The Peter Harrison Planetarium, London’s only public planetarium and a key learning feature of the Royal Observatory Greenwich, will close its doors to visitors on Monday (September 8) for two years and will not reopen until the spring of 2028.
The Peter Harrison Planetarium will close its doors to visitors on Monday (September 8) for two years. (Image: National Maritime Museum, London)
The closure of the planetarium marks the start of First Light — a major project to transform the Royal Observatory, with the aim of making science and astronomy “more accessible than ever”.
The final shows that the planetarium will run include popular educational and family-friendly shows like The Sky Tonight and Ted’s Space Adventure, which will have final showings over the weekend of September 6 – September 7, with tickets priced at £12 for adults and £6 for children.
The Observatory, which has been a part of Greenwich Park for 350 years, has served as a local centre for astronomical discovery and naval navigation, and is visited by over a million people every year.
The First Light project will see significant improvements in architecture, gallery design, access and conservation, breathing new life into the historic site that was first built in 1675.
While the Planetarium and the building housing it will close from September 2025, most of the site will remain open to the public.
Visitors will still be able to access the Prime Meridian Line, the historic Meridian Observatory, and the galleries inside Flamsteed House during the phased construction period, which will be ongoing until spring 2028.
But in the meantime, Greenwich Observatory’s astronomy team will be delivering a series of talks, shows and interactive experiences at the neighbouring site – the National Maritime Museum – for anyone still keen to learn about the night sky and what you can see in it.
These are the shows you can see for the next month up until September 7:
- The Sky Tonight – Until September 7.
- Ted’s Space Adventure – Until September 7.
- Audio Universe – Until September 7.
- Starstruck – Until August 31.
- Themed shows on Chinese astronomy, Islamic astronomy, and moons of the Solar System.
Tickets start from £12 for adults and £6 for children, with slots available daily.
The project will preserve the Observatory’s heritage, while launching it into a new era of inclusivity and engagement.
Royal Museums Greenwich is inviting the public to follow the progress and support the transformation by subscribing to its newsletter, which will provide updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and opportunities to get involved.
