Armagh Planetarium in Northern Ireland has reopened following a three-year renovation project.

The £2.7m scheme has remodelled the Planetarium’s exhibition halls and restored the attraction’s spacecraft models. New exhibits illustrating the latest astronomical discoveries and advances in space exploration have been installed.

The Hall of Astronomy is now illuminated by Hubble deep space images displayed in gothic arches – to give the appearance of stained glass windows – in a cathedral of the stars and a 1:20 scale model of the International Space Station has been suspended from the ceiling.

The adjoining Copernicus Hall now features a Martian theme, with large-scale models of Mars landers and walls dominated by 3D images from European Space Agency’s Mars Express mission.

The Digital Theatre has also been completely refurbished to accommodate 94 visitors. A new stereo sound system and LED lighting aims to enhance the new star shows, with a new Digistar 3 projector providing a full-colour 3D experience projected over the entire dome. In addition, a set of display panels informs visitors about the history of the Planetarium.

Armagh Planetarium originally opened in 1968, making it the oldest operating planetarium in the UK and Ireland. Details: www.armaghplanet.com