Step into the fascinating world of space research this October at the Space Research Organisation Netherlands (SRON). Be amazed by planetarium shows in our mobile planetarium. Experience the thrill of discovery with hands-on experiments. Watch spectacular demonstrations and enjoy inspiring talks about our work. There’s something to discover for all ages!
🔭 What can you try?
- Inspect all our satellites and telescope models on the ceiling
- Visit the planetarium shows
- Spot molecules in the air with a special viewer
- Solder a satellite in the Fun Lab
- See yourself through a thermal imager
- Learn how we search for a second Earth
- Learn about mysteries of light and the universe
- Learn how we monitor the Earth’s climate
From space, telescope camera’s look outward at stars, planets, and black holes to understand how they work. But they also look back down at Earth’s atmosphere, revealing what’s happening to our climate. These space instruments are built here at SRON in collaboration with researchers from around the world.
Our space cameras capture types of light that are blocked by Earth’s atmosphere light our eyes cannot see, such as:
- X-rays: the same type used by doctors to look at bones and teeth
- Infrared light: which reveals heat and cold in incredible detail
Some telescopes take wide survey images; others zoom in on small details. Some detect the “fingerprints” of gases in light — helping us spot invisible greenhouse gases, identify stardust, measure temperature, and track movement. Is the material falling into a black hole? Being pushed away by its heat? Exploding? Or cooling and clumping into a new star?
During the Open Day, we’ll show how we design, test, and prepare these highly sensitive instruments for space missions.
Practical information
Open Day SRON Leiden
Saturday 11 October, 11:00–16:00
SRON Building, Niels Bohrweg 4, Bio Science Park Leiden
Parking available in the Ehrenfestgarage on Ehrenfestweg.
Part of NL Space Week. More programme details coming on https://www.sron.nl/en/actueel/sron-open-days-on-5-and-11-october-2025/
Did you know SRON also has another Open Day in Groningen?
Open Day SRON & Kapteyn Groningen
Sunday 5 October, 12:00–17:00
Kapteynborg Building, Landleven 12, Zernike Campus Groningen
Our Groningen Open Day is part of the Zpannend Zernike science festival and the NL Space Week. A more detailed programme will be available later on the Zpannend Zernike Zondag website: https://zpannendzernike.nl/locatie/sron-en-kapteyn/
