Planetário do Porto - Centro Ciência Viva
University of Porto planetarium and Ciência Viva Centre, with immersive dome sessions led by astronomers; open since 1998.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Planetário do Porto – Centro Ciência Viva is a unit of the University of Porto that began regular activity on 24 November 1998. It arose from the vision of Professor Teresa Lago to bring together in one place a research centre in astrophysics and a space for popularising scientific culture. The Centre of Astrophysics of the University of Porto, created in 1989, had already started a programme in 1990 with a portable planetarium visiting schools and municipalities.
It joined the Ciência Viva Network early on. In 2014 it began a refurbishment: the opto-mechanical system was replaced by a digital one, the seats were arranged to face a single direction, and the dome was replaced by a state-of-the-art one.
Dome sessions combine immersive animated short films, a main immersive film and a live journey through the night sky and the Universe, led by an astronomer who interacts with the audience. The centre receives more than 50,000 visitors a year and is run by the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences).
Highlights
- Immersive sessions in the planetarium dome
- Live journey through the Universe, led by an astronomer
- Immersive films produced by the centre itself
- Educational programmes and portable planetarium
- Part of the Ciência Viva network
Permanent exhibition
- Sessões imersivas no planetário – Dome sessions with immersive short films, a main film and a live journey through the sky and the Universe.
- Founded
- 1998
- Operated by
- Universidade do Porto (Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6.60 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4.40Seniors aged 65 and over, and children and young people aged 3 to 17 |
| Children & teens | €4.40free up to age 2 · Children and young people aged 3 to 17; free up to age 2. |
| Seniors | €4.4065 years or older |
| Families | €15.40Up to two adults with children up to age 17 |
Prices for one planetarium session, VAT included. Holders of the U.Porto card and the Porto. card receive 30% off the individual ticket; with a CP Intercidades, InterRegional or Regional ticket there is a 10% discount. Discounts cannot be combined and are not valid for the family ticket. The Circuitos Ciência Viva annual pass gives free admission to the Ciência Viva Centres.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 2 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €15.40 · Up to two adults with children up to age 17 |
- Family tours & workshops
There are children's sessions at weekends and on public holidays, and an immersive film for younger visitors (“Há Formas no Espaço”, There Are Shapes in Space).
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Tickets can be bought at the centre's box office or from BOL – Bilheteira Online. Bookings are made by telephone or email. Sessions are always led by staff trained in astronomy. |
