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The South Downs Planetarium and Science Centre is located at the southern end of the Chichester High Schools campus. The address is: The South Downs Planetarium and Science Centre. Sir Patrick Moore Building. Kingsham Farm. (access off Kingsham Road) Chichester. West Sussex. PO19 8RP.
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The South Downs Astronomical Society for many years provided Lectures and short courses on astronomy to local schools, colleges and clubs at the annual Chichester Festivities. On the 16th of April 1995 the South Downs Planetarium Trust was formally established. Everything slowly progressed from here with many major structural alterations to the barn ajacent to the Chichester high school were neccesary. A fine Minolta Viewlex Series IIb optical star projector which formerly was used at the Armagh Planetarium in Northern ireland was purchased from many fund raising lectures by Patrick Moore and John Mason.. Eventually all work was done and the 10.8-metre dome was completed and resided under the new roof of the original buildings. A supply of Boeing 737 club-class reclining aircraft seats were discovered and 105 were purchased for shipment at the same time as the projector was transported to its new home. The planetarium was officially opened on 5th April 2002 by the Astronomer Royal, Professor Sir Martin Rees. There is a library and conference room. An information technology suite.The IT room has much astronomy software running and a Satellite receiving equipment for weather images and much more. Many presentations to schools by day a wide range of courses are given to audiences of all ages each month. The Patron is BBC's Sky at Night astronomer Sir Patrick Moore.
Do visit this fine planetarium and science centre. Telephone: (01243 774400) or Fax: (01243 829868)
E.mail < sdownsplanet@btconnect.com > Website: < www.southdowns.org.uk/sdpt >
by John R Fletcher. F.R.A.S.