The UK is to become a gateway to the cosmos with the arrival of Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience, opening on 26 June at the Science Museum in London and on 6 August in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. This free-roam, interactive journey invites visitors to witness the birth and death of stars, explore distant galaxies, and come face-to-face with a black hole, all without leaving Earth.
Developed in collaboration with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), the research centre founded in 1890, Starstruck draws on decades of astronomical research to translate scientific data into a fully immersive, interactive and walkable VR universe. Built from real astronomical data, Starstruck allows guests to activate their senses as they touch, hear and navigate the wonders of the universe.
During the experience, guests travel alongside some of humanity’s most powerful observatories, including the Hubble Space Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the Chandra X-ray Observatory, journeying far beyond Earth and deep into the cosmos. Along the way, they encounter extreme exoplanets, witness the life cycle of stars and explore the immense scale of galaxies and black holes, gaining a deeper understanding of humanity’s place in the universe.
Visitors can drift through a 3D expanse, gliding past thousands of galaxies, racing through the Milky Way, and soar close to the Sun to witness its immense energy. Along the way, encounter extreme exoplanet worlds, a dying star, and the edge of a supermassive black hole, capturing the scale and beauty of space.
