Work will start in August on the ambitious planetarium at Sherwood Observatory — and it has been revealed that European leader ST Engineering Antycip and its partner, RSA Cosmos – Konica Minolta, will head up the project.

It is hoped the planetarium will inspire interest in STEM subjects and opportunities, particularly for disadvantaged young residents, through extracurricular activities and a world-class visitor attraction.

ST Engineering Antycip is an immersive simulation and VR solutions provider, with RSA Cosmos offering best-in-class turnkey solutions and powerful astronomical software, SkyExplorer.

The Sutton observatory recently received planning permission from Ashfield District Council to build the £6.35m planetarium and education centre on top of a disused underground Victorian reservoir, which was built in 1886.

The science centre will aim to link the engineering achievements of the past to the engineering challenges of the future, by taking visitors on a journey from the Victorian reservoir to the state-of-the-art planetarium.

Dr Steve Wallace, planetarium project manager, said: “Sherwood Observatory is dedicated to bridging the opportunity gap within our community by providing outreach, using astronomy as a means of inspiring people of all ages to take an interest in STEM subjects and careers.

“With a persistent regional disparity in educational outcomes and an alarming threat to future prosperity, our area stands at a critical crossroads. Through creating a locally-grown, high-skills workforce, we aim to unlock the untapped potential in our area, foster educational opportunities, and drive economic activity propelled by the planetarium.”

The planetarium, which should be complete in November 2024, also hopes to attract thousands of visitors from across the country and beyond.

In a joint effort with its partner RSA Cosmos – Konica Minolta, ST Engineering Antycip will provide all the fittings of the planetarium, including software, the dome, computers, seats, shows, audio, and lighting.

Amir Khosh, commercial and project manager at ST Engineering Antycip, said: “Our collaboration with Steve has been a remarkable journey, right from the inception of their idea of building a planetarium. We have provided them with support during the initial stages and assisted them in generating interest through our mock-ups.

“This is the first large planetarium that we will deliver from scratch. We have designed and will build and deliver a planetarium going from inception to fruition.”

Bahar Gumus, sales manager at RSA Cosmos – Konica Minolta, added: “We are thrilled and proud to have been selected for this leading planetarium project in the UK.”

The observatory praised the support it has received from Ashfield District Council and the Department of Levelling Up Homes and Communities., through invaluable contributions via the Towns Fund and Levelling Up Fund initiatives.