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Our Living Climate

Our Living Climate
Source: Museum Victoria

Experience a dramatic and different way of looking at climate and climate change.

In this show a visually spectacular story unfolds on a global scale, revealing how the climate first evolved and how it has been endlessly transformed by weather patterns, Ice Ages and the appearance of new life forms.

Recent, man-made climate change are shown in the context of changes in climate that have occurred throughout the Earth’s history and by looking closely at our planet’s place in the Solar System.

Floods or droughts, rain or shine, hot or cold; it all occurs within the remarkably thin veneer spanning the Earth – the Atmosphere. Climate: the phenomenon that makes Life on Earth possible.

Suitable for families, children aged 10 and over.

Comments (21)

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I am a tudor with Upper Yarra U3A. our astronomy group suggested a visit to the planetarium would make an interesting and practical experience. We are some 12-15 retired people in our group. can you suggest a date? any time in this fourth term. Alfred

Hi Alfred,

All the information you need to visit the Planetarium can be found here.

Hope this helps.

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hi my name is Jasmine. Today I went to Science Works. It was great. After I looked at everything I went to the Planetarium to see 'Our Living Climate.' that was ineresting. From Jasmine

Are you able to provide catering for a group of children?I am wondering whether I can have my daughter's birthday party at scienceworks/ the planetarium, where we can watch the show and visit scienceworks and the children can have something to eat as well. This would be a much more educative way to spend a 6 year old's birthday. Can you advise?

Hi Sandra,

Scienceworks can offer catering for an hour in a private room, but does not offer a supervised party within the museum space - when the guests are in the museum they are treated as normal visitors.

Check our online venue hire & events at Scienceworks information.

I have lived through a cooling phase and a warming phase and am a keen student of past climate changes. Current conditions don't appear much different from past occurrences. How can you be so sure current conditions are not part of the natural cycle which has controlled our climate for four billion years?

It is true that climate has always changed. Over the long term (and by that we mean thousands or millions of years) the climate on Earth has changed dramatically. We know that over millions of years the global position of the continents and oceans has influenced the climate by changing ocean circulation and the build up of ice at the poles. Other natural variations in climate occur due to variations in how much energy is emitted by the sun, the earth’s wobble (Milankovitch cycles)and major volcanic eruptions that throw up dust. The past million years have generally seen a series of changes from ice ages to warm periods about every 100 000 years.

But there is no record of temperature ever having increased as rapidly as it has over the past 100 years. Climate change due to human activities is working on top of the natural fluctuations. On an annual scale, human-induced climate change is beginning to dwarf the natural variations.

For a summary of the observations of climate scientists around the world please refer to the IPCC website.

hi, i'm thinking about bring my 2.5 y.o. daughter to the planetarium, since she seem to be really fascinated with the stars and moon. is the show set like going to the movies, or just like museum exhibit where people can come and go at anytime? can you recommend it for under children under 3? thank you.

Hi Shierly, thanks for the question. We have fixed times for our different 45minute shows in the planetarium. Each includes a recorded movie plus a live night sky talk showing what’s visible in the evening. We also have some exhibits to enjoy in the foyer. We recommend “Tycho to the Moon” for very young families. It’s available at weekends on Saturdays 1pm and Sundays 12noon. Planetarium shows are extra to Scienceworks admission. You can buy in advance on-line via our website, or as you arrive although we suggest you arrive early to avoid missing out as shows can sometimes sell out.

Oh Lawrie. Must we? The absurd squabbling over the science of climate change will be considered one of contemporary society's great failings — not just to itself, but to the future societies who observe us through the lens of history. And possibly from a very polluted, very depleted world. Your comment has a certain 'common sense' tone, so let me ask you: does it seem like common sense that we, six billion humans and growing, can continue to incinerate and/or bury all our non-recycled (as distinct from non-recyclable - such a small proportion makes it back into the loop) waste, burning oil to propel machines 10 times heavier than our own bodies around our cities and countries, using electricity without regard for its generation (which typically happens through the burning of coal) and generally creating, buying and disposing of far more than we actually need?

Great documentary, gave a lot of perspective to the whole climate change debate. While a lot of the data was not new to me, the way it was presented was quite excellent. Thanks for the show, first time in MP, but I was very impressed with the projection system.

Very informative, thought provoking, excellent images. very well presented.

Hi, i was wonering if you could tell me when Jupiter is going to come out at night, could you please let me know the date, time and the day. thank-you for all of your help Olivia

Hi Olivia - information like this is published in our monthly online newletter called Skynotes which will give a summary of the planets, constellations and other astronomical details specific to Victoria for the coming month. For detailed, specific planetary information, use the link on this page to go to the Heavens Above website, which can be set us to provide very specific information on the planets and contellations as well as satellites and the like.

Hope this helps

YAY YAY IM GOING HERE IN 1 WEEK SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!

YAY i am so happy i am going to the planetariun

Is Our Living Climate not showing any more after Christmas Eve? Because if you see the what's on page it only says it's showing until 24 December.

I have a small group of 15 yr old students who would like to see a presentation on the night sky,especially the moon. Does this exist any more/ Also what will be happening in Term 2?

Hi Kerry, the next "Discover the Night Sky" series will be in August, it occurs every Thursday evening and bookings will open in June/July 2012. For information about the education programs available, please contact the Scienceworks Bookings and Enquiries Team who will be able to assist you with school bookings.

Hi, just wondering if you have any shows or programs on other planets in the solar system and future human exploration in space? Thanks!

Hi Jess,

Our Living Climate is one of four shows currently running at the Planetarium - the others are called Tilt, Tycho to the Moon, and Black Holes: Journey into the Unknown.

You might also be interested in our Discover the Night Sky program that will be running in August 2013.

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Hi Jess, Our Living Climate is one of four shows currently running at the Planetarium - the others are called Tilt, Tycho to the Moon, and Black Holes: Journey...

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