Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium

Overview

The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium at Mt Coot-tha is the largest planetarium in Australia, offering cosmic skydome shows, astronomy exhibitions, and a public observatory. Named after the Scottish astronomer and former Governor of New South Wales.

Highlights

• Cosmic Skydome: A 12.5-metre dome theatre projecting immersive shows about the solar system, galaxies, and space exploration.
• Astronomy exhibitions: Interactive displays on telescopes, Australian Indigenous astronomy, and space missions.
• Night sky viewing: Public telescope nights are held on clear evenings.

History

The planetarium opened in 1978 and was significantly upgraded in 2010 with a state-of-the-art digital projection system. It is named after Sir Thomas Brisbane, who charted 7,385 stars from his observatory at Parramatta in the 1820s.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: Book skydome shows online — they frequently sell out on weekends and school holidays.
• Tip 2: Combine with a visit to the Mt Coot-tha Lookout and Botanic Gardens.
• Duration: 45 minutes–1 hour.