Louth families are invited on an out-of-this-world journey on Oct 3rd with the Town Scientist Family Day of Space

The Town Scientist Family Day of Space – Blast Off for World Space Week 2026!

WHEN: Saturday 3rd October, 10am-4pm, Dundalk, Co. Louth

WHERE: Dundalk Library, Roden Place & North East Credit Union's Foresters Building

Blast off into a universe of discovery at our Family Day of Space - a free, fun-packed celebration of science, storytelling and space adventure for all ages!

This year's World Space Week theme is Rocket Revolution, so we're bringing back the planetarium and rocket launch programme that were the hit of 2025.

HOW BOOKING WORKS - PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU BOOK

NOTE: Your ticket only gives you entry to the exact time slot you book - not to any other session.

For example, a 10am Planetarium ticket is for 10am only, not the 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm or 2.30pm slots, and not the Rocket Workshop or talks.

Want to do more than one thing?

Just add each activity and time slot to your order separately - one order can hold several bookings.

One booking covers your whole family (up to 6 people).

Please book only once per family per activity.

WHAT'S ON

Armagh Planetarium Dome Shows - back by popular demand!

Fly through space to nebulae, stars and black holes inside a portable planetarium dome. Each slot also includes time in the Space Activity Zone.

Same Planetarium- but completely NEW SHOW!!

Slots: 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm

VENUE: Foresters Hall

One booking per family.

Places are limited, so book early.

Rocket Design & Launch, 11am @ the Library

Learn how rockets work and build your own with our local NASA engineer, David Bushman. Kindly sponsored by Engineers Ireland North East Region.

We're planning to launch everyone's rockets later that same day, but launches depend on the weather, so we'll confirm details closer to the time.

If we can't launch on the day, we'll announce a follow-up date - everyone from the workshop is welcome to join any launch date.

Already have a rocket from last year? Bring it along and launch again with us.

Just 20 family spots for the workshop

One booking per family.

11am @ The Library

Artemis II Mission to the Moon, with Dr. Niamh Shaw 12.30pm @ The Library

Niamh reported live from NASA at April's Artemis II launch. Hear her account of the first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years.

12.30pm at the Library.

Exploring Science Missions Across the Universe, with astronomer Brendan Owens

A beginner's guide to what we're discovering across our Solar System- a summary of all the missions curently underway at the European Space Agency and the questions they are trying to answer.

10am at the Library.

Space Activity Pack and Workshop

Make and take home your own space-themed art and science activity.

Free, drop-in at the Library, no booking needed

also included with your Planetarium slot at Foresters Hall.

BOOKING AND VENUES

Everything is free, but registration is essential and some activities have limited spots.

Add whichever activities you'd like - a Planetarium slot, the Rocket Workshop, either talk - to your order below.

Dundalk Library, Roden Place:

Rocket Workshop and

all the talks

North East Credit Union's Foresters Hall, Market Street:

Planetarium Shows and

the Space Activity Zone

Family Day of Space is part of World Space Week 2026, organised by Dr. Niamh Shaw and facilitated by teams of people as part of her community science programme Town Scientist. Thank you to North East Credit Union and Engineers Ireland North East Region for their support in 2026.

Description supplied by the event organiser.