The World Museum’s famous Planetarium celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020, making it the longest surviving planetarium in a British museum, having attracted over two million visitors to explore the wonders of the universe since its opening in May 1970.
The Planetarium has enjoyed many special moments over the years. Its inaugural display of moon rock brought back to earth by the crew of Apollo 11 drew queues stretching hundreds of metres and 32,000 visitors over the course of three days.
In September 1993, the space and time gallery was officially opened by the groundbreaking physicist Dr. Stephen Hawking. The gallery provides a fascinating introduction to the Planetarium with displays including rockets, telescopes, meteorites and (of course) moon rocks.
In February 2016, the World Museum set up a live connection with the International Space Station and the British astronaut Tim Peake, who then took questions from pupils attending the event from schools all around the country and others watching online.
The Planetarium is a truly unique Liverpool institution that has entertained and educated millions over the last half century. Bartletts Solicitors sends our heartfelt congratulations to everyone at the World Museum, and our hope and expectation that the Planetarium will continue to electrify and inform visitors for the next 50 years and beyond.