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Vol. 36, No. 1 March 2007

Journal of the International Planetarium Society

Live action in fulldome ...... Page 6

China,, Egypt or France for IPS 2010?

March 2007 Vol. 36 No.1 Articles 6 Live Action Film Footage in an Astronomy Fulldome Show ...... Ka Chun Yu, Matthew Brownell, Joslyn Schoemer, Executive Editor ...... Daniel Neafus, Thomas Lucas, Zachary Zager Sharon Shanks 18 Bakersfield College: A first person adventure in planetarium upgrades . . . . Ward Beecher Planetarium ...... Nick Strobel Youngstown State University 21 The Planetariums in Taiwan ...... Chilong Lin One University Plaza 23 What’s SLOOH With You? ...... Michael J. Narlock Youngstown, Ohio 44555 USA (1) 330-941-3619 daytime phone Special IPS Section [email protected] 27 2007 IPS/Eugenides Foundation Scriptwriting Competition . .Steve Tidey 28 In Touch With Ancient Observatory and Modern Planetarium in Beijing: Advertising Coordinator IPS 2010 ...... Jin Zhu Chuck Bueter 31 IPS 2010: Back to Alexandria ...... Omar Fikry, Mona El Madany 15893 Ashville Lane 34 The Place of Planetariums in the Cultural Policies of Our Cities: Saint- Granger, Indiana 46530 USA Etienne for IPS 2010 ...... Jacques Cuarinos, Robert Karulak (1) 574-271-3150 38 IPS Publications Archive Now Digitized ...... Dale W. Smith [email protected] 39 Minutes of the IPS Council Meeting ...... Lee Ann Henning http://www.ips-planetarium.org/planetarian/ ratesheet.htm 55 A Week in Italy: Final Report ...... Carolyn R. Kaichi 58 A Simply Scintillating Demonstration ...... Russell D. Sampson Membership 91 Helmut K. Wimmer: 1925-2006 ...... Kenneth L. Franklin Individual: $50 one year; $90 two years Institutional: $200 first year; Columns $100 annual renewal 4 In Front of the Console ...... Sharon Shanks Library Subscriptions: $36 one year 46 Forum: Can slides and digital coexist? ...... Steve Tidey Direct membership requests and changes of 54 Mobile News ...... Susan Reynolds Button address to the Treasurer/Membership Chairman 60 Digital Frontiers ...... Ed Lantz 63 NASA News ...... Anita M. Sohus Back Issues of the Planetarian 66 Reviews ...... April S. Whitt IPS Back Publications Repository 69 General Counsel: The Disabilities Act ...... Christopher S. Reed maintained by the Treasurer/Membership 72 President’s Message ...... Susan Reynolds Button Chairman; contact information is on next page 74 Past President’s Message ...... Martin George 77 International News ...... Lars Broman Index 87 Planetarian’s Calendar of Events ...... Loris Ramponi A cumulative index of major articles that have 88 Gibbous Gazette ...... James Hughes appeared in the Planetarian from the first issue 92 Last Light ...... April S. Whitt through the current issue is available online at http://www.ips-planetarium.org/planetarian/ planetarian_index.pdf Index of Advertisers allsky.de...... 17 Final Deadlines Astro-Tec Mfg., Inc...... 26 March: January 21 Calgary Science Centre ...... 62 June: April 21 Clark Planetarium ...... 76 September: July 21 Evans & Sutherland ...... outside back cover December: October 21 GOTO INC ...... 65 Konica Minolta Planetarium Co. Ltd...... 20 International Planetarium Society home page: Learning Technologies, Inc...... 71 www.ips-planetarium.org R.S.A. Cosmos ...... inside back cover Planetarian journal home page: SEOS ...... 5 http://www.ips-planetarium.org/planetarian Sky-Skan, Inc...... centerfold, 59, 85 Guidelines for Contributors and Advertisers: Spitz, Inc...... 25 http://www.ips-planetarium.org/planetarian/ Zeiss, Inc...... inside front cover guidelines.html The Planetarian (ISN 0090-3213) is published quarterly by the International Planetarium Society. ©2007, International Cover: Astrophysicist Andrea Ghez on the summit Planetarium Society, Inc., all rights reserved. Opinions expres- of Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The Sun and lens flares add to sed by authors are personal opinions and are not necessarily the complexity of shooting live action for a fulldome the opinions of the International Planetarium Society, its officers, or agents. Acceptance of advertise- environment. © DMNS, used with permission. Flags of ments, announcements, or other material does not imply endorsement by the International the three countries seeking to host the 2010 IPS Planetarium Society, its officers or agents. The Editor welcomes items for consideration for publication. Please consult "Guidelines for Contributors" at http://www.ips-planetarium.org/planetarian/ Conference; from iStockphoto.com. guidelines.html. The Editor reserves the right to edit any manuscript to suit this publication’s needs.

March 2007 Planetarian 1 I. P. S. Officers

President [email protected] Thomas Jefferson High School Susan Reynolds Button for Science and Technology Quarks to Clusters President-Elect 6560 Braddock Road 8793 Horseshoe Lane Dr. Tom Mason, Director Alexandria, Virginia 22312 USA Chittenango, New York 13037 USA Armagh Planetarium (1) 703-750-8380 (1) 315-687-5371 College Hill (1) 703-750-5010 fax (1) 315-432-4523 fax Armagh BT61 9DB Northern Ireland [email protected] [email protected] United Kingdom +44 (0)2837 524725 Treasurer and Membership Chair Past-President +44 (0)2837 526187 fax Shawn Laatsch Martin George +44 (0)771 0013453 cell Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii Launceston Planetarium [email protected] 600 Imiloa Place Queen Victoria Museum www.armaghplanet.com Hilo, Hawaii 96720 USA Wellington Street (1) 808-969-9735 Launceston, Tasmania 7250 Australia Executive Secretary (1) 808-969-9748 fax +61 3 6323 3777 Lee Ann Hennig [email protected] +61 3 6323 3776 fax Planetarium I. P. S. Affiliate Representatives

Association of Dutch Speaking Canadian Association of Science Italian Planetaria’s Friends +66 32 326156 Planetariums Centres Association +66 90 131081 André Milis Ian C. McLennan Loris Ramponi [email protected] Planetarium of the Royal #404 - 1275 Haro Street National Archive of Planetaria [email protected] Observatory of Belgium Vancouver, British Columbia c/o Centro Studi e Ricerche Serafino Boechoutlaan 10 V6E 1G1 Zani Rocky Mountain Planetarium 1020 Brussels, Belgium Canada via Bosca 24, C.P. 104 Association +32 2 474 70 60 +1 604-681-4790 phone + fax I 25066 Lumezzane (Brescia) Italy Kevin Scott +32 2 478 30 26 fax +1 604-240-0938 cell +39 30 872 164 Evans & Sutherland [email protected] [email protected] +39 30 872 545 fax 600 Komas Drive [email protected] [email protected] Salt Lake City, Utah USA Association of French-Speaking www.ianmclennan.com [email protected] (1) 801-588-7416 Planetariums www.planetaritaliani.it [email protected] Agnès Acker Council of German Planetariums www.rmpadomes.org Observatoire de Strasbourg Thomas W. Kraupe, IPS contact Japan Planetarium Society 11, rue de l'université person Shoichi Itoh Russian Planetariums Association 67000 Strasbourg France Planetarium Hamburg Chief of Physics and Astronomy Zinaida P. Sitkova +03 90 24 24 67 Hindenburgstraße 1 b Instruction Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium +03 90 24 24 17 fax D-22303 Hamburg Suginami Science Education Center Revolutsionnja Street, 20 [email protected] Deutschland 3-3-13 Shimizu, Suginami-ku 603002 Nizhny Novgorod Russia [email protected] +49 40 - 428 86 52-21 Tokyo 167-0033 Japan +7 831 2 30 51 51 +49 40 - 428 86 52-99 fax +81 3-3396-4391 +7 831 2 30 51 66 fax Association of Mexican Planetariums +49 40 - 4279 24-850 e-fax +81 3-3396-4393 fax [email protected] Ignacio Castro Pinal +49 40 - 172-40 86 133 [email protected] [email protected] Torres de Mixcoac, A6-702 thomas.kraupe@planetarium-ham- [email protected] www.planet.nn.ru C.P. 01490, México D.F. México burg.de [email protected] +52 (55) 55 24 51 50 www.rdp-planetrium.de Southeastern Planetarium +52 (55) 55 24 01 40 fax Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society Association [email protected] European/Mediterranean Planetar- Patty Seaton John Hare ium Association H. B. Owens Science Center Ash Enterprises Association of Spanish Planetariums Dennis Simopoulos 9601 Greenbelt Road 3602 23rd Avenue West Javier Armentia Eugenides Planetarium Lanham-Seabrook, Maryland 20706 Bradenton, Florida 34205 USA Planetario de Pamplona Syngrou Avenue-Amfithea USA (1) 941-746-3522 Sancho Ramirez, 2 Athens Greece (1) 301-918-8750 (1) 941-750-9497 fax E-31008 Pamplona Navarra Spain +30 1 941 1181 (1) 301-918-8753 fax [email protected] +34 948 260 004 +30 1 941 7372 fax [email protected] www.sepadomes.org +34 948 260 056 [email protected] www.maps-planetarium.org +34 948 261 919 fax [email protected] Southwestern Association of [email protected] Nordic Planetarium Association Planetariums [email protected] Great Lakes Planetarium Association Lars Broman Tony Butterfield cio.com Dave Weinrich Dalarna University Houston Museum of Natural Science Minnesota State University- SE 791 88 Falun Sweden One Hermann Circle Australasian Planetarium Society Moorhead +46 2310 177 Houston, Texas 77581 USA Martin Bush 1104 7th Avenue South +46 23 10 137 fax (1) 713 639-4637 Melbourne Planetarium Moorhead, Minnesota 56563 USA [email protected] (1) 713 639-4681 fax 2 Booker Street (1) 218-477-2969 www.planetarium.se/npa [email protected] Spotswood 3015 [email protected] Victoria, Australia Pacific Planetarium Association Ukranian Planetariums Association +61 3 93924503 Great Plains Planetarium Association Gail Chaid Lydmila Rybko [email protected] Jack Dunn Independence Planetarium Kiev Republican Planetarium Ralph Mueller Planetarium 1776 Educational Park Drive 57/3 Velyka Vasyikivska Street British Association of Planetaria University of Nebraska- Lincoln San Jose, California 95133 USA 03150 Kiev Ukraine Tom Mason 210 Morrill Hall (1) 408-928-9604 +380 442 27 27 81 Armagh Planetarium Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0375 USA (1) 408-926-9515 fax +380 442 27 37 43 fax College Hill (1) 402-472-2641 [email protected] [email protected] Armagh BT61 9DB Northern Ireland (1) 402-475-8899 fax [email protected] United Kingdom [email protected] +44 (0)2837 524725 www.spacelaser.com/gppa Planetarium Society of India +44 (0)2837 526187 fax Professor Gopinath Subramanian +44 (0)771 0013453 cell Director-Astronomer [email protected] Department of Science www.armaghplanet.com Ratchaborikanukroh School Amper Muang, Ratchaburi- 70000 Thailand

2 Planetarian March 2007 I. P. S. Standing Committees

IPS Awards Committee IPS Elections Committee IPS Publications Committee Jon Bell, Chair Steve Mitch, Chair Dr. Dale W. Smith, chair Hallstrom Planetarium Benedum Planetarium BGSU Planetarium, 104 Overman Hall Indian River Community College Oglebay Park Physics &Astronomy Dept. 3209 Virginia Avenue Wheeling, West Virginia 26003 USA Bowling Green State University Fort Pierce, Florida 34981 USA (1) 304-243-4034 Bowling Green, Ohio 43403 USA (1) 772-462-4888 (1) 304-243-4110 fax (1) 419-372-8666 [email protected] [email protected] (1) 419-372-9938 fax [email protected] IPS Conference Committee IPS Finance Committee - President, Past- Susan Reynolds Button President, President-Elect, Treasurer, Quarks to Clusters Secretary 8793 Horseshoe Lane Chittenango, New York 13037 USA IPS Membership Committee (1) 315-687-5371 Shawn Laatsch, Chair (1) 315-432-4523 fax Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii IPS Permanent Mailing Address [email protected] 600 Imiloa Place International Planetarium Society Hilo, Hawaii 96720 USA IPS Conference Host-2008 (1) 808-969-9735 c/o Shawn Laatsch Dr. Paul Knappenberger, President (1) 808-969-9748 fax IPS Treasurer/Membership Chair Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum [email protected] Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii 1300 South Lake Shore Drive 600 Imiloa Place Chicago, Illinois 60605 USA Hilo, Hawaii 96720 USA (1) 312-922-7827 reception (1) 312-322-2257 fax IPS Web Site [email protected] www.ips-planetarium.org www.adlerplanetarium.org I. P. S. AD HOC Committees

Armand Spitz Planetarium Education Fund IPS Media Distribution Committee IPS Script Contest Committee Finance Committee Thomas W. Kraupe, IPS contact person Steve Tidey, Coordinator Planetarium Hamburg 58 Prince Avenue IPS Education Committee Hindenburgstraße 1 b Southend, Essex, SS2 6NN England Vacant D-22303 Hamburg United Kingdom Deutschland [email protected] IPS Full-Dome Video Committee +49 40 - 428 86 52-21 Ryan Wyatt, Chair +49 40 - 428 86 52-99 fax IPS Strategic Planning Committee Rose Center for Earth & Space +49 40 - 4279 24-850 e-fax British Association of Planetaria American Museum of Natural History +49 40 - 172-40 86 133 Tom Mason, Chair 79th Street & Central Park West [email protected] Armagh Planetarium New York, New York, 10024 USA College Hill (1) 212-313-7903 IPS Outreach Committee Armagh BT61 9DB Northern Ireland [email protected] Jon W. Elvert, Chair United Kingdom Irene W. Pennington Planetarium +44 (0)2837 524725 IPS History Committee Louisiana Art & Science Museum +44 (0)2837 526187 fax John Hare, IPS Historian 100 South River Road +44 (0)771 0013453 cell Ash Enterprises Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 USA [email protected] 3602 23rd Avenue West (1) 225-344-5272 www.armaghplanet.com Bradenton, Florida 34205 USA (1) 225-214-4027 fax (1) 941-746-3522 [email protected] IPS Technology Committee (1) 941-750-9497 fax Vacant [email protected] IPS Planetarium Development Group Ken Wilson, Chair IPS Web Committee IPS International Relations Committee Ethyl Universe Planetarium Alan Gould, Chair Martin George, Chair Science Museum of Virginia Holt Planetarium Launceston Planetarium 2500 West Broad Street Lawrence Hall of Science Queen Victoria Museum Richmond, Virginia 23220 USA University of California Wellington Street (1) 804-864-1429 Berkeley, California 94720-5200 USA Launceston, Tasmania 7250 Australia (1) 804-864-1560 fax (1) 510-643-5082 +61 3 6323 3777 [email protected] (1) 510-642-1055 fax +61 3 6323 3776 fax [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] IPS Portable Planetarium Committee IPS Job Information Service Subcommittee Susan Reynolds Button, Chair (Professional Services Committee) Quarks to Clusters Steve Fentress, Chair 8793 Horseshoe Lane Strasenburgh Planetarium Chittenango, NY 13037 Rochester Museum & Science Center (1) 315-687-5371 657 East Avenue [email protected] Rochester, New York 14607 USA (1) 585-271-4552 ext. 409 IPS Professional Services Committee (1 )585-271-7146 fax Mike Murray, Chair [email protected] Clark Planetarium 110 South 400 West Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 USA (1) 801-456-4949 Please notify the Editor of any changes (1) 801-456-4928 fax on these two pages. [email protected] Contact the Treasurer/Membership Chair for individual member address changes and general circulation and billing questions.

March 2007 Planetarian 3 descriptions of beautiful cities and exciting In Front of the Console sites, this issue of the Planetarian sets a new record for size. I have already apologized to the trees and thanked the for their sacrifice. Sharon Shanks This issue’s cover story—about the lessons learned in taking live action from the flat Ward Beecher Planetarium screen to the dome—is another peer Youngstown State reviewed article, and it deserves this treatment. Once you read it you’ll see how much University new ground was broken and how much Youngstown, OH 44555 time and effort will be saved by others thanks to the work of the team at the Gates USA Planetarium. [email protected] Because of the size of this issue I couldn’t justify including an article from the Astronomy Education Review. Be sure to out in front of the console but who hates check out the latest issue online, however, having her picture taken. I owe a hundred especially “Teaching What a Planet Is: A thanks to Carl Leet, the very patient and Roundtable on the Educational Implications very talented photographer in Youngstown of the New Definition of a Planet” conduct- State University’s media department for ed by Andrew Fraknoi. The url is putting up with me and my futile attempts aer.noao.edu. to be imaged. He’s the one who got me to Now, as I get ready to put another issue smile. (and myself) to bed, I gratefully give the rest I won’t give you a lot to read this time of my space to Gary Likert. Gary responded around. You have enough to keep you busy to my plea for more star stories and this was As you can see, I couldn’t put it off any in this issue. Between articles and our regular the only space I had left to run his submis- longer. Yes, the photo above is the 50-year- columnists, the IPS Council Meeting minutes sion. After all those requests for material, the old me, the person who isn’t afraid to come from the 2006 Conference, and tantilizing least I could do actually print what I get!

In Defense of Leo Minor Sky Stories Gary Likert The Home Planetarium Association Gallatin, Tennessee usa www.planetariumsathome.com

Ever notice how certain constellations get more press than oth- Centaurs. True enough. The dogs ... they were bright and in full ers? Maybe I spend far too much time beneath my own dome look- glory, couldn't argue there. Gemini even represented the original ing at my own stars, but the constellations above my head begin to “two for one” sale idea. tell me things after awhile. “I represent the little guy,” Leo Minor argued, “the lesser of the True, I build my own planetariums, so perhaps I have a bit more celestial pairs, that forgotten brother or sister who gets shunted off vested interest and right to call them “my stars,” and maybe the to the corner.” constellations talk to me in the privacy of my own dome more than “Got any examples?” I asked him bravely. I'd never even identified they would, say, in a more public dome. They tend to be shyer then, him in the shadow of his big Lion King bro, and even now I was hard I think, and perhaps a bit more resentful that cable TV, DVDs, and pressed to see where his voice was coming from. glowing screens that have largely replace them as an evening’s He warmed to his subject. “Take horses. The big horse with the entertainment. But they talk to me, and they are concerned that cer- wing thing is famous, but who can find Equuleus? There’s a big snake tain of their ... umm ... members get far more press than the others. hogging tons of sky, but what about Hydras? Is he the jilted I had to admit it was true, that even I tend to look at the same boyfriend? Doesn't he need some attention too? Who looks at the constellations over and over and ignore the rest. The big boys and southern stuff? The triangle, the crown? “ girls, I need not mention them, with their swords and belts and sis- “Wait,” I argued. The southern fish is brighter than the Pieces. ters and sea monsters threatening, their heroes and myths. I listen to “Exceptions. exceptions,” he continued. Serpens may be in two the gripes of constellations that were overlooked but admittedly parts, but he gets more looks that Lacerta or Chamaeleon!?” still famous, and it’s time to name some names. Aquarius lamented Leo Minor had made his point, I suppose, so I conceded that some- nobody sings about him any more and Capricorn butted me in a vain one needed to put in a word for those lesser twins, those forgotten attempt to get some attention. And on and on it went. Finally I con- sisters and brothers and objects up there in the sky that deserve at templated the twins of the skies, and realized there were more than least passing mention. As I headed for the dome of my home-built I thought. 15ft theater, I already heard Aquila and Cygnus trying to make up I heard a tiny voice crying from my sky overhead. It was Leo with Pavo and Phoenix. Grus was crying in the corner. The last thing I Minor. “What about me?” he cried. saw before flipping on the lights was Leo Minor curling up with the He had a point. The two bears get all the attention, and those Lynx and going to sleep.

