Planetarium

The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is located on the grounds of the Botanic Gardens at Mount Coot-tha, about 3 miles (5 km) from downtown Brisbane. Named after the former governor and astronomer Sir Thomas Brisbane, it opened in 1978 and is now run by the Brisbane City Council. Its centerpiece is the Cosmic Skydome, a hemispherical theater 41 feet (12.5 meters) in diameter that seats up to 130 visitors. Following a major renovation in 2019, the planetarium uses a digital projection system for its many daily shows. In addition to the shows, the exhibition areas in the foyer and gallery offer a free look at space research. Highlights include a replica of Neil Armstrong's spacesuit, models of spacecraft, and meteorites. One standout is the permanent exhibition SKYLORE, the first of its kind in Australia, which presents the Indigenous star knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The building also houses an observatory with telescopes for public viewing sessions.