National Space Centre

A sticker belonging to local space-fan Elizabeth Norman (age 10) launched to the Moon this morning on Astrobotic's Peregrine Mission 1 on the debut flight of the Vulcan Centaur. 🚀🌕

Find out more about this private mission which is planning to land on 23 February. It could go down in history as the first private mission to make it to the surface of our lunar neighbour: https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/news/space-now-blog/peregrine-mission-1/

To mark this occasion we’re lighting our Rocket Tower up – with the charity donation to make this possible going towards our Community Engagement work in the Beaumont Leys area of Leicester.

We only have a few spaces remaining for our next Home Education Days on 9-10 Jan.

✨🔭 Join our team to find out more about Stars and Telescopes in a day of workshops, talks and shows, suitable for Home Educated children aged 6-14.

🎟️ Book your space: https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/whats-on/home-education-day-january/

No, we don't have an antigravity room - but what we do have is just as cool!

We get asked a lot whether we have one. Find out why an antigravity room isn't actually possible here on Earth: https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/news/our-space/no-we-dont-have-an-antigravity-room-but-what-we-have-is-just-as-cool/

Neptune: Can I copy your homework?
Uranus: Yeah, just change it up a bit so it doesn't look obvious you copied.
Neptune: OK

🔵🔵 Research led by Professor Patrick Irwin at the University of Oxford has revealed the true colours of Uranus (l) and Neptune (r): https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-01-05-new-images-reveal-what-neptune-and-uranus-really-look-0

We're excited to welcome on board our new Chair of Trustees, Stuart Martin, who has been Chief Executive of Satellite Applications Catapult for ten years. 🛰️

🚀 We asked Stuart what he wants to achieve at the National Space Centre, what means to him, whether Pluto is a planet and more including what kind of chair he would be if he were an actual chair.

👏 Huge thanks to our previous Chair of Trustees, Prof Sir Martin Sweeting, who begins a well-deserved retirement.

Read more: https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/news/our-space/introducing-our-new-chair-of-trustees/

Meteor Shower Alert! 🌠 One of the best meteor showers of the year peaks overnight tonight. The Quadrantids meteor shower produces up to 110 meteors an hour.

Here's how to watch from the UK: https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/news/space-now-blog/quadrantid-meteor-shower-2024/

In 2023 a record 330,731 of you visited the National Space Centre.

Thank you so much for supporting our charity. We look forward to welcoming you back again in 2024. 🚀

Happy New Year! In 2024 we're excited for:

🌕 Artemis II sending humans around the Moon
🇬🇧 Skyrora launching from Shetland
🥔 JAXA's mission to study Deimos & Phobos
🚀 Ariane 6 taking to the skies
👩‍🚀 Loads more including human spaceflight missions from Axiom, SpaceX and Polaris Dawn

Find out more: https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/news/space-now-blog/what-s-happening-in-space-in-2024/

Credit: Saxavord

Professor Emma Bunce from the University of Leicester has been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours 2024 list announced yesterday (Saturday 30 December) with an OBE for services to Astronomy and Science Education, while Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE, the University’s Chancellor, has also been recognised with a Damehood for services to Science Education and to Diversity.

Professor Bunce has been instrumental in guiding the National Space Centre’s journey in her role as the University's Trustee at the National Space Centre for over 9 years.

New Year Honours for University of Leicester Chancellor and Professor both leading the way in space science | News | University of Leicester New Year Honours for University of Leicester Chancellor and Professor both leading the way in space science 29 December 2023 Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Share through Email A space scientist, whose influence has reached throughout the solar system, and the University’s Cha...

2023 was a Lucy-JUICEy kind of year for space! From robotic missions to rocket launches and human spaceflight, here's a round up of some of the most notable events in the space calendar from the past year. https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/news/space-now-blog/space-highlights-2023/

Image credit: SpaceX

Cosmic Valentine packages are now on sale! 💕

Arrive beneath giant rockets, sip your Space Cocktail, sit down in the heart of our galleries to a sumptuous five-course meal, before joining our in-house astronomer for a romantic tour of the night sky. https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/whats-on/cosmic-valentine/

Do you know someone looking at going to College next year? Are they interested in the Creative Industries, VFX, Animation & Games?

