Who’s ready to step into the world of space research at the Space Research Organisation Netherlands (SRON) this autumn? Save these dates in your diary!
We’re opening up our labs during NL Space Week 2026. On Saturday September 26th in Leiden, and on Sunday October 4th (which is also Weekend van de Wetenschap and Zpannend Zernike sciencefestival) in Groningen.
From young to old, everyone is welcome to step into the world of space research. Dive into our fascinating lectures and discover the science behind our missions. Marvel at planetarium shows in the mobile planetarium. Step into the shoes of a researcher with fun experiments or be amazed by demonstrations.
Can you spot molecules in the air with a special viewer? Can you solder a satellite in our Fun Lab? What do you look like through a heat viewer? Would you like to learn how we can search for a second Earth? What happens around super-hot black holes? And how are stars born? Come and find out in Groningen and Leiden.
With telescopes in space, we look up at stars, planets and black holes. That way, we learn how they work. And from above, we also look down at the sky on our own planet Earth. That way, we can see what is happening to the climate and air quality. We make space camera’s at SRON, together with researchers from other countries.
Our space camera’s can capture light that cannot be captured well enough from Earth. The air and clouds around Earth get in the way.
These are often special types of light that our eyes cannot see well. For example, X-rays, which doctors use to take pictures of your bones or teeth. Or infrared light, which is very good at showing heat and cold.
Some space telescopes take overview images, while others zoom in on a specific part. There are also telescopes that can read secret fingerprints of gas in the light.
This way we can see a cloud of invisible greenhouse gas. You can also see what kind of stardust is in the universe. And how hot it is and which direction it is flying in. Is it falling towards a black hole? Or is the heat from a black hole blowing it away? Is it exploding? Or has it cooled down and is it clumping together to form a new star?
SRON Leiden Open Day, Saturday September 26th, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
SRON building, Niels Bohrweg 4, Bio Science Park Leiden.
Parking is available in the Ehrenfestgarage on Ehrenfestweg. In Leiden, our Open Day is part of NL SpaceWeek. For the exact programme, return to this page some time in advance of the event.
Please note that there is no lunch or food facility. You might want to bring a snack if you plan to stay a while around noon.
SRON & Kapteyn Groningen Open Day, Sunday October 4th, 12-5 p.m.
Kapteynborg building, Landleven 12, Zernike Campus Groningen.
In Groningen, our Open Day is part of the Zpannend Zernike science festival and NL SpaceWeek. For the complete programme, return to this page some time in advance. Also by then, keep an eye on the Zpannend Zernike website.
Please note that there is no lunch or food facility. You might want to bring a snack if you plan to stay a while around noon.
