Planetariums Look Back to the Future!

Questions and Concerns of the small dome majority in the

21st Century.

Dr. Ronald Kaitchuck Ball State University

Keith Turner: Carmel Clay Schools/Carmel Planetarium

Chris Scott: student Indiana Purdue University

Main Points of Discussion

Overview of our Facilities What is a Planetarium today? Do the numbers!!! Difficult projection environment• Projection technology changes• Format and File type• Production and Design of content

Overview of our Facilities

Carmel Planetarium• 9.1m Optical mechanical• K-12 Public school• Astronomy classes: 11-12th

grades• “raised” by an Astronomer

BSU Planetarium• 9.1m Optical mechanical• University setting• Large undergrad

enrollment• Summer workshops• Astronomer

What is a Planetarium today?

“We are in the business of delivering understanding…”

What is a Planetarium today?

• Typical Planetarium• Full Dome video versus

traditional star projector = the great debate today over star fields…

• Video in the planetarium: multiple screens versus Full Dome…

• Most planetariums must produce their own shows

Do the numbers!!!

• 3,400 total planetariums in the world• Doubled in the last 30 years…

• International 69 million for 2004 attendance…• USA…29 million for 2004 attendance• Domes that are 13 meters or smaller…equal 68% of US

attendance…• 1493 Planetariums in US…how many are smaller than

13 meters? 1421 or 95%...• Of the 95%...most are secondary school small

planetariums…

The “Small Dome Majority”…

Difficult projection environment

Audience is fully dark adapted

30’ image projection = “inverse square nightmare”

GRIS: we need CRT projectors for video; masks for slide images

Projection technology changes

Slide projectors are being phased out…..major manufactures have stopped making them…

CRT video projectors…are getting harder to acquire……

CRT = no GRIS LCD and DLP = GRIS

Format and File type…

Production and Design of content

• High Cost of Full Dome productions…• Provide information for images: time is money • Narration sent on separate track Clips cut off at edges: Helix Nebula and Globular Cluster Include scale or comparisons Planetariums with video use NTSC standard

Almost dome…done

Content delivery drives our profession and yours! Our role, our goal - explain to public importance of

science and exploration Most planetariums are not full dome Work with us to teach science understanding…

Don’t forget the needs of the small dome majority

• Provide information for images: time is money

• Narration sent on separate track Clips cut off at edges

Include scale or comparisons Planetariums with video use NTSC

standard

Planetariums have always been great at reinventing themselves, making do on a

small budget, and coming up with creative sponsorship ideas!!!

Credits

• Lochness Productions: Mark Petersen

• www.jpl.nasa.gov

• www.hubblesource.stsci.edu

• www.marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov