screening of Black Holes. What is a black hole? How do we find them? A black hole is one of the strangest types of objects in the Universe. Imagine a region of space from which even light cannot escape. That is what many scientists, including Einstein, imagined long before we showed that they actually exist. There is even a huge one right in the centre of our Milky Way galaxy. In this amazing program produced by the Melbourne Planetarium, we take a look at what black holes really are, how they form, and how the wonderful physics of how black holes distort space and time. We even take a look at what would happen if we got too close to one - and it's something that we don't recommend! Each Planetarium show is followed by a live tour of the current night sky.

Join us in the Launceston Planetarium for our next screening of Capturing the Cosmos. Astronomers today are exploring the Universe on a grand scale. But knowing what's out there is just the first step. Putting the pieces together to unlock the mysteries of the Universe is the ultimate goal. Narrated by Academy Award winning actor Geoffrey Rush, you can discover the new astronomy being carried out under the breathtaking skies of the Australian outback. What new things shall we learn about the Cosmos? The SkyMapper telescope led by Nobel Laureate and CAASTRO astronomer, Professor Brian Schmidt, is helping to solve the mystery of Dark Energy. The Murchison Widefield Array is a radio telescope that is investigating the moment when the first stars and galaxies lit up the Universe. They are finding things we’ve never seen before, and will help us to better understand our Universe. Each Planetarium show is followed by a live tour of the current night sky.

Join us in the Launceston Planetarium for our next screening of Origins of Life. Origins of Life deals with some of the most profound questions of life science: the origins of life and the human search for life beyond Earth. Starting with the Big Bang, the show deals with the prebiotic chemistry of the Universe, the formation of stars, formation of solar systems, and the first life on Earth. Furthermore Origins of Life covers the great extinctions as well as our search for life beyond planet Earth. This show is an inspirational journey through time and a celebration of life on Earth. Each Planetarium show is followed by a live tour of the current night sky.

Join us in the Launceston Planetarium for the next screening of 3, 2, 1 Lift Off! 3, 2, 1 - Lift-Off! follows the story of an inquisitive hamster and an unlikely friendship with a robot from outer space who has crash landed on Earth. The story follows the duo as they work to find a way to re-connect the robot with their family in outer space, and the science required to achieve that. The story is fun, adventurous and educational, and will offer a brilliant story for visitors looking for a weekend activity, or classrooms looking for their next school excursion. Following each show we share a viewing of what you'll be able to see in the night sky that same evening. This is a great way to engage viewers with what's happening in space, what you can see here from Earth, and where we fit into the universe. Each Planetarium show is followed by a live tour of the current night sky. * This show is friendly for young children.