Space may seem a long way away from Stratford, but last week it came a little bit closer for the hundreds of children and adults, who enjoyed a visit to the Starlab Dome at the Stratford War Memorial Centre last week.
Starlab is a portable planetarium taken to schools and other venues around the North Island.
It involves an inflated dome which could be described as a "blow up igloo". The night sky is projected on to the inside roof of the dome for people who sit inside.
Gloria Witheford, an astronomy educator with more than 30 years' experience, is the owner and operator of Starlab and says she enjoys introducing children, and adults to the wonders of space.
Andrea Matthews, acting director of community services at Stratford District Council, says thanks to a grant from TSB Community Trust, Council was able to offer schools and community groups the opportunity to book visits to the Starlab Dome free of charge.