Our Immersive Academy is running an open day on 12 Jan, from 16:30-18:00. Learn about our courses, tour the Reality Labs and see if studying with us is right for you. https://fb.me/e/1qlklAhfZ

Here are just some of the cool games Asmodee UK are bringing to 🎲.

Join us on 27-28 Jan at the National Space Centre for our brand new event with UK Games Expo: https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/whats-on/to-boldly-game/

Accessible Afternoon is an event for all ages, that combines relaxed lighting and sounds around the centre, with hands-on sensory activities. All activities are drop-in.

Join us on 21 January from 15:00-18:00.

Book here: https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/whats-on/accessible-afternoon-january/

Our next is all about Stars and Telescopes. ✨🔭

Join us for songs, stories, games and the whole Centre for the under 5s to explore. https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/whats-on/small-space-stars-and-telescopes/

We've added a 20 January performance for Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon. 🎸 The fulldome experience sets 10 tracks from the album to mesmeric 360° visuals from NSC Creative.

🎟️ Get your tickets for our best selling show: https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/whats-on/pink-floyds-the-dark-side-of-the-moon-january-2024/

🎄 Happy Christmas from the National Space Centre! What space-themed presents did you receive this year? 🎅

A Grand Day Out was first broadcast on Christmas Eve 1990. 📺 Who else dreamed of climbing in the rocket to see if the Moon was made of cheese?

📷 Aardman

🎅 Santa Claus Alert! If you head outside on Christmas Day morning at 06:00 and look to the west you might see Santa (often mistaken for the International Space Station) heading back home.

We're excited to announce our first group of exhibitors at our brand new event 🎲 To Boldy Game 🎲 in partnership with UK Games Expo.

Joining us from 27-28 January 2024 for our Space, Science and STEM games weekend are:

Asmodee UK
Camden Games
Eurydice Games
Imagination Gaming
Mantic Games
Medusa Games
Trans Atlantis Games
With more to be announced soon...

Get your tickets: https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/whats-on/to-boldly-game/

We expect to be busy in the week between Christmas and New Year, so make sure you book online in advance (including Annual Passes) to guarantee entry.

🗓️ 24-26 Dec ❌ Closed
🗓️ 27-30 Dec 🕔 10:00-17:00
🗓️ 31 Dec 🕓 10:00-16:00
🗓️ 1 Jan ❌ Closed
🗓️ 2-7 Jan 🕔 10:00-17:00

The meteor shower peaks between midnight on 22 December and dawn on 23 December, with up to 10 meteors per hour. 🌠🌠🌠

Here's how to watch from the UK: https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/news/space-now-blog/ursid-meteor-shower-2023/

The occurs tomorrow, 22 Dec. In the Northern Hemisphere, it's the day of the year, with the shortest daylight and longest night. We get less than 8 hours of daylight! ☀️

The actual moment of solstice will take place at 03:27, with sunset just before 16:00. 🌇

🎄 "I look quite pretty" - Space actually

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory recently spotted blue-and-white lights that decorate the "Christmas Tree Cluster," a swarm of stars and gas some 2,500 light-years from Earth: https://go.nasa.gov/3Nwk7EA

🎟️ This Christmas you can give the gift of an Out Of This World Experience at the National Space Centre. Head into our shop to buy your gift vouchers.

Thank you to everyone that joined us for our Christmas with Mrs Claus. 🤶🎄🚀

🎟️ If you joined us on Sunday then your ticket has automatically been upgraded to an Annual Pass which gives you access to our next on 19 Jan. https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/whats-on/small-space-stars-and-telescopes/

🚀 Christmas & New Year Opening Times 🚀

🗓️ 1-23 Dec 🕓 10:00-16:00
🗓️ 24-26 Dec ❌ Closed
🗓️ 27-30 Dec 🕔 10:00-17:00
🗓️ 31 Dec 🕓 10:00-16:00
🗓️ 1 Jan ❌ Closed
🗓️ 2-7 Jan – 10:00-17:00

🎟️ Booking in advance is essential, including Annual Passes. https://spacecentre.co.uk

Our next Accessible Afternoon is on 21 January from 15:00-18:00. 🚀

It's an afternoon event for children, young adults and families with additional needs and disabilities, who would benefit from a quieter experience. 🎧

🎟️ Get your tickets: https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/whats-on/accessible-afternoon-january/