4 Planetarian March 2007

Lights!Lights! Cameras!Cameras! RenderRender toto thethe Dome!Dome! LiveLive ActionAction FilmFilm FootageFootage inin anan AstronomyAstronomy FulldomeFulldome ShowShow

Ka Chun Yu1, Matthew Brownell1, Joslyn Schoemer1, Daniel Neafus1, Thomas Lucas2, & Zachary Zager1

1 Denver Museum of Nature & Science 2001 Colorado Boulevard Denver, Colorado 80205 USA

2 Thomas Lucas Productions, Inc. 23-25 Spring Street Ossining, New York 10562 USA Submitted for publication 10/20/06; accepted for publication 11/28/06

6 Planetarian March 2007 Figure 1: Fisheye Distance Tests Fisheye images taken with a consumer-grade Nikon Coolpix camera and a FC-E8 0.21x lens, tilted up at 45°. The figure (height of 178 cm/5 ft 10 in) is at distances of 1 meter, 2 meters, and 3 meters. For the top row, the camera was held 60 cm above the ground; for the bottom row, the camera was held 120 cm

Abstract: The majority of modern fulldome productions have relied almost exclusively on computer generated imagery and animation. However, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity includes live action footage from both 35 mm film and HD video, which cumu- latively accounts for just under 9% of the film’s total running time. The demands of creating content for an immersive display—including resolution needs, composition, pacing, and the need to preview in a domed environment—are compounded by technical demands from using short lenses when acquiring footage from a live shoot. This paper will discuss some of the pre- production tests and experiments, the on-location shoots, and challenges from iStockphoto.com the extensive post-production. The solutions developed over time by the DMNS staff can be used to form a prototypical “best practice” for future live action fulldome producers.

March 2007 Planetarian 7 1 2 3 4

Figure 2: Full-frame vs. Circular Fisheye Shots; Tilting the Fisheye Camera 1: A single 35 mm frame showing footage shot with a Nikkor 8 mm lens. The size of the film negative means that the circular image is cropped at the top and bottom. Unless otherwise indicated, all images in this article courtesy of and ©DMNS. 2: A single exposure from a Canon EOS 5D camera with a 6 mm lens showing the circular framing of the entire fisheye image. Note that scanning in a full- frame image can result in as much as a third more pixels horizontally then the equivalent from a circularly framed one. Courtesy and ©Greg Downing. 3: A fisheye image taken with FC-E8 8 mm lens attached to a Nikon Coolpix camera tilted up at 45°, and with the image masked out to approximate the image that an 8 mm lens would project onto 35 mm film. 4: For the Gates Planetarium dome tilted at 25° (represented by the white grid), the fisheye image can be tilted down so that the cropped bottom of the frame is no longer apparent, while the cropped top of the frame appears at the back of the dome.

that was constructed completely from artifi- requires increased data storage space and cially-generated content and environments. more overhead time to accommodate image 23-minute fulldome planetar- The One of us (director Lucas) also felt that the processing. Even routine tasks like file trans- ium show Black Holes: The Other Side of fulldome medium called out for experimen- fers become more laborious. Infinity (2006; dir. Thomas Lucas), produced tation at a level that was missing from previ- at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science ous fulldome programs that he had viewed. • Fulldome video is meant to be seen (DMNS), was funded in part by the National Live action footage would expand the con- inside an immersive hemispherical display. Science Foundation’s Informal Science tent options available to the filmmaker. Whether previewing live or CGI footage, Education program along with seed money Once the decision was made to couple the compositional problems are not easy to dis- provided by NASA’s Gamma-ray Large Area production of the fulldome program with a cern when a frame is viewed on a flat moni- Space Telescope. Partnered with DMNS in parallel hour-long NOVA documentary, it tor display. Because straight lines are curved the collaborative effort were Thomas Lucas was clear that the two programs would share and warped inside a dome master, it may not Productions, Andrew Hamilton at the resources, visualizations, and documentary be clear where the horizon should lay, espe- University of Colorado at Boulder, a scientif- footage. Since most NOVA television pro- cially if the dome master is meant to be dis- ic visualization team at the National Center grams focus on scientists at work on a played in a tilted dome. And since dome for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) led research problem, it was expected that this masters can be quite large, visual minutiae by Donna Cox, and Spitz Inc. as the show dis- production would highlight the personali- will only become globally visible at full reso- tributor. The visuals created for the planetar- ties as well as the science. This meant that lution. It is only when the footage is shown ium show were also used for the companion there would have to be live footage to cover inside a fulldome theater that image compo- NOVA documentary “Monster of the Milky the scientists for the fulldome show. sition and fine detail issues become apparent. Way,” directed and produced by Lucas. Similarly, the pacing of a sequence, the num- The majority of the scenes in the show Fulldome vs. Flat Filmmaking ber of cuts, and the camera motion may look were created using traditional computer ani- There have been previous considerations fine on a monitor for a desktop video editor; mation techniques, visualizations of numeri- and discussions of production guidelines for but once the same footage is blown up to the cal simulations, model reconstructions based shooting fulldome video as opposed to tradi- dome, the large format may mean a dizzying on observational data, and Hamilton’s real- tional “flat” filmmaking (e.g., Elumens 2001, experience for the viewer. Only after actual- time general relativistic flight simulator. as well as the ongoing debates at the full- ly seeing their films in a dome can animators However, Black Holes: The Other Side of dome mailing list on yahoogroups.com). and filmmakers begin to gain the experience Infinity (henceforth, BH) also utilized live What follows are the challenges of fulldome of how to film for this medium. footage shot on high-definition (HD) video filmmaking that we considered during the Aside from artistic questions, proper coor- and 35 mm film, totaling 112 seconds in the pre-production of BH. dination of the facility also becomes final film. This is a dramatic departure from paramount. Because DMNS has only a single most other fulldome productions that have • Dome masters need to be very large. The fulldome theater, previews of dailies had to relied almost exclusively on computer gen- large fulldome theaters have display resolu- be done when the Gates Planetarium was 1 erated imagery (CGI) and animation. tions that require dome masters2 with a min- not being used for other programming. Although live action has been done spar- imum resolution of 2000 pixels (2k) across. Usually this meant that to avoid disrupting ingly in past fulldome productions, there To be safe, some animators may choose to public programming, most of the work had were several reasons why it was chosen for over-render their scenes to 4k dome masters, to be done after hours. And since so much BH. The first suggestion of live action came to allow for all possible display resolutions more computer and projection equipment from front-end surveys of visitor opinion at (based on current dome deployments). Even were required to run the Gates Planetarium DMNS (Heil et al., 1999). The survey revealed a minimal 2048 x 2048 dome master has than for offline work on a desktop machine, that our audiences were not just interested in more than 13 times the pixel count of a tele- use of the venue itself added to the expense viewing computer-generated graphics for a vision (NTSC) frame, and twice that of a full of the production. fulldome planetarium show; instead, they HD frame. For BH, the production team set- wanted to see actual scientists and hear their tled on a dome master resolution of 4096 x • Filmmaking for domes can be different. stories, as opposed to watching a narrative 4096. The sheer size of the individual frames Ben Shedd was one of the first to codify the

8 Planetarian March 2007 differences between filmmaking for tradi- video to meet the tional cinema and for large-format film like resolution demands, IMAX (Shedd 1997). Because large-format the BH production films (and, by extension, fulldome produc- team decided to use tions) fill a viewer’s field of view, the cine- 35 mm film for matic grammar available to a director acquiring most of changes. He suggested that cuts need to be the live action. The reduced to avoid confusing the audience current micro-fine with instantaneous jumps to new perspec- grain Kodak EXR tives or environments. Camera motions like 50D Film 5245 stock pans and tracks also need to be minimized, has roughly 14 mil- or at least slowed down, to avoid creating lion high quality motion sickness. The overall pacing of the grains per frame. film needs to be restrained if there is more Even given con- surrounding visual content for the audience straints from camera to see. movement and One of us (Lucas) felt that this philosophy focusing and the resulted in a very conservative approach to parts of the frame Figure 3: Small Enclosed Space in a Large Dome The interior corridors of St. Basil’s Cathedral (Red Square, Moscow) are lit- previous fulldome filmmaking. As an alter- not imaged by the tle more than a meter across. When projected onto the Gates Planetarium’s native, he wanted to get away from an fisheye, 35 mm film 16.9 meter dome, an audience member will feel that the projected environ- approach that consisted entirely of slow had the best poten- ment is enormous, while she has shrunk down in size. Panorama photo cour- camera movements and no cuts. Instead, he tial for being blown tesy and ©Greg Downing. wanted to make use of all of the normal up in the Gates the- techniques of cinema, including pans, tracks, ater without com- varying camera angles, and vibrant editing. promising image It has long been known that specific aesthet- quality. ic choices by filmmakers can alter a viewer’s perception and can lead to a greater emo- • Fisheye lenses tional experience based on the predictable can make subjects ways in which audiences respond to stimuli look distorted. (e.g., Zettl 1999). Thus, using the array of Because fisheye lens- options from ordinary filmmaking could es have extremely lead to a greater potential impact on audi- short focal lengths ences. However, the filmmaker does have to (16 mm or less), sub- work harder to keep audiences oriented so jects can be pho- that they can follow the flow of images (for tographed extreme- an example, see the end of the section on ly close to the lens optimizing filmmaking). and still remain in focus. However, Live Footage for a Fulldome wide angle lenses The use of live video and film footage pre- tend to distort such sented unique challenges to a medium that nearby subjects for is already difficult to create content for. Here most audience are further issues. members in a fulldome theater. • The commonly available video formats Although such dis- do not have high enough resolutions. While tortion can appear dome masters created for large-theater full- acceptable on a Figure 4: Gates Planetarium Dome Evaluation Chart dome productions require high pixel counts, video monitor or in An evaluation grid for filmmaking for the Gates Planetarium dome at DMNS, the video formats in wide use do not come the context of skate- rendered as a dome master with dot spacing of 1°. Subjective judgments close to matching the necessary resolutions. boarding videos (e.g., were used to determine the range of acceptable horizon lines on the dome NTSC video has a viewable image with a res- Kavanaugh 2004), so that audiences did not feel like they were looking angled up or down. olution of 640 x 480. Full resolution HDTV they can be distract- frames have 1920 x 1080 pixels. Even with a ing when shown fully magnified in a full- roughly 45°. Based on such tests, it was sug- fisheye lens, the maximum resolution of the dome setting. gested that minimal limits should be set for circular dome master within the 16:9 HD To determine what levels of distortion how close the camera would approach field is 1080 lines. Although 4k HD video were unacceptable, tests with a fisheye lens human subjects. cameras are being developed, it will be some attached to a digital camera were used to years before they become inexpensive photograph a human figure. Even at a dis- • There is a trade-off between image reso- enough for widespread use. In addition, the tance of only 1 meter away, the subject lution and cropping. Tests showed that a lens widescreen aspect ratios of HD cameras looms in the field, and thus would cover with the Nikon Nikkor 8 mm T 2.8-22 result- means that circularly framed images will still much of the forward half of the tilted dome ed in an image that matched the curvature be at 2k resolution. display (Figure 1). Only at a distance of 2 of the dome with a 180° field of view. The Because of the inability of current HD meters does the figure have a vertical span of Super 35 mm frame, however, is not large

March 2007 Planetarian 9 enough to show the 8 mm image without cropping 18° from the top and bottom of the frame (or 8% of the circular radius; see Figure 2:1 and 2:2). Switching to the Nikon 6 mm lens resulted in a slightly wider shot (220°), while the circular image was smaller on the negative. There is, therefore, a trade-off between the resolution of the scanned film frame versus the completeness of the image. Maximizing resolution was felt to be a higher priority than the clipped framing, so the 8 mm lens was chosen. In order to maximize the image that would be seen in the dome, at what angle should the camera be held? The cropping of the circular fisheye image removes 18° from the top and bottom of the frame. Since the Gates Planetarium is tilted down by 1 25°, the camera should be tilted up by 18°+25°=43° from the horizontal. A camera pointing up by 45°, then, will give a fisheye image that can be tilted down to obscure the truncation at the bottom of the frame and allow the horizon to look correct. However, there is a considerable wedge of image—36°=18°+18°— missing in the back of the fisheye image (Figure 2:3 and 2:4).

• The distortion from wide lenses can lead to viewfinding problems. Content in the forward direction, for shots intended for tilted domes, will tend to be concentrated near the edge of the dome master, which, when projected, will be close to the horizon or edge of the physical dome. Subjects at the edge of the circular dome master will be horizontally stretched by a factor 2 of π/2 ≈1.6 compared to those in the center of the frame. Through the viewfinder, the fisheye field will look distorted along its perimeter. If the camera has to be tilted to match a tilted dome, then keeping a subject in the “front forward” direction means keeping the subject not at the undistorted center of the frame (which is where the framing would occur in traditional camera work), but near the lower edge of the frame. Keeping this non-traditional framing consistent may not be a serious concern for static content or if a moving subject is followed by a camera on a tripod mount. However, if a tripod or dolly is not available and a hand-held shot is required to track a moving subject, the camera operator will then have a difficult time keeping the subject centered properly, or even keeping a stable horizon line. Hand holding a camera angled up at 45° or 3 more is not only awkward, but is counter-intuitive for a traditional camera operator.

• Shooting in enclosed spaces can lead to unexpected effects. If the size of the enclosed room is physically smaller then the fulldome theater that the footage is shown in, the audience viewing the footage will feel psychologically that they have shrunk by a factor proportional to the ratio of the two scales (Figure 3). Unless the fulldome theater is extremely large, there are still subtle perceptual cues that let audience members know that they are viewing a projected image on a screen at a fixed (not infinitely far) distance away. Thus, if the dome theater is 20 meters in diameter and the filmmakers shot footage from inside 4 a closet 2 meters across, to the audience the 2-meter room has now expanded by a factor of 10 to appear as if it was really 20 Figure 5: The Milky Way meters in size. 1: Frame 1000; half of the dome master showing the band of the Milky Way arch- This perceptual effect exists at a much less noticeable level for ing almost directly overhead. The camera is flying towards a point to the left other types of cinema. However, the immersive nature of the and below the Galactic bulge. 2: Frame 1250; the emergence of a red supergiant star, to the right of the vanish- fulldome theater accentuates it by creating a visual field that ing point. Because of the strong contrast of its color and expanding size, the surrounds the viewers, which solidifies the illusion that they audience’s attention is reoriented toward it. have been physically transported to another place being depict- 3 and 4: Frames 1330 and 1500; the red supergiant goes supernova. The flash and ed on screen. The filmmaker should be aware that the psycho- the subsequent remnant continue to dominate the viewer’s focus to the end of the shot. Although the voiceover also serves to emphasize the point, the visual logical effect—and possibly the emotional content—of shots can redirection is so strong that even without the narration, the audience will be vary depending on the size of the dome display used to present drawn to looking at the star before it explodes. Courtesy of DMNS; @University the film. of Illinois

10 Planetarian March 2007 Optimizing Filmmaking for a by 25° and still appear reasonable. Horizons could lean back for that seat. Dome inside this range still appear like natural hori- Finally, “safe areas” within the dome mas- Because these points (as well as the poten- zon lines, while horizons outside would ter were also found from the three test seats tial for other unidentified issues) were recog- make the viewer feel that he was either look- in the dome. These are similar to the action nized early on in the pre-production process, ing angled up or down instead of in a level, safe and title safe areas used in television pro- it was deemed important that test trials be forward direction. This was an important duction for marking screen locations where performed to ensure the final filmed footage discovery since viewers in the dome would the image should be visible for any televi- would be acceptable. The main goal would see an increasingly skewed horizon depend- sion set. The fulldome safe areas were be to determine the parameters for effective ing on how far their seats were from the cen- defined as those regions of the dome that filmmaking that would be optimized for ter seat in each row. This also gave the post- would be visible to audience members who DMNS’ Gates Planetarium. One set of tests production crew more latitude re-tilting the look straight ahead and do not turn their looked at the acceptable range of rendered fisheye images for the dome, especially for heads from side-to-side, crane their necks, or stellar diameters for the space flight hand-held shots which tended to wander roll their eyes to look around. The safe areas sequences for different dome master resolu- more. for dome masters are another way to show tions. Another set of experiments provided The visual sweet spots for content were diagrammatically where points of attention by Spitz Inc. explored the placement of cred- determined from three different seats inside could be placed in the dome while minimiz- its and title cards, as well as title safe areas the planetarium: the front row center seat, ing audience physical fatigue. within the dome master frame. middle row center seat, and back row center On the other hand, there is no rule that A final set of evaluations utilized angular seat. These sweet spots were locations on the content could not be found outside of the grid patterns projected onto the dome, dome where material could be placed that safe areas. However, by placing visual com- which were used as a guide to determine required the least amount of head-turning ponents inside these zones most of the time, horizon lines, visual “sweet spots,” and safe for an audience member to still see. a director can maximize the impact on an areas. Again, these were optimized for the Although the immersive display nature of audience whenever the point of attention seating in the Gates Planetarium, which is fulldome theaters allows for imagery to be veers out of the safe area, e.g., when a large influenced in part by not just the dome tilt, shown at large angles away from the forward object flies prominently overhead. This cre- but also the angle of the seats, how far back front direction, it was felt that a careful film- ates a contrast in the visual experience, lead- the chairs lean, and the exact location of maker would not want to constantly resort ing to greater intensity and dynamicism to each chair with respect to the dome surface. to neck-turning camera and object move- the shot (Block 2001). The safe areas are These evaluation grids, therefore, would ments. Such a spot in the dome master where another guide to compositing for the dome have only limited applicability for another a viewer could naturally gravitate would be and allow the careful filmmaker to create dome theater, even for one with the same the default location to focus attention, and surprise and drama within the narrative. tilt. The locations of these regions could be content placed there would reduce audience Even inside these safe areas, audiences shown on a diagram of the dome master physical fatigue by minimizing head turns have a viewing area with an enormous field field, which would be distributed to the ani- unless it was artistically necessary. The loca- of view (in excess of 600 square degrees). mators and visualizers as a guide for com- tions of the sweet spots on the dome master How attention is drawn to any one location positing their shots (Figure 4). were a function of the location of the seat as will depend on the director’s skill at guiding It was discovered that horizons could vary well as the maximum angle that a person the viewer’s eye to specific areas during a

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Figure 6 1: Original 35 mm frame of fisheye shot; the nearly full-frame shot shows the top, bottom, and right edges of the fisheye image truncated. 2: Fisheye shot on dome master; the full-frame shot has been placed onto the dome master, and then tilted down to hide the gap in the image at the bottom of the frame. Note the arm and the top of the head of the cameraman at the top left corner of the shot, as well as the power line that runs off the top edge. 3: Repainting the dome master; The extraneous elements that could not be filled in, such as the cameraman and the power line, are now being painted out and replaced with blue sky. The clouds at the upper right edge are also being cloned to extend the image to the edge of the dome master. The Sun in this case was not close enough to the edge of the fisheye image that replicating any part of the starburst pattern was necessary. @DMNS and Thomas Lucas Productions

