Join us for a special planetarium show and craft session celebrating the Japanese festival of Tanabata.
Tanabata celebrates the mythical meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, represented by the stars Vega and Altair. According to Japanese legend, the two lovers are separated by the milky way and can only meet once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.
Explore the stories and the science behind the festival, and discover the stars, planets and constellations lighting up our summer skies. After the planetarium show, join in with family craft activities and make a Tanabata decoration to take home.
Planetarium shows last approx. 40 minutes but please allow an hour to enjoy the crafts.
Suitable for ages 5+
This event is organised by the Museum of East Asian Art and the Herschel Museum of Astronomy.
Important booking information
Pre-booking for ALL members of your group, both adults and children, is essential, as there is limited space inside the planetarium, so please include all adults and children that will be attending when you book. If you cannot make your booking, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your space to other visitors.
Children must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
Regretfully, the planetarium is not wheelchair accessible.
As this show takes place in our inflatable planetarium, visitors will be required to sit on the floor. Please let us know in advance if this will be a problem and we may be able to make accommodations.
We may ask you to remove your shoes prior to entering the planetarium if weather conditions warrant it.