Nestled atop a hill near Perdana Botanical Gardens is Planetarium Negara (National Planetarium). Operating under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), the institution is dedicated to educating the public on astronomy and space science.
Planning an educational trip for your kids? Check out our article on Pusat Sains Negara (National Science Centre) too!
Planetarium Negara was constructed between 1990 and 1993, and was officially launched by then Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, in 1994.
From the outside, Planetarium Negara has a rather unique architecture. Its blue dome is inspired by astronomical achievements during the Golden Age of Islam.
Key Attractions
Planetarium Negara has many indoor and outdoor exhibits to captivate the interest of visitors of all ages.
Space Theatre
The main attraction at Planetarium Negara is the Space Theatre, housed inside its central dome.
Here, visitors are seated in reclined chairs to watch Omnimax-style films projected onto the massive ceiling. These large-format films provide an immersive visual experience that makes you feel as if you are drifting in space.
Pro Tip:
Separate tickets are required for the Space Theatre. Seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis. It is advisable to check the daily screening schedule before visiting and purchase your tickets upon arrival.
Space Pod
The Space Pod is a two-seater ride that allows 360° rotation around any axis, offering a thrilling experience of space flight. Tickets are also required for this attraction.
Anti-Gravity Room
The Anti-Gravity Room is not really a place devoid of gravity. Rather, the room uses optical illusion to convince you that the law of gravity does not apply.
Exhibition Gallery
The Exhibition Gallery houses most of the planetarium’s permanent exhibits, and is where visitors spend most of their time here. The galleries feature interactive displays and replicas to educate the public on astronomy and the history of space exploration.
In 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first person to go to space. Flying on Vostok 1, the Soviet cosmonaut completed one orbit of Earth and returned home safely.
Next, there is a replica of an Ariane 4 rocket developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). It is designed for a payload of nearly 5 metric tons, and is capable of carrying multiple satellites per launch.
The Ariane program serves to provide Europe with the capability to launch satellites independently. The project has over 200 successful launches to date, and has put hundreds of commercial satellites into orbit.
The exhibit also includes a Viking rocket engine, which was used in the launching of Malaysia’s first satellite, MEASAT-1. Launched in 1996, MEASAT-1 operated beyond its 12-year design lifetime and was finally decommissioned in 2013.
RazakSAT is Malaysia’s second Earth observation satellite. It is 3 times more massive than its predecessor, TiungSAT-1. Launched into orbit in 2009, RazakSAT was designed to provide detailed satellite imagery of Malaysia.
The Space Shuttle is perhaps the most iconic spacecraft to most people. Operated by the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Space Shuttle was designed to be reusable — meaning it could be used for multiple launches. Space Shuttles were involved in the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station. The fleet retired in 2011.
Do check out the detailed model of the International Space Station (ISS)! The space station measures over 100 meters in length, and consists of multiple modules that are assembled in stages from 1998 to the present. Involving 5 space agencies and 15 countries, the ISS is the hallmark of international cooperation.
The mock space laboratory here gives you an idea of what daily life is like aboard the International Space Station. Imagine how astronauts work and sleep in a microgravity environment!
How do you use the toilet in a weightless environment? This is the question that astronauts most often get asked about. Lucky for you, there is a space toilet here for you to imagine how can relieve yourself. Please do not actually relieve yourself here, mind you!
After the retirement of the Space Shuttle, the Russian-made Soyuz became the sole means of transporting astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station. Malaysian’s first angkasawan (astronaut), Sheikh Muszaphar, flew on a Soyuz spacecraft in 2007.
The Orlan space suit allows astronauts to perform extravehicular activity (EVA or “spacewalks”) in the unforgiving extremes of space.
Flying in low Earth orbit is a technological feat, but landing on the Moon itself (especially if manned) is exponentially more challenging. To date, only 12 humans have ever walked on the Moon. Can you imagine yourself inside a moon lander?
Mankind first landed on the Moon in 1969. Stepping off Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on a celestial body beyond Earth. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of this technological milestone, Planetarium Negara has a dedicated section where visitors can smell the scent of lunar dust, listen to the sound in space, and see the cosmos through anaglyph glasses.
Have you watched “The Martian”? The movie gives a somewhat accurate depiction of how the Red Planet (Mars) looks like. To date, we only had unmanned missions to Mars. The Mars rover and InSight explored the Martian surface for several years, sending back valuable scientific data that may make manned missions a reality one day.
Technology spun off from space exploration has practical applications that benefit our daily lives. Examples of resulting products include infrared thermometers, smoke detectors and even baby food. Now you understand the true meaning of “space-age technology”!
The Sun, Earth and other heavenly bodies are made of chemical elements, which scientists organize in a periodic table. Visitors can use the interactive screens to learn more about the properties and application of each element. Do you know that most chemical elements (for example carbon, oxygen and iron) are created inside stars?