March 2007 Planetarian 11 Figure 7: Original Frames for the Road to the Mauna Kea Summit Three of the original fisheye frames from the shot showing Ghez driving up the dirt road to the summit of Mauna Kea. The horizon and the car passes just below the center of the frame, meaning the camera was not tilted high enough for the Gates dome. @DMNS and Thomas Lucas Productions shot. This is done with a conspicuous object bound to see its stellar disc expand larger important, not only from the animation and or contrasting element in the visual, the even as its sharp color contrast also draws visualization standpoints, but also for music dominant contrast. Any sort of a visual ele- awareness to it (Figure 5:2). Finally, a flash of scoring. Richard Fiocca, the composer for BH, ment can play the role of compelling focus. a supernova explosion and the subsequent did not live in Colorado and could not Research shows that when experimental expanding remnant seals the attention of attend any screenings of the film inside the subjects are allowed to freely observe pic- the audience to the end of the shot (Figure Gates Planetarium. Therefore he had to rely tures containing human figures, they are 5:2 and 3). on seeing the movie through dome master often fixated by faces (Yarbus 1967). Even without the voiceover narration sequences played back from a DVD. Attention also can be drawn by motion, a (which also clues the audience into looking lighting effect, a strong contrasting color, a for additional contrasting elements amidst The Location Shoots visual pattern, or a sudden change in the the stars), the construction of the visuals There were two location shoots for BH. visual field. Exploiting such cues becomes alone has pulled the viewer’s awareness from The first was a trip up to the peak of Mauna important in fulldome filmmaking, where one part of the dome to another. This was Kea in Hawaii in May 2004 to follow astro- the large displays make it inherently easier done not as a visual gimmick, but as a service physicist Andrea Ghez, whose team was for an audience member’s attention to wan- to the story being told. In fact, the final shot using the Keck Observatory to determine the der. (For more information on dominant was modified from an earlier version where orbital parameters of stars around the Milky contrast in film, see Giannetti 2005.) the red supergiant was not as apparent. The Way’s central supermassive black hole. The An example of how the viewer’s attention camera flew at an angle that was almost second was at the launch of the NASA Swift can be directed appears in the very first shot directly into the galactic disk and the super- satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force of BH. The camera does a slow pan across the nova progenitor itself was located in the Station on November 20, 2004. The camera disk of the galaxy, until the band of the band of the disk. The greater number of stars crew followed a group of the instrument sci- Milky Way arches in front of and over the speeding past plus the stellar density of the entists to the launch viewing grounds and audience (but not crossing the zenith). The galactic disk served to obscure the red super- filmed their reactions to the ascent of the camera then begins translating forward giant from the audience until the actual Swift satellite aboard the Boeing Delta II towards a point below the disk. The numer- supernova explosion. rocket. ous stars flying past the viewer leads imme- In addition to aiding the design of anima- Many of the 35 mm fisheye shots were diately to a dominant contrast in the form tions and flightpaths, the dome evaluation done with a hand-held camera—an Arri 435 of the vanishing point, where the optical test grids proved to be very useful for post- in Hawaii and an Aaton 35-III in Florida—to flow of stars is streaming from. This point is production work as well. Most of the com- capture the emotions from the crowd, as just below and to the left of the galactic cen- positing and animation work involved well as to add a sense of kineticism and ter (Figure 5:1). The bright galactic core itself either the use or production of dome masters action that we felt was missing from many is placed too high in the dome to easily cap- on desktop systems, which were separate other previous fulldome shows. In order to ture interest. A subsidiary contrast soon and offline from the dome display comput- do this for the Swift launch, reaction shots appears in the form of a red star to the right ers. Referencing these test grids, for instance, from the assembled onlookers would have of the vanishing point. It is easy to spot allowed the production staff to rotate images to be quickly filmed during the few critical because it is the only red star in the field. It to move horizons around until they were moments during take-off. As a result, most of grows in importance and becomes the domi- inside the acceptable range, without having the launch footage was shot with camera nant focus as the star balloons into a red to see their work on the dome. work that was in the traditional sense of supergiant. An audience member who did Knowing when objects became visually “flat” filmmaking. This footage showed the not notice the star when it first appeared is noticeable for audience members was also subjects very close to the camera, while the

12 Planetarian March 2007 Figure 8: Processing a Frame for the Road to the Mauna Kea Summit The middle frame from Figure 6 is reprocessed. Left: First the frame is repositioned and warped so that the car and horizon will look correct when it is tilted. Center: The warped image is placed back onto the dome master, then tilted and scaled to a size to fill up the dome master. Right: The dome master is complete once the gap in the image at the top of the frame (or back of the dome) is painted in. @DMNS and Thomas Lucas Productions horizon varied constantly (although it was 4.5 (see below) was found to correctly inter- turn around, the production staff felt that blocked for the most part by the foreground polate the frames without introducing new only fulldome masters should be created. figures). artifacts. All of the 35 mm footage had to be This meant that the remaining gap in each For the Mauna Kea shoot, the camera was re-processed with this tool. frame had to be filled in. In some of the mounted for many shots, including a dolly shots, a phantom limb motioning to the used to follow Ghez walking on the summit. • Tilting and Painting the Swift Launch crowd as well as the cropped head of the The filmmakers also were able to plan their One significant task was taking the Swift cameraman appeared just inside the frame. Hawaii shots more carefully, and not have to launch footage and making it look visually These elements also had to be excised. shoot amidst a crowd of excited launch appealing in the dome. Because the fisheye For the crowd launch footage, the task of attendees. Hence shot stability and move- frames were nearly full-frame, the images completing the background and painting ment became less of a hassle (although it were cropped at both the bottom (front of out extraneous objects was made easier by never disappeared because of the unforgiv- the dome) and at the top (back of the dome; the blue sky background (Figure 6:3). A num- ing nature of the dome in magnifying cam- Figure 6: 1). In order to create a dome master ber of other elements made individual shots era shake). There also remained footage with content that covered the dome, each more difficult, if not impossible, to work taken with the camera tilted at an incorrect frame had to be tilted down to fill in the bot- with. Most of the footage consisted of medi- angle for the 25° Gates dome, and even the tom truncation (Figure 2). In-dome previews um shots toward the front of the crowd, shots that were correctly tilted had gaps in of the tilting and re-scaling was done with with the Sun behind the camera. Power lines the back of the dome (cf. Figure 2). Thus all remapper, a real-time timeline-based full- above and behind the crowd were often visi- of the shots would require some form of dome formatting tool created by Nebulus ble and most of these were rotoscoped out of adjustment in post-production. Design’s Nigel Jenkins. The software ran off the frames. In other instances, when the size of our SGI Onyx 3800 multi-channel visual- of the gap was small, it made more sense to Film Post-production ization supercomputer system running the extend the power lines into the truncated The first task for the post-production Irix operating system. part of the frame. A first pass at painting out work was scanning the 35 mm film footage. Although remapper was the fastest tool extraneous objects was done by G.W. G.W. Hannaway and Associates (Boulder, available for making quick previews in the Hannaway. The majority of the paint work, Colorado, USA) provided the 4k scans of the dome and was used for the initial re-renders however, was performed by one of us film negative. Next was conversion of the 24 of the dome masters, the production eventu- (Brownell) using After Effects. frames per second film frame rate to a 30 fps ally switched to offline batch processes using A number of the Swift launch shots were digital video rate. The standard Adobe After reblend, a command-line tool written for use taken from behind the onlookers, with the Effects in-betweening algorithm was found on both our Linux and Irix systems by rocket plume centered in the frame and off to be inadequate for this task. Artifacts, con- NCSA’s Stuart Levy. Then, depending on the in the distance. In this case, the Sun was sisting of jumpiness in the content, appeared. particular shot, each frame was re-scaled to clearly visible within the shot, which meant Further testing showed that this was the stretch its boundaries until it matched the that lens flares and starbursts were also very result of the interpolation algorithm failing edge of the dome master using either After apparent. In many shots, the presence of lens to sample enough frames both ahead of and Effects or Adobe Photoshop (Figure 6:2). flares made it impossible to paint or fill in behind the current set of frames. The final step required replacing the con- the gaps in the frames. Unfortunately, this problem was not detect- tent that was truncated at the top of the One shot that we were worried would not ed on the offline After Effects workstation, frame. Although this would appear in the work in the dome showed the rocket plume but was visible only during playback in the back of the dome, normally not be visible to in the distance bracketed by people in the dome. Eventually RE:Vision Effects’ Twixtor audiences unless they made the effort to foreground (again, Figures 6:1-3). The figure

March 2007 Planetarian 13 1 2 3

Figure 9: Inside the Car Up Mauna Kea and at the Summit 1: An original scanned frame from inside the car being driven by Ghez up Mauna Kea. 2: A final dome master frame, after tilting, re-scaling, removing camera shake, and re-painting. 3: A finished fulldome frame showing the summit of Mauna Kea, with the Sun in the sky. The brightness has been boosted as much as possible to show Ghez’s facial details without making the red sweater look unrealistically bright. @DMNS and Thomas Lucas Productions in the white t-shirt on the far left was so their responses to the launch. when compared to objects at the center of close to the camera lens that he looms over the dome master. This stretching resulted the scene in the original framing. After plac- • Warping and Stabilizing the Drive Up not only in a curved horizon, but also a vehi- ing the frames into dome masters and re-scal- Mauna Kea cle that appeared to change size or move ing, the left figure becomes even more domi- There were four different shots from the radially to and away from the camera as it nating. However, the shot works well in the Mauna Kea footage that were used in the crossed the frame. reblend was able to re- tilted dome, which surprised the production final show. Two showed Andrea Ghez driv- warp the frame to mimic the increased team. What makes it work even for someone ing up the road to the observatory summit: stretch, thereby making the image and looking to the left-rear of the dome might one taken from the side of the road and the motion much more natural looking. Once have to do with the orientation of the figure: second a close-up shot of Ghez from inside this re-warping was done, the frames were looking up at the trunk of the body toward a the car. The last two shots were taken from placed back into dome masters, with the partially extended arm does not give many the summit. One showed a long shot of Ghez proper tilt and scaling to fill out the bottom visual cues that are “obviously” wrong. Its walking with the camera ahead of her, and of the frame. The remaining gap in the location also helps to hide the figure from ended with Ghez stopping and looking up at image at the top of the frame were filled by viewers who would normally be focused on the Sun in the sky. The camera then fol- painting in the sky and replicating clouds the dominant object in view: the ascending lowed with a tilt up to the Sun as well. (The from elsewhere in the frame (Figure 8). rocket in the forward direction. second summit shot, which we will not dis- The shot taken from inside the car was The Swift footage of the onlookers was cuss, was a time-lapse shot of clouds moving hand-held, and thus contained not only an slowed by interpolating to double the over the summit at sunset from a locked-off enormous close-up of Ghez, but also consid- frames in the footage using Twixtor 4.5, run- camera.) erable camera shake from the gravel-filled ning them at normal speed, and then mak- The first shot of the car driving up the road (Figure 9). It was feared that because the ing a stabilization pass with Twixtor again. summit road was done with the wrong cam- camera was so close to the subject, the shot This was done so that the shot could linger era angle. In fact, the camera was pointed would not work at all in the dome (see dis- on the action, and show the emotions devel- nearly horizontally, as in a traditional shot cussion above and Figure 1). Surprisingly, it is oping on the faces of the onlookers. The intended for a flat screen with a minimal effective in the dome and does not jump out slower shot also was a better match with the camera tilt. The shot consisted of the car at as looking wrong. Although the brevity of apparent motion of the rocket as it lifted off. far frame right moving to far left with a pan the shot and the attempt at removing cam- As an added benefit, the considerable camera to follow it as it drove by the camera’s posi- era shake probably helped, the predominant jitter was lessened by the post processed tion. Because the car passed close to the cen- reason is that the camera, even though it was slow-motion. ter of the fisheye frame, when seen on the just a few feet away, was still far away There was also an unexpected benefit tilted Gates dome the car started on the far enough to avoid distortion. Like a tradition- from the nearly full-frame fisheye images. right side and then proceeded to arc almost al close-up, the subject’s head is seen in full, Because the fisheye shot stretched across the directly overhead before receding to the far but the body is cut-off just below the shoul- negative from side-to-side, the resolution of left side of the dome (Figure7). ders. The only visible point of comparison the resultant frames was maximized by a To re-center the car for the tilted dome, all for the viewer is the head, which spans third if compared to a circularly-framed fish- of the frames were tilted down using reblend. roughly 45°, an angular size that does not eye shot. The increase in the number of pix- There was still a distortion in the motion of look distorted on the dome. els horizontally across the frame helped to the vehicle because objects near the edge of One of us (Lucas) did not wish for all of give additional clarity to the human faces, the dome master are represented by more the camera shake to be eliminated, since it fit which was especially important for showing pixels—their appearances look stretched— the action shown, that of a drive up a

14 Planetarian March 2007 1

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Figure 10: HD Image of the Delta II Carrying Swift 1: An original frame from the HD NASA footage showing the launch of Swift. Note that the tower gantry and vegetation is cut off by the frame on the top as well as both sides. Courtesy of NASA 2: The HD frame properly placed and oriented within the 4096 4096 dome master. 3: The dome master with the HD frame filled in, using material cloned from within the frame (the sky and vegetation) as well as from subsequent frames in the shot (the tope of the gantry).

bumpy road. However, staff from DMNS did detail as facial features were underexposed facilities. Because the Gates Planetarium has feel the need to reduce some of the higher and lost in the higher contrast shadows. Barco Galaxy DLP projectors that are rela- frequency rattle. 2D3’s SteadyMove Pro, a Although the contrast and colors can nor- tively bright (peaking at 5000 lumens) when plugin available for After Effects, was first mally be pushed up in post-production, this compared to most other installed systems, used to stabilize the footage. Unfortunately, particular shot was more difficult because it the show would look considerably different this tool turned out to create new problems. involved a human subject wearing a bright at another facility. In the Mauna Kea summit Image stabilization required that relative red sweater. Exaggerating colors and contrast shot, the reds were boosted until the red camera movement from one frame to the for most CGI content is not a problem, but sweater that Ghez was wearing was just shy next be determined by locking onto objects care had to be taken when working with of looking neon-like, while only a hint of on the horizon. Because the horizons in the realistic materials or flesh tones. In this shot, pink appeared in her face and cheeks. For a fisheye shots were never straight lines, the it was easy to make the sweater look garish CRT-based video fulldome, not only is the software often locked onto nearby objects and glow neon-like if the settings were brightness attenuated (with typical projector within the frame. This meant a foreground pushed too far. luminous flux of 500-600 lumens), but the object was used as the reference, and the Filmmakers shooting for IMAX red light output is always weaker than the final jitter correction resulted in small rota- (Omnimax) have long known that there is a blue or green guns. The same sequence will tions about the inaccurate reference point. trade off between a bright but washed out look desaturated, with barely any color in Eventually RE:Vision Effects’ Twixtor 4.5 image versus a darker but higher dynamic the flesh tones, and the red sweater looking was found to be able to properly track the range image (Lantz 1995). The reflective nondescript. Further experimentation with non-standard horizon within the shot. cross-bounce inside a hemispherical display the image parameters (which we did not Because the software calculates motion vec- environment meant that both the dome sur- have the time or budget for) will be required tors for each pixel, Twixtor can be used to face reflectivity and the overall light level of in future fulldome films to better balance pinpoint and quickly track arbitrary collec- a shot had to be reduced to avoid complete- them for theaters using other display tech- tions of pixels. By using such user-defined ly washing out the image. Video fulldome nologies. reference points, the camera shake within producers have a slightly different set of con- the shot was minimized or eliminated with- cerns. Although cross-bounce is still a worry, • Dust-Busting out introducing any new problems. The the video projection used in modern full- A new set of artifacts that were introduced pixel tracking in Twixtor also made it a supe- dome theaters cannot provide the same from the film scanning was dust that rior tool for telecining the film-to-video dynamic range and color depth that film showed up within each frame. G.W. frame rate from 24 fps to 30 fps, as well as provides. As a result, higher contrast images Hannaway did a first manual pass at remov- any slow-motion and fast-motion effects. can look worse when shown with video pro- ing dust using Autodesk’s Flame package. jectors compared with film projection. However, because of the size of the full reso- • Re-balancing the Color at the Summit Thus, how a sequence looks will depend lution frames, most defects—some as small as The third Mauna Kea shot of Ghez walk- on not just the brightness, contrast, and 1-2 pixels across—were not noticed when the ing on the summit with the pan up to the color fidelity of the original shot, but also frames were worked on with After Effects on Sun turned out to be one of the most diffi- partially on the display environment. For a desktop monitor and only became visible cult ones for post-production processing. BH, the DMNS production team naturally when the frames were transfered and dis- The camera aperture was necessarily irised decided to create shots that looked ideal in played at full resolution inside the dome. down because the Sun was always visible the Gates dome while aware that their choic- Because new defects would be noticed with within the shot. As a result, such foreground es might have a negative impact for other each iteration of a “cleaned” clip shown in

March 2007 Planetarian 15 the dome, DMNS staff spent footage, but for the CG con- considerable time painting Those who felt positively about the film footage liked tent as well, which made up frames for each live footage it very much, and their opinions were similar to the the bulk of the shots in the sequence, usually with mul- responses from the front-end evaluations: they appre- final show. tiple (up to four) passes. ciated this humanizing element that contrasted with Lessons Learned for HD Video Post-pro- the rest of the CGI in the show. At the other extreme, Future Shows duction those who did not like the live footage were taken Was the effort to incor- Additional footage from porate live action footage the Swift sequence was aback by the size of the human figures in the dome, into a fulldome planetari- taken from official NASA and complained about the camera getting too close to um show worth it? How HD shots of the launch. them . did audiences respond to This telephoto lens footage film footage intermixed showed the rocket on the with the CG content? No ing plants. The rest of the launch gantry was pad prior to launch, and subsequently fol- final summative evaluations were devoted copied from later frames in the sequence lowed it up into the sky after it lifted off. It to that question, but audiences brought in during the ascent (Figure 10: 2 and 3). To help showed the launch from as close of a van- for two formative evaluations during the hide the fact that this was a single frame that tage point as was possible that day. (The BH production were asked to give their impres- was repeated, the image sequence was rip- camera crew was sequestered with the other sions of the existing rough cut. Their view- pled in After Effects to mimic the mirage-like guest observers several miles away.) points on the show were generally very posi- effect of heat in the intervening air. However, the truncated framing of the HD tive, but there were divided opinions about shot (Figure 16) resulted in new difficulties the live footage. Issues for a Multi-Channel Dome for the production staff. Those who felt positively about the film The Gates Planetarium operates with 11 The preliminary shot of the Delta II rocket footage liked it very much, and their opin- Barco Galaxy DLP projectors whose individ- on the ground was troublesome because the ions were similar to the responses from the ual graphics channels are tiled together to gantry was cut off at the top of the frame front-end evaluations: they appreciated this create a single image on the dome. To get and vegetation was clipped at the sides. The humanizing element that contrasted with video content that is sourced from dome rest of the gantry was not revealed until the the rest of the CGI in the show. At the other masters to appear on the dome, the individu- camera panned up to follow the ascent. Not extreme, those who did not like the live al dome masters have to be split up into 11 only were there considerable missing or footage were taken aback by the size of the component channels. Each stream is then truncated features that would have to be human figures in the dome, and complained converted into a movie file (using a propri- replaced to complete the dome master, these about the camera getting too close to them etary wavelet compression routine), and details changed from frame to frame. Even (Donelan 2005). To some DMNS staff, there uploaded to the 11 QuVIS Qubit players re-painting the sky would be burdensome, was also a marked contrast between the live which playback to each of the projectors. because the quality of the light changed footage compared to the rest of the show. The file splitting, movie file conversion, and quickly in the early morning period imme- Despite being scanned from a 35 mm film subsequent upload all increased the over- diately after sunrise. It became clear that fill- print, the lower resolution of the live head for creating and seeing shots on the ing in features in the single flat HD shot footage—especially after re-scaling—stood dome. would be much more difficult than painting out from the scientific visualizations. For instance, the amount of After Effects in sky in any of the 35 mm fisheye footage. These comments suggest changes for work for the approximately 6000 frames of The final Swift launch sequence contains future use of live footage. In some cases, the live action that was processed totaled 461 half a dozen shots, lasting 56.7 seconds, with 35 mm footage did not have sufficient reso- hours. Splitting the dome masters into 11 sep- intercutting between the NASA HD footage lution when blown up and re-scaled from 4k arate channels involved two separate sets of and the 35 mm shots of the reaction from dome masters and shown inside the Gates machines (our SGI Onyx 3800 with 30 pro- the scientists. The original edit, however, was Planetarium. For a future fulldome produc- cessors and an army of 13 Linux worksta- considerably longer and had twice as many tion, 70 mm film footage would be able to tions with 2.4 GHz Pentium 4 CPUs) requir- cuts. Because the rough cut of this scene felt match the visual quality between the CG ing an aggregate total time of 351 hours. long within the context of the overall show, and live footage. The larger format also Creating (“qubifying”) the movie files the total number of shots was trimmed totaled 7.8 hours, while actual upload to the means that fisheye shots should be imaged down to those essential to tell the story of playback units required 75 hours. Therefore, as circular frames within the negative, there- the launch. the additional time required to merely view fore removing the need for paint work to The first daytime establishing shot of the the footage in the dome (434 hours) was just replace truncated areas of the image. rocket on the ground was reduced the shy of the offline time processing the images! There are downsides to a 70 mm shoot, most—down to a single frame—because none Of course much of this work was done off- most obviously in the cost increase in equip- of the action within the shot was deemed to hours. In fact, the uploads were almost ment rentals, film stock, and development. be critical. This decision saved the produc- always done off-hours since the QuVIS units Because the cameras are larger and bulkier, tion staff from the task of stabilizing and re- were used for show playback during the day. the shots are often not as mobile and flexible painting multiple dome masters. The lone However, the sheer size of the original dome as can be achieved with a 35 mm camera. frame was used to recreate a 3-second shot. master files (4096 x 4096), the size of the Along with a larger production budget, there The frame was first placed into the dome component files meant for the individual may also be less willingness to experiment, master using a reblend feature that properly channels (1280 x 1024), and the large frame resulting in more conservative shot choices composited the 2D shot so that it looked cor- count meant that careful time management given the larger stakes involved. rect inside the dome. Vegetation off to the was necessary to keep the production on Additional training may be useful for the side was cloned in Photoshop from the exist- track. This lesson is true not just for the live camera operator. The cameraman for BH had

16 Planetarian March 2007 two preparatory sessions to become familiar how can it be improved for future fulldome For a future fulldome production, watch- with the camera and lens, during which he show production at DMNS? ing dailies would be far easier if the same set shot short test sequences. This was not of machines were used to process the files as enough, since for certain shots he resorted • Dailies the ones used as image generators for the back to the camera techniques that he was Because of the considerable work required projectors. Although there would still be a familiar with. This is not unexpected, since to view dome master sequences on the Gates need for converting the frames to a com- few cameramen are expected to have any Planetarium dome, the process of reviewing pressed media file, this would not be a multi- experience with fisheye lenses and there is dailies required considerable offline effort by step operation involving networked no great need for fisheye shots in current the production staff, regardless of whether machines. A prototypical solution would be film or videography, or even for fulldome live or CG content was being previewed. The a hardware rack like the SEOS Media Server productions. steps included splitting the dome masters that can play back pre-rendered movies as Furthermore, holding the camera for into 11 separate file sequences, which took well as be configured to provide real-time hand-held shots is extraordinarily awkward. the longest time, followed by conversion image generation. Getting the horizon to look right is difficult, into the QuVIS file format, and then upload- An even more important advance would given that the camera has to be tilted up ing to the playback units. Because of the size be the ability to watch dailies offline on a high to pull the horizon to the bottom of of the 4096 x 4096 full-resolution dome mas- single workstation. This would be used to the frame. Getting the right shot is made ters, many fine details were difficult to see judge overall composition and timing and even harder if conditions are dynamic and on a desktop monitor and were only noticed not to look at fine detail, which would changing. Until a fundamental re-design is when they were up on the dome. The size of require the full resolution dome masters. In made that allows a 35 mm or HD camera to the full resolution dome masters meant that such cases, the ability to know where con- be carried on one’s shoulder with the camera the 4k files took 5-30 seconds to load per tent will appear in the real dome is impera- axis pointed up, any hand-held shot will frame into After Effects. This precluded the tive. Thus a dome master previewer with a require post-production fixes. full-resolution images from being played scrubbable timeline should also have the Although this paper has so far focused on back at full motion speeds from the After ability to overlay the dome evaluation grids. complications involving live footage, what Effects workstation. Only the dome display At the time of production for BH, it was not of the general production pipeline? What could be used to see the full resolution film possible to view large 1024 x 1024 uncom- are the lessons learned from this process, and at normal speed. (Please see Live Action on page 86)

March 2007 Planetarian 17 Bakersfield College: A first-person adventure in planetarium upgrades

Nick Strobel William M. Thomas Planetarium Bakersfield College Kern Community College District 1801 Panorama Drive Bakersfield, California USA 93305 [email protected]

The installation of seats by American state earmark for the project. created and plans were underway for the hir- Seating at the end of May 2006 marked the In January 2002, while still on winter ing of a science center director. I wrote a completion of the long-awaited remodel of break at my parents’ place in Oregon, I white paper on why a science center was the William M. Thomas Planetarium at received a phone call from my excited dean needed in Kern County, for both economic Bakersfield College, part of the Kern with news of a congressional earmark to the and educational benefits. Community College District in Bakersfield, tune of $1 million for the project. Well, that California USA. We went from a 7.3 m (24 ft) was very good news to share with my fami- The Dream Changes planetarium that had served Kern County ly! That also put the science center planning By the summer of 2003, however, the col- for over 40 years to an expanded and mod- into a higher gear. We visited other planetar- lege’s budget situation was pretty grim ernized 11 m (36 ft) planetarium that will iums and science centers to find out what because of the sour California economy and serve for many more the college administra- years to come. tion pulled back on the Planning for a new science center. We were planetarium began Abstract: The Bakersfield College informed of this deci- soon after I came to Planetarium upgrade project was fin- sion at the beginning of Bakersfield College in ished at the end of May 2006. This the fall semester. What 1996. At first I investi- a blow! It was decided gated simply refurbish- article describes the history of the that the rest of the ear- ing the Spitz A3P that project and the reasoning for the deci- mark would be used to had been installed in sion to go with a GOTO Chronos and upgrade the current 1962 and adding some Spitz SciDome. planetarium—approxi- sort of automation to mately $750,000 it. In 2000, however, I remained after other Nick Strobel began having lunch expenses were paid. The meetings with profes- rest of the faculty on sors in my department the science center team and the Math Department who wanted to worked well and what did not. We were pulled out of the project because now it was build a science center. One of the professors planning to use the congressional earmark as just a planetarium job. For the next year I got mentioned the idea to the college president. a starting point for a nearly $9 million sci- quotes from a number of vendors as I tried to Sometime during that year the college presi- ence center that was still at least five years figure out how I would upgrade the old plan- dent’s spouse visited the Downing (and probably closer to ten years) into the etarium with the remaining funds. Planetarium a couple of hours north of us in future. Fortunately, I wouldn’t have to use the ear- Fresno and came home really excited, so our In the meantime, something would need mark funds for building demolition and con- project moved up the college priority list. to be done with the current planetarium struction; that would come from a local because some systems would need to be bond issue recently passed by in Kern The Science Center Dream replaced before then, and we also wanted to County. However, I would still have to come The college’s recently-hired director of give the public a hint of what was possible up with some idea of how to modify the cur- Institutional Development began meeting with a newer facility. In late 2002 the team rent space to give the architect something to with our group in late 2000. Our dream was decided to use approximately $55,000 of the work with. By late May 2004 I had devel- to build a science center on campus with a earmark to change the Spitz lumiline cove oped the specifications list that would be new planetarium as the centerpiece and lighting to an LED system and add an audio used in calls for bids on the equipment. earth science exhibits surrounding it. One system and A3P automation, all from East I wanted an opticalmechanical star projec- member of the Bakersfield Board of Trustees Coast Control Systems. The lighting and tor for a beautiful, crisp star field, and an all- had been chief assistant to our long-time audio (with some augmentation) could be dome video system using a single projector congressional representative, Bill Thomas, transferred to the new planetarium. for a seamless image. For the opticalmechani- and approached Thomas about getting a A science center brochure and video were cal star projector, I went with the Chronos

18 Planetarian March 2007 from GOTO. I first saw the Chronos at IPS The two single-projector systems that I with the single bid because it was unlikely 2002 in Wichita, but I wanted to see it in had seen in action were the Evans and that the situation would be better a year action so I visited Young Harris College in Sutherland Digistar 3 Junior (now “3SP”) and later and it would probably cost even more Georgia, where Kent Montgomery was the Spitz SciDome. The Digistar 3 Junior is then. Demolition and asbestos abatement happy to show off his year-old machine. for domes up to 9.1 m (30 ft), so that left the began the first week of June 2005 and I also considered the Zeiss ZKP-3 projector Spitz SciDome as the system that could pro- enough was finished by mid-March 2006 for and took a trip down to Victor Valley ject a bright enough image for domes up to the installation of the Spitz 11 m (36 ft) pow- College before Scott Bryan retired in 2001. 12.2 m (40 ft). The SciDome uses a special ver- der-coated premium-seam dome. Both projectors are very nice machines and sion of Imaginova’s Starry Night for display In our new floorplan, people enter both Kent and Scott were pleased with their onto a hemispherical surface (instead of a through double doors at the northeast cor- projectors. flat 4x3 aspect ratio computer screen). Starry ner (the front of the room is to the south). Night Dome has a very intuitive interface The doors lock automatically so the console The Factors in the End that mimes the computer desktop version operator does not have to worry about strag- There were two factors that favored the with some special manual star projector con- glers barging in and ruining everyone else’s Chronos over the ZKP-3 in the end. The first trols. When the SciDome is being used, I dark adaptation. The console operator, at the significant factor was the Chronos’ digital lower the Chronos into the pit. back, is not directly under the dome, but can control of the planets that was tried and true I decided to get the Spitz ATM4 automa- still see the front sufficiently well to work on in a real installation. At the time of the bid- tion system to control the Chronos, the shows from there. ding (end of June 2004), the Zeiss ZKP-4 with SciDome, cove lights and audio system, digital planet control had not come out or despite the hefty fee for the integration of Showing Constellation Outlines would not be ready to install at the time the Chronos with ATM4. In conjunction Something that is unconventional is how given in our original timeline. The second with ATM4, I also opted to get the Spitz I display the constellations as part of my significant factor was that the cost of the Nomad remote control unit so I could con- overall show. Instead of superimposing a pic- Chronos was lower than the Zeiss ZKP-3/4 trol most of the show from up front. ture of the character or object on the appro- with the features we wanted. An extra bonus That left the seating. I wanted individual, priate stars on the dome, I display the picture is that the star field from the Chronos was unidirectional seats all comfortably under on large monitors just below the springline just as crisp as from the ZKP-3 as star mea- the dome so even the people on the outer while I slowly outline where the picture surements on the dome at several installa- edge would have a good view. I went with would be among the stars. I do this because it tions showed, but star sizes was not a criteri- the American Seating Company, primarily provides a more realistic “star-gazing experi- on in picking one machine over the other. because they have a special pricing arrange- ence”—the pictures do not actually appear in For the all-dome video system, I wanted a ment with the state of California, and the sky and one has to make a mental trans- single projector system that would work for because they are comfortable. fer from a picture to the sky; and because the a 36-ft dome. The system had to enable view- pictures that came with both the Chronos ers to fly through the solar system, galaxy, The Project: Too Small? and Starry Night Dome are the classical, and beyond using a simple input device like The remodeling of the surrounding build- ornate images. I have a hard time distin- a computer mouse or joystick. While the ing took longer than originally planned. We guishing the parts of some, and an even multi-projector all-dome video systems are eventually went out for bid in May of 2005, harder time getting the picture to match the quite impressive, they are also beyond the a year after the equipment bids. Ironically, star patterns. In constellation tours I have budget of a small planetarium to purchase the main reason for the delay was the super- experienced at other planetariums, the audi- and hire qualified staff to maintain the hard- charged housing construction boom in ence oohs and aahs when the picture appears ware. I also have been to major planetariums California. The size of our project was too on the dome’s stars, but I believe that’s it. In with huge budgets and staff running multi- small for contractors to put up with the my constellation tour, I think a more perma- projector all-dome video systems and I could many regulations required of a California nent mental connection is made for the see unevenness in the dome image—one pro- educational institution project. We might audience because they have to make a men- jector would have a grayer black than the have had an easier time if the project was at tal effort to place the picture onto the sky. one next to it, for example, or the planet least $10 million, but at less than $1 million, People seem to be very willing to make the image would shift as the planet moved from the extra cost of compliance and verification effort! More often than not, I will have peo- one projector to the next. If the “big guys” would be too great a percentage of the total ple exclaim out loud “Oh, now I see it!” Of could not get that right, I had no hope of cost. It’s a strange sort of economic logic, but course, even better would be to distribute being able to do it right with a single person there you have it! starcharts with red flashlights and allow the working only 20% of his job at the planetari- The final bid for the building remodel audience to go on their own tour of the sky. um and no training in aligning projectors, came in at around $1.2 million. Yes, “bid” is That would work if I had a lot more time edge-blending, etc. singular. The administration decided to go with the sky tour and it was the entire show.

A panoramic view of the Bakersfield Planetarium showing the new Chronos projector and SciDome in the center. All photos by the author.

March 2007 Planetarian 19 20 Planetarian March 2007 The Planetariums in Taiwan

Chilong Lin National Museum of Natural Science 1, Kuan Chien RD, Taichung, 404 Taiwan (ROC) [email protected]

the launch of the Soviet Sputnik The largest planetarium in Taiwan now is satellite on 4 October 1957, the US the 25m Zeiss VI-TD installed at Taipei was seriously embarrassed and soon Astronomical Museum (TAM) when it was decided to reform the nation’s sci- elevated from the Yuan-San Observatory ence education. Many planetariums and moved to a new site in 1997. In 2003, the were founded in the next few years Taipei Municipal Nan-Hu Elementary (Marche’ 2001). Within about a School installed a Minolta Mediaglobe in decade, the number of planetariums their 5m dome and started the digital era of in the US grew, almost 10 times more planetariums in Taiwan. in the early 1970s than in the late 1950s (Herrman 1992). Taiwan fol- Fundamental Information lowed the US and soon installed the In the past few years, we have done a sur- first two Spitz planetariums. vey for the planetariums in Taiwan. The data of 76 planetariums were collected and we Rapid Growth Since 1980s found 71 of them are still in use and five are The number of planetariums in retired. A directory of the 71 existing plane- Taiwan has grown rapidly since the tariums has been submitted to the IPS 1980s. The increasing of the educa- Directory of the World's Planetariums. tion budget is an indication of the Among the 71 existing planetariums, two progressing economic situation and of them are larger than 18m, 44 of them are The “dumbbell shape of the distribution of planetariums the education policy of Taiwan. between 5-9m and 25 are less than 5m. Most in Taiwan. All graphics by the author. Many school-owned planetariums in of them are managed by public museums, Taiwan were established in this way. culture centers, and schools. Only one of In 1978, the Lo-Tung Primary School them is built and managed by a private The first planetarium in Taiwan appeared built a 6m dome for a GOTO GE-6. It was the school. on the stage in 1957 (NTSM 1957). It was a first planetarium installed in a primary Among the 71 planetariums, 48 are “pin- Spitz A-1 (8m) donated by the Tsinghua school. It was donated by parents of the hole” projectors with dome diameter D<6m, Alumni Association of North America and school kids and local sponsors from neigh- 20 of them are optomechanical projectors installed at the National Taiwan Science boring communities. In 1980, the Taipei with D>5m, and 3 are digital projectors with Museum (now called the National Taiwan Municipal Yuan-San Observatory installed a D≤5m. But I figure that the digital or the “tra- Science Education Center, NTSEC) in Taipei. 16m GOTO GM. It was the first mid-sized ditional + digital” planetariums will increase Soon after its installation, the ROC Naval planetarium in Taiwan and was retired in rapidly in the near future. For planetariums Academy also installed a Spitz A-2 for astron- 2000. In 1986, a 23m GOTO GSS-I was with D≥5m, the digital projector could be avigation training in 1958 (Lin 2006). installed at the National Museum of Natural treated as an attached multimedia equip- Just like many allied countries of the Science (NMNS), Taichung. It’s the first large ment to show dynamic sky or animation United States during the Cold War, the planetarium in Taiwan and is still under programs. While for planetariums with D< development of planetariums in Taiwan fol- operation; we plan to keep it working for at 5m, the digital projector could play all roles lowed a similar post-Sputnik trajectory. After least one more decade. itself without the need of any traditional,

March 2007 Planetarian 21 Abstract: It has been 50 years since the establishment of Taiwan’s first planetarium. In this report, I would like to review the development of Taiwan’s planetariums in these past 50 years and introduce the status of them.In the past few years we have done a survey for the planetariums in Taiwan and the fundamental information of 76 planetariums, 71 of them still in use, was collected. Their status will be analyzed in this article. optomechanical, or pin-hole planetariums. this analysis will be helpful to the future So I expect it will follow the fast progressing resource allotment. of computer technology and be applied widely and rapidly. Maybe it will take over The Manufactures the market of all pin-hole planetariums In our survey, we also noticed an interest- soon. ing phenomenon: that 87.3% of Taiwan’s planetariums are using the products of Distribution GOTO Optical Corporation of Japan. Totally, I learned from our survey that Taiwan’s 95.8% of Taiwan’s planetariums are using planetariums distribute like a “dumbbell,” Japanese products. Such a large market occu- which indicates that most of the planetari- pation rate may due to three major factors: ums are distributed in northern (27) and the “distance” factor, the “language” factor southern (22) Taiwan. Furthermore, 24 out and the “agent” factor. of the 27 planetariums in northern Taiwan are concentrated in Taipei city and county. 1. The distance between Taiwan and Japan is This indicates a serious bias of the allotment much shorter than between Taiwan and of Taiwan’s education resource. However, the United States or Germany. This there is a large and public planetarium in reduces a lot not only the traveling time mid-Taiwan, the 23m GSS-I of NMNS, which but also the cost. When needed, Japan may make up for the disadvantage of the technicians can fly to Taiwan, complete quantity. the emergency maintenance, and then fly In southern Taiwan, all planetariums are back within 24 hours. In the meanwhile, D< 9m and none of them are fully open to US or German technicians may still be on the public. Thus a large—or at least a mid- their flight to Taiwan. sized, public planetarium—seems to be in great demand for southern Taiwan. Besides, 2. Since Taiwan was occupied by Japan unlike the concentration in northern between 1895 and 1945, many senior per- Taiwan, the planetariums in southern sons in Taiwan can speak and read Taiwan are spread quite equally in several Japanese very well. Since the beginning of cities. The readers may see it from Figure 5. 1980s, Taiwan built many public and edu- I also tried to analyze the resource allot- cational planetariums. Those persons who ment problem in some other ways: the were in charge of these projects more or Population/Planetarium (P/P) ratio or the less have accepted Japanese education. Population/m2 (P/m2) ratio. The P/P ratio They can communicate with the techni- divides the local population by the number cians and read the documents in Japanese of planetariums in that area directly, which easily. That’s why they tended to choose means “how many people share one plane- Japanese products instead of others. tarium.” In Figure 6, we can see that almost 440k people share one planetarium in mid- 3. Regarding to the “agent” factor, it is inter- Taiwan, while it is only about 58k people per esting to know that only the agent of one for the islands. GOTO is active in Taiwan. The potential Nevertheless, the P/P ratio may not pre- customers can easily contact with GOTO’s sent the problem properly since we can not local agency and communicate with the GOTO’s agent in Taiwan, provided us a list read the information of the size of planetari- sales representatives face to face in such of their customers. It includes almost 60 ums from it. That’s why I would also suggest local languages as Mandarin or Taiwanese. planetariums among the 71 existing ones. the P/m2 ratio to present the other face. The While for the other manufactures, either That is the most helpful information we meaning of P/m2 ratio is “how many people in US or Germany, the customers here feel have got. share one square meter area of the planetari- uneasy since they have to deal with the ums.” Combining figures 6 and 7, it is easy to manufactures directly without any assis- Conclusion and Discussions find out that southern Taiwan needs large tance. This brings the 87.3% occupation Surveying the planetariums and collecting public planetariums, while mid-Taiwan rate of GOTO products in Taiwan. During needs some more small planetariums. I hope our survey, the Nick Entertainment Co., (Please see Taiwan on page 24)

22 Planetarian March 2007 What’s SLOOH With You?

Michael J. Narlock Head of Astronomy/Web Coordinator Cranbrook Institute of Science Planetarium 39221 Woodward Avenue Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304 USA [email protected]

Disclaimer: Before I delve into the niceties housed in two 10-foot diameter fiberglass ment, and other steps. The raw image data of using SLOOH in the planetarium, I feel domes. Each dome contains a Bisque produced by the cameras is in FITS format. compelled to mention that I have an on- Paramount ME mount, a Celestron C-14 SCT, The image processing can produce FITS, but going relationship with the company. I’ll get and a piggybacked refractor. On each C-14 is JPEG format is used to encode end-user-ready to the nature of that relationship a bit later. a SBIG ST-10 CCD camera, and on each images that transmit quickly over band- refractor is a SBIG ST-2000 ABG CCD camera. width-limited connections. SLOOH: An Online Experience The piggybacking allows for concurrent The CCD chips used by SLOOH produce SLOOH, which gets its name from a play observations of any object at different scales. monochrome data. The first exposure pro- on the word “slew,” currently operates two Each of the four instruments includes an duced in each mission is rendered as a telescopes at the Observatory of Teide (OT) on the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands, a territory of Spain, are located in the Eastern Abstract: What is SLOOH? It is the only internet provider of Atlantic, 100 miles off the coast of Morocco. near-real-time deep sky observation. It observes the Moon, The island of Tenerife hosts a dormant volcano named Teide, the peak of which is the planets, galaxies, nebulae, clusters, comets, minor planets, highest point on any island in the Atlantic and more. It was designed to serve individuals, families, and Ocean. OT is located on a foothill of Teide schools. It requires no astronomical knowledge to use, but it and is run by the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC), a consortium of still appeals to experienced observers and has an obvious governments led by Spain. The OT compris- application in the planetarium field. That’s SLOOH. es over 40 major telescopes and is Europe’s leading observatory site. Numerous advanced astronomical research projects use LRGB filter wheel and electronic focuser. In grayscale image that is quickly transmitted data gathered at OT. At an altitude of 2340 addition, there is an all-sky camera between to users. Then more images are gathered meters, the site is photometrically clear the domes that provides nighttime views of using color filters and a color image can be approximately 90% of the time in the sum- the weather. transmitted, followed by luminance images mer and 50% in the winter; seeing is usually The observatory software performs auto- and more detailed color images. All the better than 2 arc-seconds. The site also has mated image processing. SLOOH is the first observatory control and image generation the benefit of being dark 4 to 8 hours ahead and only system that automatically process- happens in real time within the span of each of North America, timing that is ideal for es color deep-sky images in near real time. 5-minute mission. According to the folks at planetariums here. The image processor handles frame align- SLOOH, no other system in the world can do The fully robotic SLOOH Observatory is ment, color combination, contrast adjust- this.

Left: Jupiter and some of its moons; Above: The Pleiades in full color; and Right: The Whirlpool galaxy in high detail are examples of the image processing done with SLOOH. All images provided by author and courtesy of www.slooh.com.

March 2007 Planetarian 23 And Internet Radio mount slews to the tar- Each night at 1:00 UT, SLOOH hosts one of get. Then the cameras, several in-housed produced, astronomy- focusers, and filter themed internet radio programs. An mp3- wheels are used to pro- quality stream broadcasts from the duce a sequence of astronomers to users. The astronomers, like images. By carefully David Levy, Phil Harrington and Bob scheduling missions Berman, describe the events of each mission ahead of time, our and answer questions submitted in a dedicat- planetarium can aug- ed online chat area. And here’s where I come ment each show with in: every Friday evening I co-host The Event real-time images as Horizon with NASA/JPL Solar System they’re being taken. Ambassador M. Scott Foerster. Unlike the other programs, our show is less formal and SLOOH in the relies more on open debate than the images Planetarium on SLOOH while also featuring a call-in seg- You may wonder if ment using Skype. this means that the The Cranbrook Planetarium recently entire world is subject upgraded to a Digistar 3 and adding content to the whims of the The SLOOH computer interface. is incredibly simple. Rudimentary knowl- staff at Cranbrook. edge of Photoshop and a connection to the That would be nice, wouldn’t it? Sadly, it gets, either based on name or right internet are really all that is needed to add isn’t so. Each night one of SLOOH’s two angle/declination. dazzling, awe-inspiring content. In the early domes is assigned to an “Editor Channel” SLOOH is obviously not restricted for use going, we decided to add an element of dis- and the other dome is assigned to a “Member by digital planetariums. In fact, any planetar- tinctiveness by employing SLOOH imagery Channel.” On the “Editor Channel,” SLOOH ium capable of connecting a PC to the inter- in our live sky shows. So far we’ve used automatically schedules missions from dusk net and projecting onto their dome can SLOOH in two particular modes. The first is until dawn (typically over 100 missions per make use of this resource. Additionally, you to capture images from SLOOH ahead of night). The missions are selected from a set of can save any of the images you take for use time and simply “plug” them into the show 250 popular astronomical objects in the later! Is this a replacement for those stunning later on. The second method, I think, is more database. The scheduling software basically HST images that are so readily available? interesting as it utilizes the live nature of follows a “Messier Marathon” strategy of Hardly. But SLOOH does give live-sky shows SLOOH by scheduling “missions” that are observing progressively up from the western an interesting new element and also gives viewed, in real-time, during each program. horizon after sunset, then progressively the planetarium show producer a new Each mission observes a specified target, like down towards the eastern horizon nearing resource for generating show content. the Pleiades dawn. On the “Member Channel,” the user is If interested, anyone can sign up for a free At the beginning of each mission, the able to block out time to view specific tar- seven-day trial at www.slooh.com.

(Taiwan, continued from page 22) increase their knowledge about astronomy References and help them learn how to teach. Herrman, D. B., 1992, “Planetarium Openings: their information is just the first step of our Fortunately, the attendees of the work- A Statistical Analysis,” Planetarium: A work. Owing to the long disregard of astron- shop in 2002 have got a common consensus Challenge for Educators (A Guidebook omy science in Taiwan, the study of the of the importance of the human resource. Published by the United Nations for planetarium is also very scanty. At the begin- Many of recently established planetariums International Space Year-ISY), 43-48, ed. ning of our research in 2000, most of the have assigned experienced teachers to follow Dale W. Smith and Hans J. Haubold. New planetariums were isolated from others and the preparation works and to manage the York: United Nations. only 31 of them were recorded (TAM 2001). planetariums. This is a positive progress in Lin, C. L. and Y. D. Tseng, 2006, “The Besides, the correlations among these plane- Taiwan’s planetarium education. Development of Planetariums in Taiwan,” tariums were weak. We made a survey for There is still a lot of work that has to be Science Education Monthly, 290, 2-15 (in the ignored planetariums and invited their done. In the future, we expect that there will Chinese). staffs to a workshop at NMNS in 2002. Now be regular training camps and workshops Marche’ II, Jordan D., 2001, “Sputnik, we have 71 existing and 5 retired planetari- held for the planetarium staffs so they may Planetaria and the Rebirth of U.S. ums within our directory. share their experiences and exchange their Astronomy Education,” The Planetarian, 1 In our research we found that the human ideas with others. (30), 4-9. resource is the problem that bothers plane- Another important task is to reform the NTSM, 1957. Planetarium Show, 1-16, Taipei: tariums most. At the beginning of our resource allotment. Some public, mid-sized National Taiwan Science Museum (in research, almost all staffs of the planetari- planetariums are now under discussion in Chinese). ums, except the TAM, came from untrained southern Taiwan. No matter where they will TAM, 2001, “A Catalogue of Planetariums in teachers, technicians, and employees. Many be located finally, this will make up for the Taiwan,” Astronomical Calendar 2001, of them can recognize only the Sun and the shortage of public planetarium in that area. 247, Taipei: Taipei Astronomical Museum Moon before they came to their positions. Although the number of planetariums in (in Chinese). Therefore, they are eager for participating in mid-Taiwan is increasing, it is still a long way the training camps or workshops which may before reaching maturity.

24 Planetarian March 2007

26 Planetarian March 2007 Special IPS Section

2007 IPS/Eugenides Foundation Scriptwriting Competition

Steve Tidey 58 Prince Avenue Southend, Essex, SS2 6NN, England [email protected]

Picture the scene. Your June 2006 issue of Competition Guidelines Planetarian arrives. You skip past that odd lit- I. General E. All scripts must conform to the following tle Forum column edited by that crazy Brit A. Scripts are requested for school shows format: with the funny accent, Steve Tidey, and you only, on the subject of constellations. You 1. A signed release form must accompany read the Astro-Quiz script that won the last can write about any aspect of constella- the script and appears on Page 45. A IPS/Eugenides scriptwriting competition. tions: factual, mythological, etc.. No other copy of the form is allowable. You think to yourself, OK, that was very subjects, please. The target age group is 11- 2. Attach a cover page giving the script's good, but you know what? I could do just as 14. title, author's name, institution, address, well. Tell you what, why don’t I wait for B. Any currently enrolled IPS member may telephone/fax number, email address, Steve to get round to launching the next enter one or more scripts. and the number of pages. Do not put competition, then I’ll enter a script of my C. The first and second prize scripts remain author's name on any other page. own. I heard there’s a $1000 prize for the the author's property, but the IPS retains 3. Scripts should be written in English winner and $350 for the runner up. the right to publish them in Planetarian. with directions for visuals (slides, Just think what I could do with $1000: panoramas, video clips, etc.) in the left- a) buy a Centre Court ticket for II. Contest Rules and Procedures hand column and the narration in the Wimbledon on finals day (assuming it isn’t A. Previously submitted scripts or material right-hand column, typed or computer raining that day); published elsewhere are not allowed. printed, double-spaced, with lines and b) I could book a room for one hour in the B. Writers should submit six (6) copies of pages numbered. Place a paragraph on world’s most expensive hotel room in Kuala each script to the contest coordinator: one page one that states the script's goals Lumpur (but I’d need another $23,000 to stay copy for the Eugenides Foundation's files, and purpose. there the whole day and night); or one copy for IPS files, and one copy each 4. The length should be 25 minutes and c) I could simply use it to pay my expenses for the three judges and the coordinator. A include a 5-minute live segment, incor- for attending the IPS conference in Chicago single electronic copy may be substituted porate slides and/or video segments, in 2008. for the hard copies, but a hard copy of the pans, all skies, and basic star projector OK, now it’s Steve Tidey in person, so to release form must still be mailed. functions. speak. Please consider submitting a script; we C. The contest coordinator will choose from 5. If the above requirements are not met, a all benefit when good scripts are written that the IPS Fellows three judges to mark each script may be disqualified. can be shared amongst the whole planetari- entry based on the criteria set out below, um community. As marvellous as the shows and the coordinator will then quantify III Evaluative Criteria visuals are becoming these days, they don’t the totals to determine the winners. The In the assumption that the above criteria mean anything without a decent script to author's names will be kept anonymous for submission have been met, the judges accompany them. from the judges. will evaluate each script based on: a clear Steve Tidey D. Entries may be submitted between July 1 writing style, factual accuracy, the correct IPS Scriptwriting Competition and December 31, 2007. Please mail scripts use of grammar, originality in presentation Coordinator to: Steve Tidey, 58 Prince Avenue, and content, a maintained focus on the Southend, Essex, SS2 6NN, England. Email script's core topic, overall entertainment entries should be sent to stevetidey@hot- value, and, whether or not the script has The official release form appears mail.co.uk The two winning authors will achieved the author's stated goals. on Page 45. Please copy as be recognised during the awards ceremo- needed (no need to mutilate your ny at the 2008 IPS conference in Chicago, IV Awards Categories and Values issue of the Planetarian!) where they will receive a certificate and A. First Place $1000 (US) prize money. B. Second Place $350 (US)

March 2007 Planetarian 27 In Touch With Ancient Observatory and Modern Planetarium in Beijing: IPS 2010

Jin Zhu, Director Beijing Planetarium No. 138 Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District Beijing 100044, China [email protected] www.bjp.org.cn

At Left: The Great Wall, symbolizing China’s ancient civilization, is one of the world’s most renowned projects. Photo © Jennifer Bentley, iStockphoto.com. At Right: Beijing Planetarium, the new building and old building. Photo by Liu Hequn; this and the remainder of images provided by the author and used with permission.

Have you ever been to the Great Wall? ties. The 18 m Universe digital theater with dor exhibitions. At least another 400 square Would you like to attend an IPS conference 200 seats in the new building of Beijing meters of area in the new building could also that includes having dinner in the 568-year- Planetarium was the first planetarium dome be used for exhibitions. old Ancient Observatory and enjoying mod- in the world with digital laser projectors. In It is expected that there will be great pub- ern planetarium shows under a 40 MB reso- the nearby original 23-m dome, the newly lic interest in astronomy before and around lution digital environment? Even if you renovated theatre with about 500 seats is 2010 in China. As the headquarters of the have already been to Beijing and even to the being equipped with a Zeiss Mark IX optical Popularization Working Committee of the Beijing Planetarium, I promise that if you projector and a Sky-Skan definiti system. Chinese Astronomical Society (Nanjing), come to Beijing Planetarium in 2010, you Using 6 Sony SXRD Xenon-powered projec- Beijing Planetarium is responsible for the will be surprised to find out that Beijing has tors, the definiti system is the most advanced astronomical popularizations for the whole changed a lot and is much more beautiful in the world with nearly 40 MB in pixel reso- mainland part of the country. Some very than before. lution and brightness of 30k lumens. It uses important astronomical events are planned As a planetarium with both an ancient 10 bit color, expanding the gamma range far for the coming years. For example, space observatory and a modern optical starball beyond any other contemporary system, exploration in China is entering a new era of and digital projectors, Beijing Planetarium and realizes razor-sharp resolution in real development. More and more Chinese are would like to invite you to “In Touch with time and dome masters of 7.8k x 7.8k at 30 becoming interested in space and astronomy Ancient Observatory and Modern frames per second. The new Beijing in these years. Planetarium” at the Beijing Planetarium for Planetarium definiti system is due for com- The two total solar eclipses visible in IPS 2010. pletion in early 2008. China in 2008 and 2009 will surely attract The two domes will provide an excellent many members of the general public to A Unique Combination environment for companies and planetari- become interested in astronomy. Beijing Planetarium is a quite suitable ums to display their most up-to-date prod- The year 2009 will be declared as the place for hosting an IPS conference, not only ucts and shows during the conference. The International Year of Astronomy by the because of its unique combination of two regular exhibition halls in the old build- United Nations. Beijing Planetarium is taking ancient observatory and modern planetari- ing, each about 400 square meters in area a very important part in the preparation of um, but also because of its extensive facili- and 7 meters high, give good places for ven- IYA2009 events for mainland China. We are

28 Planetarian March 2007 Planetarium was opened to March 2005 Planetarium (vol. 34, no. 1). the public on Dec. 12, 2004 and includes several exciting Conference Site and Hotels parts: digital space theater, 3D Currently there are two options for the simulation theater, 4D the- conference site, either Beijing Planetarium ater, exhibition hall, solar itself or Beijing Friendship Hotel. Although it observatory, public observa- is very suitable for vendor shows and exhibi- tory, astronomical classroom, tions, the current meeting rooms for aca- and more. The Digital demic conferences inside Beijing Universe theater, which can Planetarium may not be enough for partici- seat 200, presents grand views pants over 450. Besides the three dome the- of our night sky and feats of aters with approximately 200, 200, and 500 space adventures, projected seats, Beijing Planetarium has two standard by the world's most advanced digital laser projector, SGI classrooms which can hold 80-120 persons visual workstation and each, and there will be three more class- ADLIP laser system. The 3D rooms before IPS 2010 of similar size, located theater has 48 seats and the on the fifth and sixth floors of the new 4D theater has 196 seats. As a building. The opening ceremony could be supplement for the Digital arranged in the Peoples’ Congress Hall near Universe theater, they can the country’s famous Tian’anmen Square. present an exciting feeling of If participants number over 500 persons, motion and visual and audio Beijing Friendship Hotel will be chosen as spatial effects, enhancing the conference site. Beijing Friendship Hotel experiences. is one of the largest garden-style hotels in The public observatory is Asia. Located in the heart of the equipped with a 400 mm Zhongguancun High-Tech Zone, it’s a 4-star Schmidt-Cassegrain tele- hotel. It is about 5 km away from Beijing scope, which can provide Planetarium. The Friendship Hotel was estab- youngsters observation and lished in 1954 and covers a total area of educational practice and 335,000 square meters of land in the capital some research work. city, of which 200,000 square meters are At Top: Beijing Friendship Hotel's Grand Building. Beijing There are about 3000 landscaped in the traditional Chinese garden Friendship Hotel is one of the largest garden-style hotels in Asia. square meters of exhibition Photo by Beijing Friendship Hotel. Bottom: The Forbidden City, style. space within the new build- also known as the Palace Museum. It is the largest and most well Within the hotel, there are various multi- preserved imperial residence in China today. Photo by Li Shaiba ing, and about 2200 square meters of it has been used for function and meeting halls that can accommodate 16-1000 people from 37-500 square investigating the possibility of including relatively permanent exhibitions. meters in size and conference rooms of dif- astronomy as a normal middle school course Beijing Ancient Obser-vatory is a part of ferent sizes, providing needs for any activi- in some cities and emphasizing the impor- Beijing Planetarium and is located in another ties, such as business meetings and exhibi- tance of planetariums in astronomy educa- part of the city. It was first built in 1442 in tions. The equipment includes internet tion. We are recommending that every mid- the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and was the access, audio-visual equipment, automation dle-size city in China could have a large- or royal observatory in the Ming and Qing equipment, slide projector, overhead projec- middle-size planetarium and every middle dynasties. It has 8 astronomical instruments made in the Qing Dynasty, and has succes- tor, whiteboard, etc. The proposed cost of school in China could have its own middle- sive observation or small-size planetarium. It is expected that records of nearly 500 hundreds of new planetariums will be built years from the Ming in the next several years, and IPS 2010 in Dynasty to 1929 AD. Beijing will greatly speed-up such a process The 8 instruments in China, as well as in some other regions in were equipped with Asia. western technology The Planetarium Working Committee and Chinese local art within the structure of the Chinese design, and they can Association of Natural Science Museums is show us the academic under the Chinese Association of Science exchange between and Technology, which will locate in Beijing the western and east- Planetarium and will organize and serve all ern worlds and the different sizes of planetariums in China. We magnificent western also suggest this committee as a new affiliate design. It is now a key of IPS in China. national relic protection unit. Some Host Facilities: Beijing description of the Planetarium facilities in the new Beijing Planetarium, the first large-size building and Beijing planetarium in Asia, was opened on Sept. 29, Ancient Observatory Digital Space Theater of Beijing Planetarium. Photo by Liu Hequn 1957. The new building of Beijing were published in the

