Nottinghamshire’s new £6.8m planetarium welcomes visitors

A new £6.8 million planetarium has commenced public operations in Nottinghamshire. Situated at Sherwood Observatory, off Coxmoor Road in Sutton-in-Ashfield, the facility boasts a 59-seat dome featuring an “immersive” screen with a 10m (32.8ft) diameter. An underground exhibition area, housed within a former Victorian reservoir beneath the building, complements a science discovery centre, meeting rooms, classrooms, and a cafe. The cafe is managed by the Academy Transformation Trust Further Education College as a student outreach project. Construction for this undertaking began in August 2023. Dr. Steve Wallace, the project manager, stated: “Our fantastic new Planetarium and Science Centre, sitting alongside our original observatory will be a huge draw to bring people to the area and to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.” Dr. Wallace noted that the observatory initially opened in 1986, following more than a decade of work. Its development required the founding members to build it during their spare time, alongside their regular employment. This updated facility represents a collaborative initiative between the Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society and Ashfield District Council. As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, £2 million of the project’s funding was drawn from Ashfield District Council’s £62.6 million Towns Fund pot, which was secured from the government in 2021. An additional £3.1 million was provided through the government’s Levelling Up Fund in January 2023. Council leader Jason Zadrozny expressed his hope that the project would encourage young people to cultivate an interest in space. He remarked: “It really is spectacular and it is something that will transform the lives of not just the people of Ashfield but also further afield.”