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Launceston Planetarium celebrates its 40th anniversary and upcoming move with free February shows

The Launceston Planetarium turns 40 years old today, and to celebrate its birthday and upcoming move to Inveresk, all shows in February will be free to visitors.

The first Planetarium show was run on the upper floor of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery at Royal Park on Tuesday, 30 January 1968, after QVMAG received the donation of a Zeiss planetarium projector and portable dome. By 1972, the Planetarium was operating in a purpose-built room at the western end of the Royal Park building.

The Launceston Planetarium is the southernmost in Australia - there are only eight in the country regularly open to the public - and the second most southerly permanent planetarium in the world. Now, staff are getting ready for its upcoming move from the QVMAG Royal Park site to its Inveresk site.

“The last program at Royal Park will run at 3.00pm on Friday 29 February, before plans begin to reinstall the Planetarium at the Museum's Inveresk site,” said Martin George, QVMAG’s Planetarium and Space Sciences Manager.

“The reopening date has not yet been announced, but I look forward to new shows and larger audiences in 2009, which is the International Year of Astronomy.”

Over the 40 years of its operation, some 200,000 people have passed through its doors and enjoyed gazing at the wonders of the artificial night sky produced by the Zeiss projector and many other special effect projectors.

What: Free February shows at the Launceston Planetarium
Where: Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery at Royal Park
When: 1–13 February 3.00pm Monday to Saturday
14–29 February 3.00pm Tuesday to Saturday
Final show 3.00pm Friday 29 February

**ends**
Issued: Launceston, 30 January 2008
For further information please contact
Wendy Newton, Museum Marketing Coordinator, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
phone 6323 3702 or 0488 733 702