The Launceston Planetarium at Inveresk was scheduled to be officially opened by Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten yesterday. When discussing the event last week, the Mayor said he was pleased to be able to tell the people of Launceston that there would be free viewings.

The long-awaited facility features full-dome space-related movies as part of a world-class planetarium experience.

The facility ceased operation at the Royal Park site in 2008 after almost 40 years of operation and has been moved to Inveresk as part of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery upgrades.

The Inveresk site has been designed to have a science focus while the historic Royal Park building will reopen as a world-class fine art gallery.

The purchase of the Zeiss star projector for the new planetarium was made possible with support from the Grote Reber Foundation.

The Launceston Planetarium will start operation with the screening of the documentary Dawn of the Space Age, taking viewers from the first satellite launches to the Apollo era and beyond.

For two weeks from Tuesday, October 13, free daily sessions will be held at 11am, 2pm and 4pm for adults and children over five years.

Free admission tickets will be available from one hour before each session time at the QVMAG reception desk at Inveresk.