March 2007 Planetarian 29 A digital planetarium show on and influential opera form for Chinese audi- ancient Chinese astronomy is ences and is now regarded as the being prepared for the year quintessence of Chinese culture. 2008/2009 by the Digital Studio of City attractions also include the Beijing Planetarium, relating to the Forbidden City, also known as the Palace theme of our proposal to host the Museum, the largest and most well preserved 2010 IPS conference in Beijing. imperial residence in China today. The Great The agenda will feature a vari- Wall symbolizes China’s ancient civilization ety of excursions: not only visits to and is one of the world’s most renowned Beijing Planetarium and the projects. The Ming Tombs are found at a dis- Beijing Ancient Observatory, but tance of 50 km northeast of Beijing, where also city attractions (one day for stands an arc-shaped cluster of hills fronted Temple of Heaven or Beihai Park, by a small plain. Here is where 13 emperors and the Houhai or Peking Opera, of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) were etc.; another day for the Great buried. Wall, Ming Tombs and the The Summer Palace is characterized by its Observatory). In addition, accom- vast scope and rich cultural embodiments, panying family members can visit and it has become one of the most famous the Forbidden City, the Summer tourist sites in the world. The Temple of The Summer Palace: Characterized by its vast scope and Palace, Yonghe Palace, Capital Heaven, one of the most strictly protected rich cultural embodiments, it has become one of the most Museum, and other tourist activi- and preserved cultural heritage sites of famous tourist sites in the world. Photo by Mei Sheng ties. China, served as an exclusive altar for Chinese monarchs during the Ming and Pre- and Post-Conference Qing dynasties. Tours Beijing Cuisine mainly refers to Beijing Tours before and after the con- local cuisine that is attributable to Shandong ference will be arranged. One tour Cuisine, Imperial Court Cuisine, Imperial is to visit Xinglong Station of the Official Cuisine, and other cuisines from dif- National Astronomical Observ- ferent regions. Among them, Beijing Roast atories of the Chinese Academy of Duck, Hotpot, and Barbecue are most Sciences and the famous Chengde famous. summer villa; another tour is to Beijing Planetarium is located in the Xi’an and Shanghai, the famous northwest part of the city, about 27.5 km traditional and modern cities in from the airport. You can easily take taxis in China, including a visit to the Beijing. Beijing will host the 2008 Olympics, World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. and several new subway lines are under con- More tours could be introduced struction now. The subway to the airport later if members are interested. will be finished June 2008, and a new subway station just in front of Beijing The snow view of Beijing Ancient Observatory. It is about Host City Planetarium is planned for September 2009. 14 meters high with 8 astronomical instruments made in Beijing lies in the north of the Two of the city’s largest public transporta- Qing Dynasty. Photo by Liu Hequn North China Plain, covering tion centers also located very near to Beijing 16,807.8 square kilometers and Planetarium. We will keep you informed on having a registered population of our preparation at www.ips2010.com. registration is $300, including the banquet. 13 million. As the capital city of the People’s The city of Beijing is still making changes There are several additional 4-star hotels Republic of China, Beijing is the nation’s rapidly these years and so is the Beijing (Xiyuan Hotel, Beijing Capital Xindadu political and cultural center and also a center Planetarium. Please come and find the Hotel, Debao Hotel) and one 5-star hotel of international contacts. changes for yourself. We look forward to (Hotel Nikko New Century Beijing) within First conceived and developed in Beijing meeting you in IPS 2010 in Beijing! walking distance of the Beijing Planetarium (Peking), the Peking with accommodations for double/single Opera has been per- rooms currently ranging from $50 to $120 forming for around 200 (US) per night for one person. years. Like any other traditional opera, it tells Conference Activities stories through move- The proposed dates for IPS 2010 are July 4- ment, singing, and elab- 8. The conference agenda will follow the orate dancing. Thus it is normal style of IPS conferences, including a graceful and consum- papers sessions, poster sessions, workshops mate art which com- and invited speakers, sub-group discussions, bines the best elements and exhibitions. We will invite local speak- of literature, music, and ers, including a Chinese taikonaut and dance. Peking Opera has experts on ancient Chinese astronomy. become the important 4D theater of Beijing Planetarium. Photo by Liu Hequn

30 Planetarian March 2007 IPS 2010: Back to Alexandria 12-15 July 2010

Dr. Omar Fikry and Miss Mona El Madany Planetarium Science Center, Library of Alexandria P.O. Box 138 Chatby, Alexandria 21526 Egypt

When we invite the International place at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina all year anchored in the surrounding communities Planetarium Society to the city of long. of Alexandria, Egypt, the Arab World, and Alexandria, Egypt in 2010 for its 20th confer- the Mediterranean. ence, we are inviting IPS to participate in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina The beautiful building, with its decorative revival of the spirit of the glorious ancient The building and location of the granite walls covered by the letters of all the Library of Alexandria. Bibliotheca Alexandrina are major assets on world’s alphabets, is already a recognizable The ancient Library of Alexandria was a which we rely on in this proposal for hosting landmark of the new Alexandria. Its interna- unique effort of the human intellect and IPS 2010. Since its launch in 1972, the confer- tionally prized architecture and internal imagination and remains engraved in the ence has met in Europe, America, Asia, and design truly have laid the foundation for the memories of all intellectuals and scientists to Australia, but has never met in the Middle realization of the objectives of the new this day. The ancient Library has been a cen- East or Africa. We think that the IPS confer- library. To fulfill the role, the new complex ter of culture and civilization and a meeting ence in Alexandria could greatly strengthen is much more than a library. It contains: place for various intellectuals and scientists ties between IPS and planetariums in this from the east and west since its construction part of the world and would be a wonderful • A library that can hold millions of books; by Ptolemy III (246-221 BC). Scientists and opportunity to bring planetariums in our • A center for the Internet and its archive; thinkers used to visit the library to exchange neighboring countries into IPS. • Six specialized libraries for audio-visual their ideas as well as their scientific and liter- The Bibliotheca Alexandrina— material, the visually impaired, children, ary expertise. www.bibalex.org—a vast cultural complex the young, microforms, and rare books Since the launch of Bibliotheca rising on the shore of the Mediterranean, is and special collections; Alexandrina in October 2002, serious efforts an unparalleled Egyptian enterprise of inter- • Three museums for antiquities, have been exerted to regain the spirit of its national scope and ambition. It is the revival manuscripts, and the history of science; predecessor and to play a cultural role in of the ancient Library of Alexandria that was • A planetarium; both the local and international arenas. a unique effort of the human intellect and • An Exploratorium for children’s exposure Every year, the Bibliotheca holds numerous imagination. In the digital age, the new to science; conferences and workshops in various fields Library of Alexandria has the ambition, • Three permanent exhibitions; and specialties. Scientists and intellectuals, embedded in its glorious past, to become the • A conference center for thousands of per- including Nobel laureates, enrich the ongo- reference point in digital heritage and stan- sons; ing cultural events and conferences that take dards-setting for the third millennium, fully • Seven research institutes covering

At Left: A view of the main building of the Library of Alexandria; Right: outside view of the Planetarium Science Center. All images provided by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and used with permission.

March 2007 Planetarian 31 manuscripts, documentation of heritage, calligraphy and writing, information sciences, Mediterranean and Alexandrian studies, arts, and scientific research; and • A dialogue forum.

The basic structure of the New Library of Alexandria contains three buildings; the Library itself, the Conference Center, and the Planetarium Science Center (PSC). The Conference Center, where we hope to host the IPS conference, includes the Main Hall which contains 1700 seats and three medium-sized halls (300 seats each), all equipped with the most modern audio-visual aids and internet connections. It also includes conference halls for private meetings, including the VIP Hall, in addition to smaller halls that can accommodate small numbers of groups (40-50 people) and are The great hall in the conference center. convenient for holding all types of workshops. There are also two fully-equipped press rooms. evening, it looks enchanting, with its indi- council meeting, business meetings, lectures, There also are two large areas designed for rect blue light set against the darkness of the opportunities for special interest groups, various cultural and artistic exhibitions. outstretched Corniche of Alexandria. The workshops, panel discussions, breaks, lunch- These halls are fully equipped for displaying theatre accommodates 100 viewers, the pro- es, and the conference banquet. various exhibits and include electric connec- jection system is Electric Sky from Spitz as According to today’s rates, the participa- tions, lighting, and different types of parti- well as an IMAX projection system, and the tion fees for a conference in Alexandria can tions. There is a specialized department in library has already taken serious steps to be $350-400 (US), which includes the open- the Bibliotheca Alexandrina dedicated to the upgrade the planetarium facilities. ing ceremony; attending all sessions, demon- supervision of artistic preparations and stration, exhibits, and workshops; confer- assembly of exhibited articles. This depart- The Conference Programs and ence bag and publications; lunches, daily ment includes interior designers as well as Estimated Fees coffee breaks, and the gala dinner; and local technicians in various specialties who have The organizing committee will find great transportation. In addition to all the men- acquired wide expertise in the design and flexibility in planning the conference agen- tioned, the BA staff will provide a full free implementation of several exhibitions since the launch of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The exhibit halls are 450 square meters each and can also be used for small teaching domes or portable planetariums. The Conference Center also hosts two large catering halls for serving lunches, dinners, and/or coffee breaks. All the catering halls at the Conference Center and the whole The entrance to the conference center. library are operated by Hilton. The planetarium building, a component da due to all the various physical facilities tour to all facilities of Bibliotheca of the PSC, can be easily recognized from provided inside the conference building and Alexandrina, museums, exhibitions and inside or outside the library, as it has a its various rooms and auditoriums. The con- many other unique facilities. unique design and attractive form. In the ference program usually consists of an open- daytime, it is a dark spherical form which ing ceremony, registration, paper sessions, Post Conference Tour looks like a suspended planet in space. In the vendor demonstrations and exhibits, IPS We can arrange a trip to visit to the pyra-

32 Planetarian March 2007 mids and Sphinx in Giza (225 km from ambience and heritage distance it from the conference can visit before and after the Alexandria). There are three main pyramids, rest of the country, although it is actually conference. The tours are to be organized which were built in the 4th Dynasty (circa only 225 km from Cairo. under the supervision of specialized tourist 4650 BC). The pyramids of ancient Egypt The Corniche, which is about 18km long, agencies with high standards and in coordi- were built as tombs for kings (and queens), links the harbor with the former royal nation with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina andit was their exclusive privilege to have a palace of Montaza. It has been given its management to offer a reasonable rate. pyramid tomb. Todaythere are more than 93 becoming new look with Bibliotheca pyramids in Egypt; the most famous ones are Alexandrina undoubtedly adorning it at the Alexandria and Getting There those at Giza. The Great Sphinx, or as the Silsilah. Qait Bey Fortress was built by Sultan Participants can either arrive at the inter- ancients knew it, “Shesib Ankh” or “the liv- Ahsraf Qait Bay in 1480 in the Eastern harbor national airport of Alexandria (Bourg El- ing image,” has to be one of the most recog- on the site of the famous ancient Lighthouse Arab/HBE), which is a 30-minute ride away nizable constructions in history. Think of of Alexandria. It is said that the fortress from Library of Alexandria and the main the Sphinx and you automatically think of incorporates debris from the lighthouse. It hotels, or arrive at one of two international Egypt and the Giza Plateau. has long been a main landmark of the city, airports in Cairo. The distance from Cairo to dominating the northern skyline. The Alexandria is around 225 km. There are vari- Events at the BA restoration of the fortress, along with the ous means of transportation from Cairo to A grand international conference was held major improvements in the city in the past Alexandria; one is by train that is operated in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in 2005 to celebrate the centennial of Einstein’s miracu- lous year of 1905. The conference hosted Nobel laureates as well as eminent scientists from all over the world, including Murray Gell-Mann, Gerard‘t Hooft, Edward Witten, and many others. The BA also hosted the Einstein exhibition licensed from the American University of Natural History. In 2006, during the total solar eclipse that passed over the west of Egypt on March 29, the library invited eminent astronomers and scientists (from Max Planck Institute of Astrophysics, Paris Observatory, Cambridge University, Oxford University, Princeton University, and other international scientific institutions) who delivered public lectures on astronomy, cosmology, and physics. At the IPS conference we can invite a Nobel lau- reate to participate as a conference speaker. In the planetarium.

Human Resources at the Library Bibliotheca Alexandrina has the necessary five years, has brought the eastern harbor to by the Egyptian Railway Authority and pass- human resources and trained staff who are life. es by numerous Egyptian cities. Other ways capable of organizing various conferences. The districts of Anfushi and Bahari, locat- are by a local airplane operated by EgyptAir Please visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina web- ed on the way to Qait Bey, are renowned for or by car. site at www.bibalex.org to learn more on its the purchase of fresh fish, the making of fish- facilities and scientific and cultural activi- ing nets, and the manufacture of colorful Accommodation in Alexandria ties. These activities are assets strongly sup- fishing boats. The Mursi Abu al-Abas In addition to the perfect climate condi- porting the Bibliotheca Alexandrina to host Mosque, built in 1775 and featuring four tions in the city of Alexandria, as a coastal the IPS 2010 Conference. domes and a 73-meter high minaret, is situat- Mediterranean city, the accommodation in ed in the Mosques Quarters. It was rebuilt in the hotels in Alexandria and in Egypt in gen- Alexandria, the city 1943 and is today one of the foremost Islamic eral are quite inexpensive when compared The city of Alexandria is the largest port buildings in Alexandria. The bridge at to that of Europe, America, and Asia. of Egypt and its second capital. Ideally situat- Stanley Bay, with its four towers echoing the Moreover, the Bibliotheca receives special ed at the crossroads of cultural and commer- Montazah Palace towers, has become a main rates at hotels, which ranges between $60-80 cial traffic between the Middle East and attraction to visitors. One of the famous ren- a night in 4-star hotels and $100-110 for 5-star Europe, it enjoys a unique advantage among ovated and refurbished old artistic culture hotels. Most of these hotels are only a few Mediterranean cities. It boasts a cultural her- centers is the Mohamed Ali Theater, hundred meters away from the Bibliotheca itage dating back to Alexander the Great and renamed Sayed Darwish Theater after the Alexandrina and the conference location. the Ptolemies; relics of Pharaonic, famous Alexandrian folklore poet, composer So we believe that our location, striking Hellenistic, Coptic, and Islamic civilization; and singer, Sayed Darwish. It was inaugurat- modern facilities, and ancient heritage make and a coastline strip of 70 kilometers. ed in February 2004. the Bibliotheca Alexandrina an ideal site for Alexandria has an atmosphere that is There are several tourist attractions in IPS 2010. more Mediterranean than Middle Eastern; its Alexandria that participants in the IPS2010

March 2007 Planetarian 33 The Place of Planetariums in the Cultural Policies of Our Cities: Saint-Etienne for IPS 2010

Jacques Guarinos, Director of Astronef Robert Karulak, Deputy-Mayor of Saint-Etienne in Charge of Culture Cité Fauriel, 28 rue Pierre et Dominique Ponchardier 42100 Saint-Etienne France www.astronef.fr

The first immersive digital video projec- in the mining and tion planetarium in France and the second metalworking one in Europe is called Astronef (“spaceship” industries hit the in French). It is located in Saint-Etienne, a town, putting an medium-sized town situated on the eastern end to these tradi- edge of the Massif Central at the heart of an tional mainsprings. area populated by 450,000 people. Saint- Fortunately, creativ- Etienne stretches out between superb valleys ity and a sense of and hills, providing some of the most splen- innovation had did natural landscapes of France (Gorges de developed and la Loire, Parc Naturel du Pilat, Rochetaillée, would persist as and more). Saint-Etienne’s driv- The planetarium was developed as an ing forces. Thanks to integral part of the city's cultural plan. This a large economic vision will set the theme for our conference. restructuring, Saint- Combined with proximity to a convention Etienne has since center, connections with the city's high become dedicated technology optics industry, and access to the to industrial design, attractions of central France, this vision technological inno- makes Saint-Etienne an ideal site for IPS vation, and cultural 2010. creation. This restructuring A City Dedicating Itself to is not only econom- Creation and Culture ic. The city has a Saint-Etienne is not unknown to those high quality cultur- who remember the Apollo program: some of al offering for all its the optics the astronauts used on the Moon inhabitants, provid- were designed and built by Angénieux, a ing access to French company based in the Saint-Etienne renowned muse- metropolitan agglomeration. Angénieux ums, theaters—and technology is present on board numerous to a highly-creative satellites and spacecraft. planetarium Saint-Etienne is now a center of excellence equipped with a sys- for optics and vision, mechanical engineer- tem designed and ing, and medical technologies. But one can- built by a local com- not understand well what the town is all pany! As a means of about without knowledge of its history. travelling through Thanks to its coal mines, Saint-Etienne space and time, a At Top: Aerial view of the ancient ManuFrance site in Saint-Etienne. The underwent its own industrial revolution means of exploring planetarium is visible at the center (white dome). The Convention Center, a during the 15th and 16th centuries, becom- all the mysteries of higher education establishment, and the Chamber of Commerce and ing France’s leading industrial town during our huge universe, Industry are now located in this restructured industrial site. © TV and CO the 19th century. Until the 1970’s, Saint- Astronef is one ele- Communication. Bottom: The planetarium in front of the Convention Center main gate. © Eric Frappa (Astronef). All images used with permis- Etienne was known for its coal mines and ment of the ambi- sion. heavy industries. But in the 1970’s, the crisis tious cultural policy

34 Planetarian March 2007 undertaken in Saint-Etienne. planetariums located not only in This policy intends to transform France, but also in Austria, an old working-class town into a Greece, Italy, Spain, and Tunisia. modern city opened to the In Saint-Etienne, the confer- world and having projects to ence participants would not shape its own future. waste time in transportation. Many ambitious projects are This would be possible thanks to under way: the first Zenith enter- the close proximity between the tainment venue in Rhone-Alps Convention Center and the region with revolutionary archi- planetarium and to the size of tecture designed by Sir Norman the town, which allows all the Foster, the “Optics & Vision Pole” hotels to be located at very small with its laboratories devoted to distances from the Convention high technology optics, the tech- Center and from Astronef. Saint- nological park METROTECH Etienne can now offer more dedicated to further promoting than 1200 rooms, a large number technological innovation (to of them at rates about 50 to 60 € open in 2009), as well as several per night (at the time of this Etienne Mimard amphitheater, in Saint-Etienne Convention Center. © Centre urban projects involving other des Congrès, Saint-Etienne. writing, between 65 and 80 US famous architects such as dollars per night), with every Fumihiko Maki’s business city. modern convenience. Furthermore, Saint-Etienne has gained inter- square meters of exhibition space, a modern Furthermore, two new hotels are planned to national recognition: the success of its amphitheater with 700 seats (with options to be built before 2008. International Biennial of Design is just one set the size at 500 and 300 seats), 17 meeting The reduced costs of transportation and example, as is Saint-Etienne’s application to rooms for 15 up to 180 people, catering for up the fair prices in the Saint-Etienne area become the 2013 European Capital of to 2200 people, air conditioned spaces, Wifi would allow us to set low registration rates. Culture and the imminent opening of its and all the latest audiovisual installations, With an expected 400 participants, we plan International Design Center (spring 2007). the Saint-Etienne Convention Centre is the to fix the registration rate at about 330 € But if Saint-Etienne is strongly committed perfect place for organizing the 2010 IPS con- (about $430) per person. to shaping its own future, it does not want to ference. forget its past. Various cultural sites serve as The Saint-Etienne planetarium was first Rosetta and Lutetia As Guest reminders of its traditions, including the inaugurated in 1993 with an optomechanical Stars During the Conference Museum of Art and Industry, the Mining system. During the following decade, the If Saint-Etienne is chosen for hosting the Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art, as planetarium gained strong experience in 2010 IPS Conference, we plan to organize it well as the architectural heritage of Le planetarium show production. Then, a digi- during the week of Monday 17 July. This will Corbusier in Firminy under the auspices of tal system was installed and inaugurated in allow us to offer to the attendees a very spe- UNESCO. In 2000, Saint-Etienne was named June 2003. The new Astronef has a hemi- cial event during the conference, taking as a Town of Art and History. spheric room with 82 seats plus places for advantage of the encounter between the So, is there any better place in our chang- disabled persons. It is equipped with a full- space probe Rosetta (European Space ing world for discussing planetariums’ place dome, 6 channel digital video projection sys- Agency) and the asteroid Lutetia, interesting- in the cultural policies of our cities? tem with real time astronomical simulation. ly named after the ancient name of Paris, The 3D production unit allows the planetari- capital of France. On July 10, 2010, Rosetta Convention Center and Digital um team to create ambitious full-dome digi- will fly over Lutetia. The French astronomi- Planetarium at the Same Place tal shows. The latter are also played in other cal community is very much involved in Only a few meters separate the this mission, with important par- planetarium from the Saint-Etienne ticipation from LESIA (Paris Convention Center, which has Observatory) and LAM already organized 1400 events (Astrophysical Laboratory of attracting more than 550,000 peo- Marseilles). ple since 1993. If our city is chosen Astronef came to an agreement for organizing and hosting the 2010 with an astronomer on the French IPS Conference, this ideal situation team involved in the Rosetta mis- will allow for a maximum number sion: he or one of his colleagues of planetarium shows, including a will be ready to present the very planetarium show productions fes- first scientific results of the mission tival, to be organized in parallel during the IPS conference in Saint- with the other activities in the Etienne. All they need is about 10 Convention Center. Every partici- days between the encounter and pant will be able to attend every the presentation. This agreement planetarium session with no risk of could be reached thanks to the missing any of the other confer- very good relationships Astronef ence's main sessions. With 6500 The Optics and Vision Pole (main entrance). © Saint-Etienne Métropole. has with the scientific community square meters of floor space, 3000 (the name Astronef is associated

March 2007 Planetarian 35 with papers published in Nature, Science, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Earth Moon and Planets, and Journal of Geophysical Research).

