The Science Museum in London has opened a new immersive space experience called Smithsonian Starstruck, created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) and events company Fever. This free-roam, interactive journey invites visitors to witness the birth and death of stars, explore distant galaxies, and even venture into a black hole.
Experience Details
Attendees begin their journey at the SAO, where a cosmic guide named Astro launches them into deep space aboard famous telescopes such as Hubble, JWST, and Chandra. Using high-tech 3D virtual reality, visitors can drift through space, gliding past thousands of galaxies. The experience includes soaring close to the Sun, where participants can listen to its vibrations, and exploring an exoplanet where volcanoes erupt and diamonds glitter beneath the surface. A supernova sequence shows how stars recycle into new stars and planets.
Collaboration and Purpose
Denise Elliott, Acting President of Smithsonian Enterprises, said: “Smithsonian Starstruck reflects years of thoughtful collaboration across the Smithsonian. By working closely with SAO and Fever, we’re extending Smithsonian science and storytelling into an immersive format that reaches new audiences while supporting our mission.” Randall Smith, Associate Director for Science at the Center for Astrophysics at SAO, added: “This project demonstrates how immersive experiences can make complex scientific ideas more tangible and engaging. It’s exciting to see astronomical data translated into an experience that encourages curiosity and exploration.”
Visitor Reviews
The experience runs for over 40 minutes and is suitable for ages ten and above. Early reviews have been positive. Alistair said: “Excellent show. Really informative.” Martin concurred: “Spectacular, and unexpectedly educational!” Claire noted: “We loved it my son whom is a wheelchair user and first time participants loved the immersive experience. The staff were great. Thanks for another beautiful experience that we will treasure.” However, some criticism has been directed at the museum itself. Trip Advisor reviewer Will wrote: “It appears they have had a huge layout change but as such seem to have lost half the artefacts they used to have.”
Ticket Information
Tickets are exclusively available through Fever. The experience is located at the Science Museum in South Kensington, London.
