H.R. MacMillan Space Centre

I checked the website before coming to the space centre and it said to buy tickets on the door if you want to go in the morning. When I arrived I was told the earliest I could go in was 1.30. Wouldn’t be such a big deal but this is really out of the way so not easy to go and come back. Also the woman on the desk told me that it wasn’t worth going in anyway as their main attraction was broken. So I would take her advice and don’t bother.

The museum is pretty cool, especially the meteorite, moon rock, rocket engine and high energy radiation detector. Each exhibit is well explained by a plaque or a poster too. The planetarium was a bit of a let down (I went to the dark matter one) because it was simplified quite a bit for kids and people unfamiliar with astronomy. I think they would need to do this though or else not enough people would show up. The show itself was rather current (even had the gravitational waves discovery included) and the lady who led the show knew lots on the topic. The old lazer machine is out of commission but you can still see it at the middle of the room and take pictures of it. Overall I do recommend this place.

If you are thinking of taking you kids here for a fun time Don't! It's overpriced for what it is. A huge let down, it has the same grounds station presentation since i was a kid 25 years ago! Grossed me out then and grossed me out now all they talk about is how astronauts go to the bathroom. There is a small room with a few stations with lots of reading read, Not much interactive stations for the kids,just a few small rocks to look at. The staff seemed like they did not know about anything when we asked questions.the planetarium show that was playing was good to start but got very dry and would put you sleep. I mean they have an amazing dome and projectors to work with. You think they could make an exiting show to watch! We were not informed you can only see one planetarium show. Which they run 2 separate ones, the show I was wanting to see happened to be the second one only to wait 30 min for them to tell us we need to pay the full $18 a person to see the show. It's overpriced for what it is. The Blodel conservatory is far more entertaining and it was a quarter of the priceWhat I want to know is what are they doing with all the money they are making on these overpriced tickets. Certainly they are not put it into updated exhibits and presentations as these are the same ones from 25 years ago!

Museum was good; learned lots about indigenous history of the lower mainland as well as movements in Vancouver.However, when you come to a space centre and ask about space exhibits and features to the front desk.They should inform you there isn’t a SINGLE space related item in the museum side.Also dropping a star as I was overcharged as a student.

Ok, the other reviews are correct, the place is not very big. You can finish all the exhibits in 45 minutes at most. However, the price include one show at the planetary theatre which is totally worth it. There are also free live shows at the Groundstation Canada Theatre every hour which is also very entertaining and educational. There is no cafeteria so you'll have to bring your own food/snack. There are vending machines for drinks and snacks too but not enough for lunch. Overall me and the kids really like it here and we'll definitely come again.

This is a great way to learn about our solar system and the universe that surrounds us. The event staff are all very passionate and enthusiastic about the topics they are discussing, such as the solar system, the effects of gravity, and their on-site observatory. The showing is projected on the ceiling of the dome in the museum, and then it's followed by a Q&A session. You also get a quick lecture/Q&A in the exhibit, and I have to say, Matty really knew his stuff and was able to explain gravitational concepts in a way that even the younger kids could understand. They have a really neat visible light telescope at the end of the tour but if you want to get clear views through it you will have to make sure you attend on a clear night so that you can actually see the stars. This was a very fun experience for anyone who enjoys learning about space or enjoys talking with fellow astronomers.

Don’t miss the planetarium show or you will get upset a little bit, the area is so small but worth the price in total, was a very good experience.

Great museum for families with kids from 7 or so. The space show was amazing and surprisingly long, about 40 minutes.The actual museum section is a bit smaller than I expected, but they combined well the entertainment and the information.

Enjoyed a very quiet Sunday afternoon here with my kids! Admission is quite pricey for what you’re getting but it’s quieter and more enjoyable than the overcrowded Science World. We did happen to arrive just in time for the show and demonstration (11:00am). Presenters at the demonstration and show came off a little dry (material may be too difficult for small children to understand or stay engaged with) but all in all a nice place to spend a couple of hours.