This half term, 17 – 25 February, the Centre for Life , Newcastle unveils its state-of-the-art Digistar planetarium with a brand new show, Winter Skies, taking visitors on a journey through our solar system to learn more about our neighbouring planets and the stars they’ll be able to see outside on the very night of their visit.

The show will be screened throughout the day and lasts 20 minutes. Ian Simmons, Head of Science Development and Public Programmes at the Centre for Life, said: “The planetarium is a major new feature of The Centre for Life, and is the only digital planetarium in the North East. It looks set to be a very exciting addition to our range of activities here at Life. The images used in the show are truly mesmerising and I’m sure our visitors will find it fascinating�.

The planetarium is based in Life’s Dome Theatre and planetarium shows will alternate throughout the year with the kind of immersive dome shows Life is already running such as Lifeseeker.

The space theme will continue around the rest of the Centre with a range of hands-on activities including a Stamp Rocket Workshop. Lasting approximately 30 minutes, visitors will get to make and launch their own mini balloon-powered rockets. Additionally, live Space Science demonstrations will be hosted by the Centre’s Science Explainers who will carry out exciting experiments on forces and gravity with the help of audience volunteers.

In addition, visitors will be able to explore the Centre’s permanent exhibition’s Our World which recreates some of the planet’s harshest environments and Wasted: The Trouble with Rubbish, which looks at what happens to our rubbish when we throw it away and how it might come back to haunt us.

The Centre for Life is open seven days a week. Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm and Sunday from 11a.m. to 6p.m. Last admission on all days is approximately 4p.m. Admission prices are £6.95 for adults; £4.50 for children (aged 5 to 16); £5.50 for concessions and £19.95 for a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children or one adult and 3 children). For further information please visit www.life.org.uk or call (0191) 2438210.