The new inflatable mobile Planetarium can sit up to 30 children inside. © Thinktank

Thinktank, Birmingham's award-winning science museum, is to launch a brand new mobile Planetarium.

The new inflatable mobile Planetarium is 5 metres wide, 3 metres tall and can sit up to 30 children inside. It is now available to primary and secondary schools in the West Midlands.

Using cutting-edge digital projection technology, it is designed to educate and inspire pupils, not only in the majesty of astronomy but also the wonders of light and the beauty of cells.

“Our mobile Planetarium is an important new addition to Thinktank’s already broad education programme,” said Julia Kingston, Thinktank Education Manager. “The Planetarium will give local schools an opportunity to literally immerse their pupils in science, creating a completely unique learning environment at the school.”

The wonders of Saturn will now be shown to more school children in the West Midlands. © Thinktank

The innovative inflatable device will be officially launched on Tuesday January 15 2008, by Chief Executive of Thinktank, Dr. Nick Winterbotham, who will welcome school children, local teachers and VIPs to view the new mobile Planetarium.

A group of 30 7- 8 year old pupils from Little Aston Primary School will be seeing one of the new shows in the inflatable dome for the first time.

“So far, the response we have had from both pupils and teachers has been extremely positive, and we look forward to extending the mobile Planetarium service to GCSE students next year,” added Julia.

Thinktank's permanent Planetarium opened to the public in December 2005 as the new centrepiece of the museum's £2 million upgrade.

The planetarium will also show the wonders of light and the beauty of cells. © Thinktank

The new mobile planetarium is part of the Projecting Science project, a new venture developed by Inspire Science Centre in Norwich, Techniquest in Wrexham and Thinktank.

The science centres in this creative consortium have worked together to produce three new interactive science shows that will be presented in the Planetarium. Through this collaboration, the centres have shared ideas and resources to create a distinctive learning experience that is now available to school children all over the country, from urban academies to rural primary schools.