Satrosphere Science Centre, Aberdeen, Scotland has been given a donation of an inflatable planetarium from global energy company TAQA.

Satrosphere had been fundraising to purchase a form of planetarium with its People’s Planetarium campaign in April of this year.

However, TAQA recently decided to permanently donate a pop-up, inflatable structure for the museum to use.

The attraction measures six metres in diameter and can cater for between 15 to 18 people at a time. Visitors to the centre sit inside the structure, while a projector beams a circular image onto the inflatable walls of the pop-up planetarium.

The centre said the inflatable nature of the planetarium is ideal as it allows for the attraction to be moved around when larger exhibits are displayed at the Satrosphere, meaning organisers can make the most of programming exhibitions and events. The centre is currently showing three displays inside, featuring aliens, DNA and the solar system.

“We are very proud to be working with Satrosphere. TAQA’s community relations programme places emphasis on education and Satrosphere is an important and valuable educational resource where the whole community can be engaged and inspired by science,” said Pete Jones, managing director of TAQA’s UK business.

The science centre has said that it will use the previous funds raised in its April campaign to help purchase new programming to ensure that the planetarium has a wide range of current and topical shows for visitors to experience.

Satrosphere opened in 1988 and is Scotland’s first science and discovery centre, welcoming around 55,000 visitors and 12,000 school children each year.

More information on the Satrosphere Science Centre is available here