A Huge Upgrade for the UK’s Largest Planetarium
- 3rd Oct 2025
- Author: Elliott Langley - Marketing Administrator
After a major £250,000 upgrade, our Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium has reopened its doors, and it’s brighter, sharper, and more immersive than ever! Already the UK’s largest planetarium, it now ranks among the best in terms of cutting-edge technology, giving visitors a truly world-class experience.
So, what exactly has changed, and why does it matter for anyone planning a visit to the National Space Centre?
A Clearer Image
The heart of the transformation lies in the installation of ten brand new RGB-laser, 4K, REC 2020 projectors. In practical terms, that means clearer, crisper visuals, with colours that are richer and more lifelike than before. When stitched together across the dome, these projectors deliver an extraordinary 8K resolution at 60 frames per second.
For audiences, this is a massive upgrade! Whether you’re watching an Tour of the Night Sky, an animated show, or a visually spectacular celebration of legendary musicians, the images feel more vivid and immersive.
NSC Creative, our in-house production studio, created their brand-new show, One Step Beyond: A Journey to Mars, with this huge upgrade in mind. The new show is the perfect demonstration of just how much of an upgrade the Planetarium has had.
Research Begins
The journey began in 2024, when the team started researching what would be required to bring the Planetarium up to the highest modern standards. The search for the right technology took them far beyond Leicester, all the way to Barcelona for Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2025, the world’s largest AV and integrated systems exhibition.
Victoria, our AV Specialist, explained why the trip was so valuable: “Attending ISE gave us the amazing opportunity to experience the latest in projection technology first-hand. We could see it in action, ask questions directly to manufacturers, and explore customisation options. Just as importantly, it helped us build relationships with the teams who would eventually support the installation back in Leicester.”
Ultimately, the team chose Portal Devices’ solution using Digital Projection’s latest RGB-laser projectors, which had impressed them most during their research.
Behind the Scenes
Upgrading a planetarium isn’t as simple as swapping out old projectors for new ones. Over two weeks, the previous system was removed and the new one carefully installed. This involved closing the Planetarium for five days, while a dedicated team of five specialists worked long hours to ensure everything was perfect.
The projectors had to be mounted in a new portrait layout using bespoke hardware designed just for this installation. Each one then needed precise alignment to create a seamless image across the dome. Colour-matching across all ten projectors was another painstaking task... but the results speak for themselves!
As Richard, Technical Team Leader, put it: “The success of this installation relied on the unique skills of each member of our Technical Team, the fulldome expertise of NSC Creative, and the essential specialisms of our partners. Together, they’ve delivered an outstanding upgrade that our audiences will be amazed by.”
What This Means for You
The Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium now has the highest resolution and widest colour gamut in the UK, giving audiences the chance to see shows in the quality they were designed for.
Paul Mowbray, Director of NSC Creative, highlighted the significance: “We’ve been creating ultra-high resolution 8K content for domes around the world for many years, so it’s fantastic that our home dome can now showcase our shows at their very best. The new system enables us to transport audiences across the cosmos like never before.”
From educational journeys through the universe to unforgettable evenings featuring the music of legendary bands like Pink Floyd, the planetarium is now equipped to deliver experiences that are as spectacular as the subjects they explore!
Come and See for Yourself!
Words can only do so much to convey just how incredible the Planetarium now looks, so there’s no better time to come and experience the upgrades we’ve made. Entry to the upgraded planetarium is included in your general admission ticket to the National Space Centre, with award-winning shows running daily.
Whether you’re a lifelong astronomy enthusiast, a parent looking for a memorable family day out, or simply curious to see the very latest in immersive technology, the new-look Planetarium will blow your mind!
