A New Supernova over Munich

An architecturally stunning venue for your events

State of the art digital planetarium

Inspiring younger generations to appreciate and understand the Universe around us

Bringing ESO’s telescopes from Chile to you

Experience the Universe

Curriculum-based educational workshops for students and teachers

Announcement

Asteroid Day at the ESO Supernova

Join us at the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre for a special event on Saturday 30 June to mark Asteroid Day 2018. Over one million asteroids have the potential to impact the Earth, and so far we have detected ...

15 Jun 2018

Press Release

New Planetarium Show: Europe to the Stars

Experience ESO’s 50-year history of exploring the Southern Skies

ESO is proud to announce the release of Europe to the Stars, a brand new open-source planetarium show that tells the story of ESO’s exploration of the southern sky. This stunning movie takes viewers on an epic journey behind ...

14 Jun 2018

Announcement

Experience a Unique Audiovisual Journey through the Real and Virtual Universe at the ESO Supernova

On Friday 22 June and Saturday 18 August, the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre will host Fragmented Future, a unique audiovisual experience performed by Munich-based ESO Music Ambassador tonelabs. The show immerses audiences in a unique audiovisual journey through ...

7 Jun 2018

Announcement

Observe the Sun at the ESO Supernova

On Sunday 10 June, Sunday 15 July and Wednesday 15 August, a brand new family activity called Solar Observations will be hosted at the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre. Come along to see the Sun like never before thanks ...

25 May 2018

Announcement

Discover Summer Night Skies at the ESO Supernova

On Friday 1 June, a new monthly planetarium show will be presented live for the first time at the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre. The Sky Next Month will be an informative and engaging show, guiding you through the ...

24 May 2018

Announcement

Near-Earth Objects at the ESO Supernova

We’ve all seen Hollywood blockbusters in which life on Earth is threatened by violent asteroid impacts, but just how realistic are these situations? Planets like the Earth are not the only objects orbiting the Sun; innumerable other smaller objects ...

18 May 2018

Press Release

Discover your Place in Space at the ESO Supernova

Astronomy and art combine in Hubble-inspired travelling exhibition

From 17 May to 2 September 2018, the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre will display it’s first temporary exhibition — Our Place in Space. This small free-of-charge showcase of art and science is inspired by the spectacular images of the ...

17 May 2018

Announcement

Journey to Outer Space with Stan Dart at the ESO Supernova

On Friday 25 May the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre will host a cultural performance — Mare Stellaris by Austrian electronic musician Stan Dart. In this show full of mesmerising music and stunning visuals, Stan Dart will take the audience ...

17 May 2018

Press Release

ESO Supernova Offers Unforgettable Learning Experiences

Extensive educational programme available at the new ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre

The cutting-edge ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre provides unforgettable learning experiences for students of all ages. Engaging workshops, tours and two new educational planetarium shows all capture the night sky’s incredible ability to inspire a love for science in ...

11 May 2018

Announcement

The Story Behind Hubble’s Stunning Astronomical Images

Have you ever wondered whether the colours in astronomical images are real? Have you thought about what makes the Hubble Space Telescope’s images so striking? Join us at the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre for an engaging free ...

4 May 2018

Announcement

Public talk: Massive Black Holes and Galaxies

On Friday 11 May at 19:00 CEST, a public talk — Massive Black Holes and Galaxies — will be presented at the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre. Join us to find out about how astronomers detect the existence of black ...

30 Apr 2018

Press Release

A New Supernova Over Munich

Inauguration of the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre

On 26 April 2018, the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre was officially inaugurated, and its doors will be open to the public from tomorrow 28 April 2018. The centre, located at ESO Headquarters in Garching, Germany provides visitors with an ...

27 Apr 2018

Announcement

Seeing Further at the ESO Supernova

On Thursday 10 May, a family activity — Further than the Eye can See! — will be hosted at the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre. Come along to find out that the light our eyes see makes up just a small ...

25 Apr 2018

Announcement

Map of the ESO Supernova Now Available

A map of the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre is now available on our website. The map displays important information such as the locations of our state-of-the-art 14-metre diameter planetarium, our seminar rooms, and the thirteen different themes that ...

24 Apr 2018

Press Release

ESO Supernova Programme Now Available Online

Over the past months, the ESO Supernova team has been keenly working on the preparation of the programme for the exciting new planetarium and visitor centre, due to open to the public on 28 April 2018. We are delighted to ...

21 Mar 2018

Press Release

ESO Supernova has a new partner: Softmachine Immersive Productions GmbH comes into play

Technology partnership signed with award-winning local studio

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has signed a three-year partnership agreement with Softmachine Immersive Productions GmbH as a Technology Partner of the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre. Softmachine is an award-winning and innovative animation studio producing 360° fulldome content ...

31 Aug 2017

Press Release

Mayan Archaeoastronomy: New Free Planetarium Show

Visually stunning fulldome show explores astronomy and mythology

ESO is proud to announce the release of the English version of Mayan Archaeoastronomy: Observers of the Universe, a brand new open-source planetarium show exploring six different Mayan archaeological sites and their connection to the Universe. The 20-minute show, produced ...

6 Jul 2017

Press Release

ESO and Partners Launch Innovative Data2Dome Planetarium System

ESO is proud to publicly launch a running version of the cutting-edge Data2Dome project in partnership with Evans & Sutherland and the International Planetarium Society . This exciting new free system for planetariums delivers the complete collection of images and videos ...

27 Apr 2017

Press Release

New ESO Supernova Partner: Evans & Sutherland

Constellation partnership signed with global planetarium company

Evans & Sutherland (E&S) has signed a three-year partnership agreement with ESO as a Constellation Partner in the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre. Having developed advanced computer graphical technologies for over forty years, E&S was the world’s first ...

10 Oct 2016

Press Release

New Free Planetarium Products from ESO

As the construction of the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre here in Garching continues apace, ready for its opening in late 2017, ESO continues to make an unprecedented range of high-quality materials available for use in planetariums, produced by ...

1 Sep 2016

The building is donated by the Klaus Tschira Stiftung.

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Free admission

Opening Hours

Starting from 28 April 2018 the opening hours of ESO Supernova are:

Wed	09:00 - 17:00
Thu	09:00 - 17:00
Fri	09:00 - 17:00
Sat	12:00 - 17:00
Sun	12:00 - 17:00

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Virtual Tours

Data2Dome Planetarium System

Behind the scenes at ESO: Showing you the road to the stars

From Earth to the Universe

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Special Events

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The ESO Supernova in Numbers

4980 m² Net area

2192 m² Exhibition area

14 Metres diameter planetarium dome

25° Planetarium inclination

109 Planetarium seats

17.4 Metres building height

50 000–100 000 Per year visitor capacity

28. April 2018 Opening date

Opening Hours

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The ESO Supernova in Numbers

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