Get an insight into the universe around us at the Pamplona Planetarium (Planetario de Pamplona). Watch audiovisual presentations on a giant dome screen and discover modern-day science and technology developments. Wander amid a garden inspired by the Milky Way. Pamplona Planetarium opened to the public in 1993 and welcomes over 200,000 visitors annually.
A major highlight of the attraction is to attend a screening in the Tornamira projection theater. A complex series of lenses turns the 66-feet (20-meter) dome into a real-life galactic landscape. Sit comfortably and marvel as you are treated to views of thousands of stars and their constellations plus comets, meteorites and planets. You can also watch space-themed short movies such as Phantom of the Universe and From Earth to the Universe.
Exhibitions take place in the planetarium. Examples include displays that explain the uses and mechanisms of astronomical telescopes and solar clocks. There are hands-on technology workshops geared toward children, too. Look up at the auditorium’s ceiling to see a magnificent stained-glass window decorated with the symbols of the 12 signs of the zodiac.
Be sure to visit the Jardín de la Galaxia (Garden of the Galaxy), which occupies a section of Yamaguchi Park. It features more than 500 plants laid out to represent a scale version of the Milky Way. Each has been carefully planted to symbolize cosmic dust, nebulae and stars. There’s also a fountain, which represents the black hole.
Located in Yamaguchi Park, the planetarium is about 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) from Plaza del Castillo in Pamplona Old Town. Public buses stop on the south side of the park. Parking is available on the park’s surrounding streets be sure to check for any applicable fees. Alternatively, it’s a 30-minute walk from Plaza del Castillo.
Pamplona Planetarium is open from Tuesday to Saturday. Admission fees apply. Find more information on the planetarium’s official website.