For visitors who are curious about how our solar system came to be, there is a section that explains its formation 4.6 billion years ago.
Asteroids are remnants from the birth of our solar system. Some of these rocks may head towards Earth (called “meteoroids”), burn up in Earth’s atmosphere (called “meteors”), or impact Earth’s surface (called “meteorites”). There is a sample meteorite here for visitors to touch.
Another section explains how life on Earth evolved from single-cell organisms to the present day. The exhibit highlights key milestones such as the Cambrian explosion and the rise of dinosaurs.
Our Sun is just one of 100-400 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy. We happen to be at the right distance from the galactic core — otherwise life on Earth as we know it would not be possible.
In 1995, the Hubble Space Telescope took images of the Eagle Nebula some 7,000 light years from Earth, resulting in the now-famous photograph nicknamed “Pillars of Creation”. The photograph depicts the formation of new stars from interstellar gas and dust.
Electromagnetism makes it possible for spacecraft and probes to communicate across the vast emptiness of space. Electromagnetic waves of different wavelengths have different applications: longest-wavelengths radio waves are used in radio astronomy for probing the cosmos, while shortest-wavelengths gamma rays are used in nuclear medicine for diagnostic imaging.
Al-Khwarizmi was a scientist who lived during the Islamic Golden Age. He contributed important advances in astronomy, geography and mathematics during his lifetime. Best known as the founder of algebra, al-Khwarizmi also made important astronomical calculations that accurately described the movement of several heavenly bodies.
Gazing at the night sky, we sometimes see patterns of stars that resemble animals or objects. Since ancient times, people have been cataloging stars in such groupings called “constellations”. Before the advent of GPS, explorers relied on constellations to navigate the seas.
Observatory
There is a minaret-like structure next to the central dome of Planetarium Negara. The tower serves as an observatory with a 14-inch telescope. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the observatory when it is open to the public! On a clear night, you can get close-up views of the Moon and other planets.
Outdoor Attractions
Remember to also explore the outdoor exhibits around the building complex.
The Arca Al-Asr sculpture is a visual representation of space and time. Time is conveyed through flowing lines, while space is depicted by the spheres representing planets.
Guo Shoujing was a Chinese astronomer credited for measuring the length of a year with astounding accuracy (only 26 seconds off the actual value). Under orders from Kublai Khan, he constructed many observatories like this across China.
Sawai Jai Singh II was the ruler the Kingdom of Amber, best known for commissioning the construction of 5 “Jantar Mantar” observatories. These stone structures can determine the time of day with remarkable accuracy of 20 seconds — in an era when computers did not exist!
The world-famous Stonehenge in England is aligned towards sunrise on the summer solstice, and towards sunset on the winter solstice. Such precise alignment suggests that the monument was an observatory during its heyday, allowing prediction of celestial events such as solstices and equinoxes.
Jam Matahari Merdeka commemorates the Malayan Declaration of Independence in 1957. It incorporates national symbols: an 11-pointed star as the gnomon, casting its shadow on a crescent moon. Functionally, the large sundial accurately indicates the current time with some adjustments to account for seasonal changes.
Planetarium Negara is conveniently connected to Muzium Negara (National Museum) via a pedestrian bridge, allowing visitors to plan a combined itinerary of history and science.
Visitor Essentials
Planetarium Negara is open from 9:00am to 4:30pm every day except on Mondays and specific public holidays. Please check the official website for the latest updates.
Admission Fees
Admission to the main exhibition gallery is free of charge. However, the Space Theatre and Space Pod require tickets that can be purchased at the planetarium’s entrance. Online booking is not possible, and tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis.
| Location | Jalan Perdana, Tasik Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur Refer to the map at the bottom of this article. |
| Opening Hours | 9:00am-4:30pm, Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays and selected public holidays) |
| Gallery Admission | Free for all visitors |
| Ticketed Attractions | Space Theatre and Space Pod Malaysians enjoy discounted tickets by presenting their MyKad/MyKid cards. |
| Getting Here | From the Muzium Negara MRT station, walk across the grounds of Muzium Negara, and then cross the pedestrian bridge to Planetarium Negara. |
Space Theatre Showtimes
The Space Theatre has hourly screenings from 10:00am to 4:00pm. On Fridays, there are no screenings at 1:00pm and 2:00pm due to Friday prayers. However, the main exhibition gallery remains open.
Aiming for the Stars
If your children are interested in space and other natural sciences, Planetarium Negara is a suitable place for them to explore their curious minds. By visiting, perhaps Malaysia has the next angkasawan in the making?
If you want more information about Food and Travel Lover = Foodveler, don’t hesitate to reach out to Foodveler on WhatsApp. You can also email us at jack@foodveler.com.
Directions to Planetarium Negara