A Worldwide Recognition in High Technology Optics Famous as a provider of optics for use in space, the local company Angénieux is also renowned in the cinematography industry. And this is just one example of the skills Saint-Etienne developed in high technology optics. With the will to put research laboratories, higher education establishments, and The Saint-Etienne Zenith entertainment venue, the first one in Rhone-Alps region (opening 2008). © Foster and Partners. industrial companies working in optics, vision, and electronics all in the same place, the Saint-Etienne agglomeration created the Optics & Vision Pole in 2002. The femtosec- ond laser, nanotechnologies, adaptive optics, and digital imaging are some of the topics its researchers and students are working on. About 1000 people will be working there in 2010, and of course the IPS conference attendees will be offered the opportunity to visit.

Easy to Reach, Perfect Departure Point for Visiting France Saint-Etienne has its own airport, with daily return flights to Paris. But it is only 50 minutes from Lyon International Airport by car and 2 hours 45 minutes from Paris, thanks to the TGV (the French High Speed Train with 4 daily returns). When you are in Saint-Etienne, no interesting place in France is far from you, neither the Mediterranean Sea, nor the famous Châteaux of the Loire, nor the volcanoes of Auvergne in the Massif Central, nor the Alps mountains. You are interested in knowing the captivating atmosphere of the Pic du Midi Observatory in the Pyrénées mountains? You want to see the extraordinary viaduct of Millau? Or you wish to visit some famous wine-producing area? No problem, whatever your transportation means is: plane, train or car. Saint-Etienne benefits from several motorway accesses: A72 to Paris, A47 to Lyons, A48 to Grenoble and the Alps, A7 to Marseilles and the Mediterranean Sea. We are considering organizing a post-conference tour that would include Pic du Midi, with which we have a close relationship, and other attractions. Yes, Saint-Etienne is a perfect departure point for visiting France. But most of Saint- Etienne’s visitors just prefer to stay here and enjoy its magnificent landscapes and its inhabitants' warm welcome. Just come and At Top: Saint-Victor and Bottom: Chambles, both in the close surroundings of Saint-Etienne. Both check it out! images © Laurent Asselin (Astronef).

36 Planetarian March 2007 IPS Publications Archive Now Digitized Dale W. Smith IPS Publications Chair Department of Physics & Astronomy Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio 43403 USA

Since it was founded in 1970, IPS has pro- a separate insert accompanying this issue of One archive CD includes all known IPS duced a wide variety of publications to serve the Planetarian. The ordering information is conference proceedings from the period its members. These include: also provided in this article. 1974-2004, as shown in Table 2. • Our Society's journal, the Planetarian, pub- The archive also includes the Asia Forum lished quarterly since 1972 The Publications held at the 1996 conference in Osaka and the • Proceedings of all IPS conference since The archive includes all issues of the Sri Lankan Skies conference held in 1994 and some earlier Planetarian from 1972- Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2001. The Proceedings conferences 2006. During this time, 35 of the 2006 conference in Melbourne are still • Directories of planetari- volumes and 135 issues of in preparation as this article is being written. ums since 1971 • A variety of special pub- Abstract: IPS announces the release of the IPS lications since 1972 With the passage of Publications Archive. This set of 8 CDs includes time, many of these publi- PDF files of all IPS publications since the Society cations have become diffi- was founded in 1970. These include the cult to obtain. To prevent Planetarian, conference proceedings, directories, these valuable resources from being lost and to and special reports and publications. make them readily available to today's members, the journal totaling 7048 To our knowledge, no proceedings were pub- we have created electronic pages were published under lished for the conferences in 1972, 1976, 1978, copies of all of the Society's nine different executive 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, or 1992. past publications. We have editors (see Table 1). One archive CD includes all directories scanned all past publications into PDF files The PDF files for these issues have been published by IPS since 1971, described in and have assembled them on a set of 8 CDs. assembled onto five CDs—one for the 1970s, Table 3. This article outlines the contents of the one for the 1980s, one for 1990-1994, one for The 1970s directories included primarily archive CD set. You can find an order form as 1995-1999, and one for 2000-2006. North American planetariums. Coverage became more international Table 1: The Planetarian Table 2: Conference Proceedings with the 1980s editions. The Resource Directory (of ven- Years Volumes # of Issues Editor Year Site Original Editor Notes dors) was launched in 1998. Mode 1972-1974 v1#1- 8 Jettner One archive CD includes v3#1,2 1974 Atlanta print Tate ISPE special report all special publications from #6 1972-2005 (Table 4). 1974 v3#3,4 1 Batch 1982 Vancouver print Hurd? Special publications from 1971-1982 were called Special 1975 v4#1,2- 2 Cotton 1990 Borlänge print Broman & Reports and were numbered v4#3,4 Back as indicated in the table. 1976-1977 v5#1- 8 Fagan 1994 Cocoa print Hutton & Special Reports 1, 3, 6, 8, and 9 v6#4 Beach Thrall were directories or proceed- 1996 Osaka print Kato? ings and are included on the 1978 v7#1 1 Hartman directory or proceedings CD, 1996 Osaka print Itoh Asia Forum at as appropriate, rather than 1978-1981 v7#2- 15 Hoffman Osaka conference on the special publications v10#4 1998 London print Grafton CD. Note that IPS was origi- 1982-1986 v11#1- 20 Marché nally called the Internation- 2000 Montreal CD Jobin v15#4 al Society of Planetarium 2001 Colombo print Smith Sri Lankan Skies Educators, hence the abbre- 1987- v16#1- 78 Mosley conference viation ISPE in the early 2006 v35#2 2002 Wichita CD Gould years. The Planetarium 2006- v35#3- Shanks 2004 Valencia CD Guirado Educators Workshop Guide March 2007 Planetarian 37 in 1983. Thanks to colleagues past and present is © by the University of California, 27 Steps who have contributed to, authored, or to the Universe is © by Lars Broman, Naked i edited these publications. This treasure Astronomy is © by George Reed, and trove of material is a testimony to the Planetarium: A Challenge for Educators was vitality of our profession and to the tal- published by the United Nations; all are ent and dedication of planetarians reproduced by permission. everywhere. Planetariums and their use for Education is the proceedings of a symposium held at Ordering the Cleveland Museum of Natural History The IPS Publications Archive is avail- prior to the founding of IPS and also is repro- able as a set of eight CDs. The CDs can- duced here with permission. not be purchased individually. The pur- directly by the executive editor. For issues chase price, including shipping, is $75 for Notes and thanks prior to 2003 (and for some since then), the IPS members and $175 for non-members. The mode of original publication of pro- PDF files are composed of images scanned An order form has been in-cluded as an ceedings, directories, and special publica- from the printed page. insert with this issue of the Planetarian. If the tions has shifted from print to CD in recent Thanks to IPS Historian John Hare for form is missing, you can order the archive years. For publications originally released as loaning copies of publications that were not set from IPS Treasurer Shawn Laatsch, Imiloa a CD, the PDF file is the one that appeared on already on my shelf, to Dave Batch and the Astronomy Center of Hawaii, 600 Imiloa the original CD. For publications originally Abrams Planetarium for loaning two issues Place, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, USA, email released in print, the PDF file is composed of of the Planetarian, to Jon Marshall for giving [email protected]. Payment must be PDF images scanned from the printed page. me several early issues of the Planetarian US dollars by credit card (Mastercard or Visa) Preparation of the Planetarian has become when he retired some years ago, and to Walt or by a check drawn on a US bank. electronic in recent years. For most issues Tenschert for fine service when I bought all The deadline for receiving orders is June 15 beginning in 2003, the PDF was provided available back publications upon joining IPS and we plan to ship the CD sets in July.

Table 3: Directories Table 4: Special Publications Year Original Editor Notes Year Original Title Author/editor mode Mode 1971 print Sperling ISPE special report #1 1960 print Planetariums and their use for Scheele Education 1973 print Sperling ISPE special report #3 1972 print A Bibliography for Planetarium Reed 1977 print Lazarus & ISPE special report #8 Educators (ISPE Special Report #2) Fleming 1973 print A Bibliography for Planetarium Reed Education, Part II (ISPE Special Report #4) 1979 print Lazarus & IPS special report #9 Fleming 1974 print Some Planetarium Programs of LoGuirato 1972-73 (ISPE Special Report #5) 1983 print Cotton 1974 print Planetarium Handbook Sultner 1986 print Petersen (ISPE Special Report #7) 1980 print Planetarium Educators Friedman et al. 1987 print Petersen Workshop Guide (IPS Special Report #10) 1988 print Petersen 1982 print Special Effects Sourcebook Aguilar 1989 print Petersen (IPS Special Report #11) 1990 print Petersen 1986 print 27 Steps to the Universe Broman 1988 print Naked i Astronomy Reed 1994 print Petersen 1992 print Planetarium: A Challenge for Haubold & Smith 1995 print Johnson Educators (UN Publication)

1997 print Laatsch & 1994 print So You Want to Build a Wilson Planetarium? Smith 1996 print Special Effects Sourcebook, Concannon 1998 print Smith Resource Directory 1st revised (IPS Special Report #11 edition revised) 2000 print Smith & 2001 print Stories in the Stars Whitt Laatsch 2002 CD Portable Planetarium Button 2003 CD Smith combined Planetarium Handbook & Resource Directory 2005 CD Educar con el Planetario Saizar & Button

2005 CD Smith combined 2005 CD TIPS for Excellent Tidey Scriptwriting

38 Planetarian March 2007 Minutes of the IPS Council Meeting The State Ballroom Carlton Crest Hotel Melbourne, Victoria, Australia July 22 & 23, 2006

* indicates action items Planetarium Society of India (PSI) “review” format for auditing purposes due to Russian Planetarium Association (RPA) the size of our organization and for the num- In attendance: Ukrainian Planetarium Association (UPA) ber of transactions we process. Donna Pierce President Martin George moved to accept the Audit Review, seconded President-Elect Susan Button Guests: by Gail Chaid, and approved by Council. Past President Jon Elvert Dr. Dale Smith – Chair, Publications Treasurer Shawn Laatsch Committee Council reviewed and discussed specifics Secretary Lee Ann Hennig Alan Gould – IPS Chair, Web Committee of the 2005 Financial Report and the mid- Dr. Paul Knappenberger, Adler Planetarium, year 2006 Budget. Shawn recognized Ash Affiliate Representatives: Chicago, Illinois, USA – 2008 IPS Enterprises and John Hare for their generous Association of Dutch Speaking Planetariums Conference contributions to the Armand Spitz (ADSP) – Milo Grootjen & Anne-Lize Dr. Jin Zhu, Beijing Planetarium, Beijing, Planetarium Education Fund during the Kochuyt for André Milis China – 2010 IPS Conference Bid year. The company has a special arrange- Association of French Speaking Planetariums Dr. Jacques Guarinos, Saint-Etienne ment with their customers which results in (APLF) – Dr. Jacques Guarinos for Agnès Planetarium, Saint-Etienne, France – 2010 regular donations to the Fund. Gail Chaid Acke IPS Conference Bid moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report, Association of Mexican Planetariums Robert Karulak, Deputy Mayor, City of Saint- seconded by Milo Grootjen and approved by (AMPAC) – Martin George for Ignacio Etienne, France – 2010 IPS Conference Bid Council. Castro Pinal Andrew Buckingham, Stardome Treasurer Shawn Laatsch then presented Australasian Planetarium Society (APS) – Observatory, New Zealand the proposed 2006/07 budget. John Hare Martin Bush Steve Tidey – IPS Script Contest Committee noted that the line item for Council British Association of Planetaria (BAP) – Dr. Chair, Column Editor, Planetarian Lodging/Expenses needs adjustment for Tom Mason 2007. Shawn will make those adjustments. Council of German Planetariums (RDP) – The meeting was called to order at 9:15 Council discussed the proposed additional Thomas Kraupe A.M. by President Martin George. Martin guidelines for the IPS Star Partner’s Fund. European/Mediterranean Planetarium extended a warm welcome to Australia and Discussion centered on voting privileges and Association (EMPA) – Manos Kitsonas for following the introductions of Council selection process. Dionysios Simopoulos members and guests, Martin recognized new * The officers will draft a revised version Great Lakes Planetarium Association (GLPA) Council members and reviewed the format of the proposed guidelines and present it to – Dave Weinrich for the Council meeting as well as changes in Council for approval. Great Plains Planetarium Association (GPPA) the agenda. President Martin George – Jack Dunn announced that we will be providing news In the Membership Report, Shawn report- Italian Planetaria’s Friends Association (IPFA) of the IPS Conference on a daily basis to ed that total membership as of June 2006 is – Susan Button for Loris Ramponi IPSNews Editor John Schroer for posting to 640 (250 International Members and 390 Japan Planetarium Society (JPS) – Shoichi our IPS Listserve. Gail Chaid, PPA Affiliate United States Members). Shawn presented a Itoh Representative was appointed coordinator of membership cost analysis covering the year Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society (MAPS) the IPS Conference News Daily. 2000 (the last year that dues were raised) to - Lee Ann Hennig for Patty Seaton The Secretary’s Report on the Minutes of the present. Due to increases in expenses in a Nordic Planetarium Association (NPA) - Lars the 2005 Beijing, China Meeting had been number of areas, the Treasurer proposed that Broman previously published in the March 2006 a dues increase would be necessary in the Pacific Planetarium Association (PPA) – Gail Planetarian. There being no corrections or near future. Council discussed the details of Chaid additions, Tom Mason moved to accept the the cost analysis report and possible impact Rocky Mountain Planetarium Association Minutes, seconded by Thomas Kraupe, and of a dues increase, as well as the conse- (RMPA) – Kevin Scott approved by Council. quences of not increasing dues. Issues dis- Southeastern Planetarium Association Treasurer Shawn Laatsch presented the cussed included: printing and mailing (SEPA) - John Hare Treasurer’s Report. In accordance with expenses of the Planetarian and other publi- Southwestern Association of Planetariums Council directions in 2005, a review audit cations; alternatives of publishing the (SWAP) – Donna Pierce for Tony was prepared by Richard R. Cox Certified Planetarian electronically; comparison of IPS Butterworth Public Accountant. Shawn reviewed the dues to other professional organizations’ report and format of the review. The review dues and the benefits to memberships of Affiliates not in attendance: concluded that the financial statements of those organizations; reevaluation of the rates Association of Spanish Planetariums (APLE) the organization are in conformity with on advertising in the Planetarian; the impact Canadian Association of Science Centres acceptable accounting practices. The CPA of implementing some of the recommenda- (CASC) advised that IPS should continue to use the tions of the Strategic Planning Committee

March 2007 Planetarian 39 regarding a paid Secretariat, etc. The discus- not have regionals or may not be aware Conference Center, in Wheeling, West sion on the proposal was tabled until Sunday of IPS, Virginia, October 9-13, 2007. to allow further discussion overnight. • Recognizing John Mosley, Editor of the Dr. Jin Zhu of the Beijing Planetarium gave Treasurer Shawn Laatsch led the discus- Planetarian, for his outstanding service a brief report on the planetarium communi- sion regarding Institutional Membership and to IPS and welcome to Sharon Shanks, ty in China and efforts to organize a regional Corporate Membership status: benefits, cost, new Editor of the Planetarian. group. number of staff covered under each catego- • Restructuring of several committees, NPA Representative and International ry, the definition of each membership status, including Outreach with Jon Elvert as News Editor for the Planetarian Lars Broman etc. Council decided to table further discus- chair. thanked those affiliates who forwarded sion until Sunday to allow Council more • Highlighting the Scriptwriting Booklet regional news to him and expressed his hope time to define the difference between the distribution and overall work accom- that everyone will continue to pass news- two categories and to propose a solution to plished by the Publications Committee worthy items on to him for inclusion in the the issue. under the chairmanship of Dale Smith column. Council thanked IPFA Represent- Past President Jon Elvert presented the • Encouraging Council members to com- ative Loris Ramponi for his efforts in collect- Past President’s Report as a summary of the municate throughout the year, not just ing material from the regionals for the goals, challenges and opportunities that were at Council Meetings International Calendar of Planetarium part of his tenure as President and Past • Continue with the production of the Events which is now available on the IPS President: annual President’s Message to Affiliates Website. • Committees had a chance to voice their DVD John Hare moved to accept all Affiliate concerns and highlight their efforts in • Making IPS more accessible to planetari- Reports, seconded by Dave Weinrich and the Planetarian and through their ans - new initiative to be discussed dur- approved by Council. reports. This was important in gauging ing Council Meeting the success, exposure, and shortcomings • Persisting in the efforts of formalizing Although the Agenda was reordered to allow of committee work which resulted in the Memorandum of Understanding several committee chairs to present their annu- significant restructuring and redesign of (MOU) with NASA and then expanding al reports for the sake of convenience, the min- committees. that model to other organizations utes will record the reports in their proper order • The Committee restructure and evalua- • Attending the IAU Conference in Prague for organizational purposes. tion will make for a more effective orga- to increase the profile of IPS with the nization as IPS matures professional astronomical community. Standing Committee Reports • In some circumstances it is more effec- Standing Committee Reports were pre- tive to assign a “point person” to do the Donna Pierce moved to accept the Past sented, reviewed and discussed (this section work in place of a committee President’s and President’s reports, seconded continued over to the Sunday meeting). • Jon thanked the Officers, Council by Jack Dunn and approved by Council. President Martin George presented Chair Representatives, Committee Chairs and Jon Bell’s IPS Awards Committee Report. The expressed his pleasure in having the Affiliate Reports IPS Fellows and Service Award honorees will opportunity to serve IPS Written Affiliate Reports were reviewed. be presented at the Banquet on Thursday In Affiliate News from the floor: evening. President Martin George delivered the GLPA Representative Dave Weinrich President Martin George presented the IPS President’s Report. This report will be pub- announced that GLPA has donated $300 to Elections Committee report on behalf of lished in the September 2006 Planetarian. the IPS Star Partners Fund and $200 to the Chair Steve Mitch. Nominees for the offices Martin concentrated on the following topics: IPS Armand Spitz Planetarium Education of President Elect, Executive Secretary, and • Communicating more frequently with Fund and encourages other affiliates to con- Treasurer/Membership Chair are: Council and Officers regarding IPS issues sider donating to these important projects as • Acting on several of the issues addressed well. President-Elect: by the Strategic Planning Committee JPS Representative Shoichi Itoh reported Stephanie Parello: Rose Center for Earth and and others will be part of the agenda at that the 3 regional Japanese associations will Space, New York, NY USA this conference and throughout the year be unified into one association this year. Derrick Pitts: Fels Planetarium, Philadelphia, • Reinstating the Strategic Planning NPA Representative Lars Broman PA USA Committee with Tom Mason as Chair announced that a new planetarium in Steve Tidey: Southend, Essex, England, UK • Building on the 2005 Council Meeting Iceland is now a member of the Nordic in Beijing, (the first official gathering of Planetarium Association. Executive Secretary: IPS in that country.) Martin has contin- PPA Representative Gail Chaid reported Lee Ann A. Hennig: Thomas Jefferson HSST ued to work with several members of on highlights of the 2007 PPA Conference in Planetarium, Alexandria, VA USA the Beijing Planetarium to encourage IPS Fairbanks, Alaska. membership throughout the country RDP Representative Thomas Kraupe Treasurer/Membership Chair: and perhaps an affiliate group forma- reported that the next meeting of the RDP Shawn Laatsch: Eastern North Carolina tion. would be held in Schwaz, Austria. Regional Science Center, Greenville, NC USA • Attending conferences in promotion of SEPA Representative John Hare IPS (regional as well as international) and announced that SEPA/GLPA/MAPS will hold A call for nominations from the floor will reaching out to those areas which may a triple conjunction meeting at Oglebay be made during the General Business

