Planetarium Nights — Pink Floyd's 'The Dark Side of the Moon'

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 cater to school groups, and Melburnians over 18 used to have to wait until MIFF's fulldome program came around. Thankfully, Scienceworks' Planetarium Nights series changed that.

Every Friday evening, once the planetarium's usual working day is done, adults can have some after-hours fun in its impressive space. That means sitting in the reclining chairs, looking up at the 16-metre domed ceiling, listening to the 7.1 surround-sound system and soaking in the best that the fulldome video projection system has to offer.

In July, two sessions happen each Friday — at 7.30pm and 9pm. The first timeslot is all about astronomy, and may also include a presenter-led tour of the heavens. But, for this month only, it's the late-night screening that's the big drawcard. The reason? Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon.

The iconic album turned 50 in 2023, so Scienceworks is 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.

Making this night at the planetarium even better is the fact that the whole thing is boozy, so you can grab a drink from the bar, take it into the auditorium and sip while you watch.