Image of SkyMapper an automated wide-field survey telescope sited under the dark skies of Siding Spring Observatory near Coonabarabran, in central NSW.

Planetarium

Capturing the Cosmos

Years 7 to 10, VCE

Museums Victoria Scienceworks Education School excursions Capturing the Cosmos

Museums Victoria / Scienceworks / Education / School excursions / Capturing the Cosmos

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Explore scientific innovations and technologies that unlock the mysteries of our Universe.

This planetarium show explores how we learn about the Universe through astronomy research and technology. It showcases research carried out by astronomers across Australia, and some of the incredible innovative telescopes that have enabled new discoveries.

Students will experience

A fulldome Planetarium experience in reclining seats.
The awe-inspiring ways that scientists learn about our universe, showcasing Australian contributions to world-leading science.
The effects of dark energy, and how we’re studying this mysterious phenomenon through Skymapper.
A glimpse into the early universe and formation of galaxies through the Murchison Wide-field Array.
A 10-minute live, presenter-led guided tour of the night sky.

Students will learn

How telescopes allow us to examine light in order to learn about our Universe.
That astronomy can use optical light or other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as radio waves.
About all-sky astrophysics, including the SkyMapper telescope in New South Wales and the Murchison Wide-field Array (MWA) in Western Australia.
That dark energy - an unknown force causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate - can be studied using SkyMapper.
That the MWA allows scientists to study the early Universe.

Other key information

Capturing the Cosmos was produced in partnership with the ARC Centre of Excellence for All-Sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO).

Availability

Terms 1 & 4, Monday to Friday

Duration: 45 minutes

Student information

Years 7 to 10, VCE

Minimum 15 students

Maximum 150 students

Bookings

$10 per student + education service fee

Call 13 11 02

School visit information

Planetarium

Screening with presenter led tour of the night sky

Gallery

A secondary school student observes a projection on the dome of the Melbourne Planetarium during a school excursion

Secondary school students observes a projection of the Sun on the dome of the Melbourne Planetarium.

A secondary school student observes a projection of a spiral galaxy on the dome of the Melbourne Planetarium.

Related Excursions

Victorian Curriculum Links

Science: Levels 7 and 8

Nature and development of science

scientific knowledge, including models and theories, can change because of new evidence (VC2S8H01)

Science: Levels 9 and 10

Nature and development of science

advances in technologies have enabled advances in science, while science has contributed to developments in technologies and engineering (VC2S10H02)

VCE Physics

Unit 1: How is energy useful to society?

Area of study 1: how are light and heat explained

Unit 2: How does physics help us to understand the world?

Area of Study 2: How does physics inform contemporary issues and applications in society?
Options 2.13, 2.14, 2.17, 2.18

Unit 4: How have creative ideas and investigation revolutionised thinking in physics?

Area of study 1: How has understanding about the physical world changed?

Accessibility

Please view our accessibility page for general information. Contact our team on 13 11 02 or email us at [email protected] to discuss how we can support your visit.

Museums Victoria Learning Access Fund

The Museums Victoria Learning Access Fund aims to enhance access to our museums (Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks and Immigration Museum), programs and events by offering free or subsidised education programs for eligible schools. Find out more about the fund.