Planetarium Śląskie – Śląski Park Nauki

About the museum

The Silesian Planetarium opened in 1955 in the Silesian Park in Chorzów. The heart of the facility is the distinctive dome, 23 metres in diameter, beneath which a modern projection hall is located. For seven decades the planetarium has educated and popularised knowledge about the cosmos, and an Astronomical Observatory operates alongside it.

In 2018–2022 the facility underwent a major reconstruction and was expanded into the Silesian Science Park. Underground an educational complex devoted to astronomy, meteorology and seismology was created, in which the stations not only show physical phenomena but also let visitors experience them. There one can take part in a simulated earthquake, stand next to a real lightning discharge, or take a simulated flight into space. The reconstruction design was prepared by the Poznań studio Consultor.

Today visitors can choose from shows in the planetarium hall, the permanent exhibitions “Geofizyka” (“Geophysics”) and “Astronomia” (“Astronomy”) and their versions for the youngest, space flight simulators, a tower with a camera obscura, and tours of the observatory.

Highlights

• Popular science shows in the hall with a 23 m dome
• The “Geofizyka” exhibition with a simulated earthquake and a lightning display
• The “Astronomia” exhibition with a room for walking among the stars in 3D glasses
• Space flight simulators and a tower with a camera obscura
• Tour of the Astronomical Observatory

Permanent exhibitions

• Ekspozycja stała „Geofizyka” – Interactive stations on earthquakes, storms and precipitation, presenting seismological and meteorological phenomena.
• Ekspozycja stała „Astronomia” – Interactive stations with telescopes and binoculars, and a room where visitors can walk among the stars in 3D glasses.

Founded

1955

Operated by

Planetarium i Obserwatorium Astronomiczne im. Mikołaja Kopernika w Chorzowie

Admission & discounts

The price of PLN 12 (reduced PLN 8) applies to the permanent exhibition “Astronomia” (about 1.5 hours); tickets for shows, the “Geofizyka” exhibition, the simulators, the tower and the observatory are bought separately. A free ticket is given to the carer of a person with a disability and to one carer per 15 participants of an organised group. The facility does not accept tourist vouchers. Individual visitors are best advised to buy tickets online; bookings are accepted only for groups.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Step-free access to the new part and the historic part is provided by a lift in the inner square and a platform lift, and there is a ramp by the atrium with the sundial. The projection hall has 12 places for people with disabilities; the building has three toilets for people with disabilities and two marked parking spaces in front of the entrance. Tactile elements, guiding paths and tyflographic maps help blind people; at the stations there are screens with descriptions in Polish Sign Language and descriptions in Braille, and induction loops operate at the information desk and the ticket office. Assistance dogs are allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Shows are prepared for the youngest (e.g. from age 4), there are shortened exhibitions “Astronomia dla najmłodszych” and “Geofizyka dla najmłodszych”, and a family ticket is available for a show. The Science Park's stations let visitors experience physical phenomena.

Getting there & parking

By car, the route leads from ul. Bytkowska in Katowice, across the footbridge at al. Planetarium.

Amenities & dining

The facility has a ticket office and an information point; details of catering are not given on the website.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit