'The Dark Side of the Moon' Planetarium Experience

Overview

There's nothing like watching a film at the planetarium, but it's something that most of us mightn't do all that often. Daytime sessions often cater to school groups. While the Brisbane International Film Festival has hosted fulldome programs in the past, they aren't a regular occurrence. Here's something that might get you staring up at the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium ASAP, however: Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon Planetarium Experience.

The band's iconic album turned 50 in 2023, so the Mt Coot-tha venue has been celebrating with stunning visuals set to 42 minutes of the record — views of the solar system and beyond. Each track gets a different set of images, with some pondering the future, others delving into the band's history, and all toying with space and time.

The Dark Side of the Moon Planetarium Experience is popping up around the world, but only at select places. In Australia, Brisbane joins a past season in Melbourne. The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium isn't just devoting a couple of days or weeks to it, either, with the mind-bending Pink Floyd tribute starting out in September 2023 and sticking around ever since. Come September 2024, it'll still be on the lineup.

The Dark Side of the Moon Planetarium Experience has been selling out — and expect that to continue. But, you have options for heading along, with the season including 2pm shows on Wednesdays, 5pm and 7pm sessions on Fridays, 3pm projections on Saturdays and a 3pm Sunday slot.

If you haven't been to the planetarium since your school days, you will still be sitting in reclining chairs, peering up at the 12.5-metre domed ceiling and soaking in the fulldome experience — with a Pink Floyd soundtrack.

Updated Tuesday, August 6, 2024.