When the universe came to Priory

It is thanks to one of our Year 10 astronomy pupils that we discovered the universe could come to Priory. 

After sending Astronomy Club teacher and Science Technician, Mr Evans, details about the touring planetarium, Lancaster University’s inflatable dome was booked to come to Priory.  In addition, the Science department leaders also decided to extend the visit and open it up to keen Year 7 and 8 pupils who put their name forward to experience the concept. 

The LUniverse mobile planetarium, is an exciting educational resource that uses state-of-the-art equipment to present an immersive journey through astrophysics and space. Pupils are taken on 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. 

Mr Evans said, “I originally booked them for just my after school Year 10 astronomy group but Mr Bedford and Miss Nouraghaeii thought it would be a good opportunity to inspire more students.”

Explaining what it is all about, Mr Evans went on to say, “It’s an inflatable planetarium that you can stand inside and images are projected onto its ceiling. Staff and students from the university also do a 30-minute talk about the celestial objects that are shown in the planetarium.”

"I really enjoyed learning about different planets, and that they also included Pluto and the dwarf planets" said Sam D, Year 8.

"It was a good experience and I liked the feeling of travelling around space" said Cameron B, Year 8.