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The LUniverse Planetarium

The LUniverse portable inflatable planetarium at Lancaster University

The Lancaster Physics Department is proud to present the LUniverse mobile planetarium, an exciting educational resource for schools and the general public in Lancashire and Cumbria.

The LUniverse planetarium uses state-of-the-art equipment to present an immersive journey through astrophysics and space. You can take a tour of the night sky, view other planets and galaxies up close, visit astronomical telescopes around the globe, land on the surface of other worlds, or view a solar eclipse. LUniverse can take you anywhere you want to go in the Universe!

The shows are delivered by a mixture of staff and students from our Observational Astrophysics and Planetary Science research groups, who are all excited to share their enthusiasm for physics, and their expert knowledge of astronomy and astrophysics. LUniverse caters to the complete range of audiences and age groups, and is accessible to wheelchair users. It can be used for school visits, community groups, and public events.

The in-person planetarium dome is back! We can now offer COVID-safe shows inside the dome, as well as a new "dome-less" experience. We are continuing to offer virtual shows as well. See below for details.

The LUniverse planetarium at Lancaster University

  • The Virtual Planetarium

    We are excited to bring you a virtual version of our full dome experience via a live-streamed planetarium show! The LUniverse virtual planetarium experience typically includes a 30-minute planetarium show and a Q&A with our scientists. We can also provide post-show activities for children, such as a challenge to draw your own constellation. As our virtual show uses the same software as our full dome, we can give you a similar experience to our in person shows. We don't charge for most of our shows as we want to spread the excitement of the night sky to as many people as possible.

  • The LUniverse Full-dome Planetarium

    Up to 15 people can experience each LUniverse show. We can host planetarium events at Lancaster University, or we can bring the planetarium to you if you have a suitable space. The footprint of the dome is 5.5m x 7m and it requires a ceiling height of at least 3.7m. If your ceiling is close to 3.7m in height, we will need to switch off any lights above the dome. Visitors will need to take off their shoes, so an area for this is also needed. If we come to you, we will need to park one or two vehicles for the duration of our visit.

  • The LUniverse Dome-less Planetarium

    Our brand-new dome-less experience brings all the same incredible visuals and learning you get in person but without the need to find space for the dome! The show is presented on a screen whilst our expert science communicators take you on a tour of the amazing universe!

If you’re interested in having LUniverse at your school or event, please contact us!

Get In Touch
Teams and LUniverse logo on stary background

Free, virtual planetarium shows!

Our public shows are taking a break for the summer.

Tickets for our future events are available on our Eventbrite Page.

Missed a planetarium show? All of our recordings are free to watch on YouTube.

Planetarium playlist

What people are saying

"As always with the Planetarium, the provision was first class. The children were both engaged and inspired by the presentation, and it is through experiences like this that we promote STEM careers to young learners. Our host was engaging, and children had the opportunity to share their existing knowledge and gain new knowledge."

-Teacher, Primary School Show

" I just think the Planetarium Online sessions have been fascinating and I think the host is infectious with his enthusiasm. And his great love for astronomy shines through. I will definitely be tuning in for more as long as these sessions run."

-Attendee, Public Show