Planetarium Specs

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Inside our 8.25 meter dome
Photograph by Bill Pope

What is a planetarium?

• So You Want To Build A Planetarium?
• Loch Ness Worldwide Planetarium Directory
• International Planetarium Society

Technical Capabilities

• Planetarium capabilities in general:
  Loch Ness Productions: L-H-S Level Specifications
• An overview of the OBU Planetarium.

Star Projector

• History of star projectors, on the Morrison Planetarium website.
• Star Projector Operation
  • Our Goto GS-T star projector is the first installation of this model in the United States and was the 32nd worldwide. Purchase of the star projector was made possible by the W.P. Wood foundation.
  • Goto Optical Manufacturing Co., Fuchu-shi, Japan.
  • Star Projector Maintenance; performed by Planetarium staff, with annual servicing by ASH Enterprises: Eric Melenbrink, 1221 Stanhope Ave., Richmond, VA 23227 (804/264-8888; Fax: 804/266-7966).

Automation

• Automation systems
  • Auxiliary systems automation designed and installed by Jon Frantz of East Coast Control Systems, P.O. Box 486, Main Street, Bigler PA 16825 (814/857-5420).
• ECCS is automating the Goto star projector during 1997-98 through a $25,000 Science Initiative grant from the Kresge foundation.
• A $10,000 grant from Eaton Corporation will provide new capabilities for projecting constellation figures, to be installed in 1998.

Auxiliary systems

• Audio and Video Systems designed and installed by Jeff Bowen of Bowen Productions, Indianapolis.
• Slide Projection
• Special Effects

Want to learn more about the OBU Planetarium?

• Enroll in GNSC 250: Planetarium Operations!