40 Planetarian March 2007 Meeting later this week. Biographies and can- scanned and the presentation format is supplement to other planetarium discussion didate statements will be posted on the web being arranged -some technical prob- groups, including DOME-L and the Digistar and in the Planetarian. With a successful lems are being addressed. Users Group mailing list. The Committee electronic election vote in 2004, the 2006 plans to hold other Full Dome workshops at election will also be conducted in that for- Status of other documents, publications, and IPS 2006 and selected regional conferences. mat. efforts: Council will discuss the goals, operations * Special Note: See Addendum to Minutes • The Proceedings of the IPS 2006 and mission of the Committee on Sunday. from the General Business Meeting at the Melbourne Conference are in process. The IPS History Committee Report was end of this document • Chair Dale Smith has created a compre- delivered by Historian John Hare. The task of hensive list of all past IPS publications scanning photographs and slides began this The IPS Publications Committee Chair (besides the Planetarian) including 17 spring. Utilizing Ash Enterprises equipment, Dale Smith reported on the activities of the Directories (1971-2005), 13 Conference over 1000 images have been digitized and at Committee. John Mosley retired as Proceedings (1974-2004), 15 Special the present rate the project should be nearly Executive Editor effective with the June Reports (1971-2005), and 5 administra- complete by year’s end. The effort of identi- 2006 edition. He edited 78 consecutive, on- tions of President’s Newsletters. fying various individuals, the circumstances, time issues (representing 59% of the 133 • The archive of past publications will be and the events is challenging. John reports issues since the founding of the journal). The released as a set of CDs later this year and that ultimately many of these images could period of 2002-03 saw the transition of the made available for purchase as a set by be made available on the IPS website. John Planetarian to a full-color publication. IPS members. will be presenting a paper this week which Council expressed its gratitude to John for • Dale reported that IPS maintains three highlights several pre-IPS era planetarium his exceptional leadership as Editor and for repositories of back publications: the conferences and focuses on several; interest- his devotion to duty as Editor-in-retirement U.S. Repository is with ing topics of discussion that have implica- for two issues while the search for a new edi- Treasurer/Membership Chair Shawn tions with the “planetarium of today”. tor was underway. Sharon Shanks, of the Laatsch; the European Repository is Research for the paper originated from mate- Ward Beecher Planetarium of Youngstown with Chris Janssen at Europlanetarium rials contained in the IPS Archives and from State University, Youngstown, Ohio USA, is in Genk, Belgium; and the Asian the Historian’s personal experiences. John the new Executive Editor. She will oversee Repository is with Shoichi Itoh at the encourages members to pass on relevant the work of several new Associate Editors Suginami Science Center in Tokyo, material for the IPS Archives. including Christopher S. Reed (General Japan. The IPS Language Committee Report was Counsel, a new column), and John Schroer Chair Dale Smith urges each Affiliate to presented by Chair Martin George. Martin (What’s New). The 2005 IPS Directory was contribute at least one article to the reported on the committee’s goal of com- mailed to the membership in October in CD Planetarian annually. Not only would this pleting the series of translations for the IPS format. It contains two distinct sections, the effort increase the number of articles pub- Membership Brochure and resolving some of IPS Directory of the World’s Planetariums lished in the journal, but it would also high- the issues of translations at conferences. The (“white pages”) and the IPS Resource light the regional affiliate’s participation. Language and Publications Committees will Directory (“yellow pages”), and is edited by expand their working relationship on pro- Chair Dale Smith. The Directory is also avail- Ad Hoc Committee Reports jects related to multilingual issues. able in the members-only area of the IPS Ad Hoc Committee Reports were present- Newly appointed IPS Outreach website. The Directory is published on a ed, reviewed and discussed (this section con- Committee Chair Jon Elvert summarized his biennial basis with updated files available on tinued over to the Sunday meeting). vision for this redesigned committee. A the website between editions. The next edi- The report from Chair Ed Lantz of the IPS major goal will be to make available more tion will be published in 2007. Full Dome Video Committee was reviewed. educational materials to the IPS membership Several accomplishments were mentioned: through the exchange of reciprocal Special Publications: full dome forum meetings at DomeFest in resources between the IPS and other profes- • Tips for Excellent Planetarium Albuquerque on July 17th, the Western sional astronomy and educational related Scriptwriting (Steve Tidey, editor): based Alliance Conference of Planetariums at the organizations. This committee will include on an earlier GLPA booklet, this updated Denver Museum of Nature and Science on the input offered by the Media Distribution and internationalized version was dis- September 10, 2005, and at the Workshop on Committee and Education Committee to tributed to the membership as a CD in Immersive Cinema in Espinho, Portugal on serve the membership in a more effective December 2005. As a joint IPS/GLPA September 12th, 2005:added full dome manner. The Outreach Committee will con- publication, it was also distributed to resources page to the official IPS website; tinue to facilitate communication and GLPA members. maintained a regular column in the develop collaborative opportunities with • IPS Astronomical Songbook: (Jon Bell, Planetarian called Digital Frontiers to inform astronomy and space education related Editor) includes texts for dozens of astro- IPS members about digital planetarium edu- agencies and strive toward improving upon nomical songs and recordings of many cation, art, operations, technology and hap- the existing partnerships, especially in the of them. The CD master is ready will be penings; guest-edited two special topic issues strategic goals of NASA's informal education distributed with a future issue of the of the Planetarian devoted to “Digital Domes initiatives. However, the committee will Planetarian. and the Future of Planetariums.”; Ryan also be asking the Affiliate Representatives • Moonfinder (Jay Ryan, artist/author) Wyatt continued operation of the Full dome for more involvement in the distribution of original artwork has been digitally Video Discussion Group which operates as a information to their regional members.

March 2007 Planetarian 41 Council discussed ways to accomplish the posting job opportunities on the jobs’ page. Council regarding the interpretation of the goals of the committee as a merger of Media Alan brought up the possibility of consider- language of Article XIII, seconded by Jon Distribution and Education Committees. ing joint memberships in IPS and Affiliate Elvert and approved by Council. groups perhaps associated with an electronic The IPS Planetarium Development Group Planetarian journal. This might increase IPS Old Business chaired by Ken Wilson continues to make membership and would perhaps save print- NPA Representative Lars Broman reported progress on the IPS Planetarium ing costs with an e-journal. Alan also asked on the status of the Armand Spitz Development Guide. Sandro Gomes of the Council to be mindful of the benefits of an Planetarium Education Fund grant approved Rio de Janeiro Planetarium has volunteered electronic journal in terms of the ecology for two of the master students in science to write the chapter on sound systems and /environmental concerns. Treasurer Shawn communication at Dalarna University. Lars sound studios. Ken reports that he is still in Laatsch will be working with Alan to investi- gave a brief review of the entire program up need of volunteer authors for the chapters gate the structure of offering IPS member- through the Spring of 2006. The reports on renovation, special effects/multi-image, ship on-line. from their theses fieldwork and Internships and participatory planetaria. There would be an initial set-up cost, then are available at www.sciencecommunica- Chair Susan Button presented the IPS an annual fee for continued service. This tion.se. In keeping with the provisions of the Portable Planetarium Committee Report. option would also allow a personal password grant, the students are submitting reports The Fourth European Meeting of Itinerant to be generated at that time and this action describing their experiences and the signifi- Planetaria is being planned for 2007 in the would make our membership-only area cance of their projects to be published in the Slovak Republic and will be hosted by more secure. After evaluating reactions to Planetarian and posted on the IPS Website. Marián Vidovenec. The Committee contin- the newly designed prototype of the web- Lars announced that two new students will ues to seek contact people in each regional site, Alan will transition the relevant pages be doing thesis fieldwork in 2007. Council affiliate and news of their activities for pub- into the new format. expressed its approval that the use of the lication in the Planetarian. Susan reported No Reports were submitted from the ASPEF as a grant to students involved in this that a new editor for the Planetarian column Professional Services and Technology kind of work was appropriate and necessary is being considered. The committee encour- Committees. for the future of the planetarium communi- ages the IPS affiliates to include information President Martin George announced that ty, and that it should be made more visible of interest to portable planetarium directors Dr. Tom Mason will be the new Chair of the to young people in terms of promoting these in each of their newsletters and to have a reinstated IPS Strategic Planning Committee. opportunities. proactive contact for portable planetariums Donna Pierce moved to accept all Affiliate * Shawn Laatsch moved to accept the pro- in each regional affiliate. Reports, seconded by Gail Chaid and posal for renewal of the grant for 2007, sec- Steve Tidey, Chair of the IPS Script approved by Council. onded by Jon Elvert and approved by Contest Committee submitted a report on Council. the Eugenides Foundation Scriptwriting Constitution Issues President Martin George reported that Contest. As a result of improvements in the Secretary Lee Ann Hennig, President Elect work on a Memorandum of Understanding implementation and goals of the contest, Susan Button and Former President and formalizing the flow of information Steve reported that nine entries were Publications Chair Dale Smith, have between IPS and NASA is still under revision. received for the most recent competition reviewed the document’s overall structure As soon as Martin has a draft it will be pre- which closed on December 31, 2005. for ease of reading and will propose further sented to Council. Winners of the contest will be announced at revisions in specific sections requiring updat- Council meeting was adjourned until the Banquet. Council expressed its pleasure ed terminology and clerical modifications as Sunday morning, July 23, 2006 at Steve’s continued progress on the well. The draft changes will be submitted to improvement of the contest and of the gen- Council for comment and subsequent The meeting was called to order at 9:30 erous support provided by the Eugenides approval. There will be some By-Law A.M. by President Martin George. Foundation. The next contest will be offi- changes placed on the October 2006 ballot The Agenda returned to tabled items. cially launched in the March 2007 for consideration by the IPS membership, Planetarian. and the remaining Standing Rules changes Old Business Chair Alan Gould presented the IPS will be considered by Council. The Corporate Membership status discus- Website Committee Report. The IPS Website The conditions under which the organiza- sion continued from Saturday. RMPA has been undergoing updates, refinements tion carries out its business in terms of utiliz- Representative Kevin Scott presented a pro- and redesign. Alan demonstrated some of the ing electronic means (balloting, communica- posal which would address corporate mem- elements of the redesign and membership tion, voting, etc.) is not specifically stated in bership in relation to Individual and only access areas. Loris Ramponi’s all circumstances covered in the By-Laws Institutional memberships. Council held International Calendar of Planetarium and Standing Rules. Therefore a “sense of considerable discussion on the benefits, defi- Events is now maintained directly by Loris Council” as to the use of electronic commu- nition, and necessity of embracing a corpo- and posted on the Website. Each Committee nications in IPS business was stated as: “It is rate membership status. The idea of a “non- has its own page and Alan encouraged the the interpretation of Council that the lan- member” or “observer” category was also dis- Chairs to send him material to post on those guage of Article XIII of the By-Laws includes cussed. pages so the membership can be informed ballots distributed, signed, and returned elec- * President Martin George directed Kevin on the business of the committees. The com- tronically.” Scott and Treasurer/Membership Chair mittee is also considering a blog system for *Jack Dunn moved to accept the sense of Shawn Laatsch to draft a proposal addressing

42 Planetarian March 2007 the “Corporate Membership” category and dinating a Council page or area that might mented based on the cost analysis of the its associated Standing Rules and By-Laws be easier to use, or used in conjunction with membership. The proposal to increase dues revisions. The draft proposal should be sub- the Yahoo Group site. effective 2008 included the following struc- mitted to Council by October 1, 2006 for ture: subsequent discussion and action. Conferences Individual $65 - 1 year, $100 - 2 years President Martin George reviewed a pro- IPS 2006 Melbourne Conference Institutional $125 -renewal, $250 – new posal for making IPS more accessible to the Host and Australasian Planetarium Society Library $45 international community. This proposal Representative Martin Bush reported on the arose from a recommendation by the plans for the July 24-27, Melbourne In 2007 members could renew for the cur- Strategic Planning Committee and is one of Conference. Martin assured Council that rent rates. Council discussed the proposal the issues which Council is addressing. “That everything is on track for a great conference and the Cost Analysis Report as it applied to the IPS invite through, but not limited to, its and expectations are high for clear skies, the proposal as well as the corresponding website, non-members around the world, at engaging presentations, enlightening vendor corporate membership and its impact. It will no cost to become IPS Associates who will demonstrations, wonderful food, and warm have been eight years since the last dues receive IPSNews electronically. This offer is “Down-Under” hospitality! Council thanked increase if the 2008 date is approved. * Gail to be reviewed after two years.” The purpose Martin and the Local Organizing Committee Chaid moved to accept the proposal for the of this proposal is to introduce non-mem- for its commitment to hosting an outstand- dues increase effective 2008, seconded by bers to IPS, to boost IPS visibility, and to ing conference. Tom Mason and approved by Council. make IPS more inclusive. IPSNews and the IPS 2008 Chicago Conference President Martin George shared a presenta- IPS Website would be the major vehicles for Paul Knappenberger of the Adler tion relating to the life and contributions of “Associate” information. * Council voted its Planetarium, reported on the June 15-20, Radio Astronomer Grote Reeber and the approval to proceed with the IPS Associate 2008 IPS Conference to be held in Chicago, Foundation which is overseeing the wishes initiative. Illinois USA. Plans are progressing on sched- of his estate as to how his ashes would be dis- President Martin George summarized the ule for all events related to the Conference tributed. Martin discussed with Council how state of restructuring several IPS and details will be posted on the IPS Website IPS might be a part of an effort to honor Committees: as they become available. Grote Reeber, but after much discussion it • IPS Outreach Committee: will now 2010 IPS Conference Bids were presented was agreed that several other organizations’ incorporate the former Media by the following representatives: missions might better justify involvement. Distribution Committee and Education BAP Representative Tom Mason shared Committee under one umbrella. Martin • Dr. Jin Zhu, Beijing Planetarium, Beijing, that some of his Affiliate members were con- expressed gratitude on behalf of Council China: The dates for a Beijing conference cerned about the cost of attending IPS for the tremendous work accomplished would be July 4-8, 2010 Conferences, and in particular that the by former Chairs Thomas Kraupe • Dr. Omar Fikry- Library of Alexandria, Banquet expenses may be prohibitive for (Media Distribution), Christine Shupla Alexandria, Egypt. The dates for an many. It was suggested that perhaps there (Outreach), and April Whitt (Education) Alexandria conference would be July 12 could be sponsorships from Affiliates or • IPS Full Dome Committee: the IPS -15, 2010. other sources to reduce the registration fees Technology Committee is connected to • Dr. Jacques Guarinos- Saint-Etienne for attendees. Martin reminded Council that some extent to the Full Dome Planetarium, Saint-Etienne, France. The IPS cannot require that Affiliates sponsor Committee. The restructuring of the IPS dates for a Saint-Etienne conference their attendees, that is an Affiliate concern. Full Dome Committee should also would be July 17-21, 2010. Indeed some Affiliates do offer financial sup- encompass some of the goals and objec- Dr. Fikry of Egypt could not be present port for their representatives. Council dis- tives of the Technology Committee. Ed during the Council meeting, so his presenta- cussed other issues regarding conference Lantz, Chair of the Full Dome tion was rescheduled for the IPS Business scheduling, vendor time, meal expenses, etc. Committee, will be stepping down as Meeting, during which all potential hosts It was pointed out that cultural differences Chair, and the Technology Committee would speak to the membership about their also play a role in event scheduling, and Chair is vacant. These events provide an bids. meals. The IPS Conference Guidelines should opportunity to reevaluate the roles of Council inquired about registration fees, address the need to balance the overall pur- both committees before a new Chair is room and boarding costs, as well as meeting pose of IPS conferences and cultural customs appointed. and planetarium facilities. Details on each of in the host venue. The Conference Council discussed the direction of the the bids will be posted on the IPS Website Committee should also be more vigilant restructuring in terms of the objectives: is it and in upcoming issues of the Planetarian. At concerning the budget items of meals and streamlining, or creating subcommittees the 2007 IPS Council Meeting, a final selec- events. under a larger umbrella format. Martin will tion will be made regarding the host for the ADSP Representative Milo Grootjen consider Council suggestions in his proposed 2010 IPS Conference. demonstrated how Affiliate Representatives revisions to the committees. could use the Google Earth Website/Tool to President Martin George stressed the New Business develop a map to show the locations of the importance of Council Members staying in Treasurer Shawn Laatsch returned to a Affiliate planetarium facilities. This is a possi- communication through the Yahoo Groups tabled item from Saturday, regarding the ble addition to the IPS Website Affiliate IPS Council site. IPS Web Committee Chair financial health of the organization and Pages. Alan Gould will work with Council on coor- whether a dues increase should be imple- President Martin George reported on

March 2007 Planetarian 43 behalf of Loris Ramponi that several con- 400th Anniversary of Galileo’s discoveries, onded by Jack Dunn and approved by flicts among major conferences have International Year of Astronomy, etc.) Council. appeared. Loris encourages Affiliates to Council agreed that we should explore the Respectfully Submitted, check the dates on the International possibility of involvement or coordination Lee Ann A. Hennig Calendar of Planetarium Events to be aware with these events. IPS Secretary of potential conflicts. Vendors should also GLPA Representative Dave Weinrich Sept. 30, 2006 check those dates for planning purposes. spoke to the issue of reaching out to the President-Elect Susan Button is working developing areas of the world. Perhaps host- * Addendum to Council Minutes on a location for the 2007 IPS Council ing a “Local Day” in conjunction with an IPS During the General Business Meeting of Meeting. There were suggestions from Conference where non-members could visit July 26, 2006, the following addition to the Council regarding several possibilities: the conference at selected events (vendor slate of candidates for office was made: • holding it in conjunction with affiliate sessions, guest speakers, etc.) Thomas Kraupe For the Office of President Elect: conferences suggested that some of our sessions might Dr. Tom Mason • meet in non-affiliated areas to draw in even be opened to the public on occasion. Armagh Planetarium non-IPS areas This has happened at past IPS conferences- Armagh, Ireland UK • meet at a time when a majority of particularly open sessions for special speak- nominated by Undine Concannon, sec- Council members can attend ers and planetarium events. Martin Bush onded by Thomas Kraupe. Motion to close RDP Representative Thomas Kraupe stated that the Local Organizing Committee the nominations was made by Dale reported that 2007/08 has been designated could elect to nominate a section of the con- Etheridge, seconded and approved by the International Polar Year, and International ference for public outreach or other local membership. This additional candidate will Heliophysical Year. There are a number of groups, and allow attendees to participate at appear on the ballot for the fall election. on-line activities related to Global Climate a nominal/no charge. It should be clearly Change. Perhaps IPS should be involved stated which areas/activities are limited to with these events. Discussion centered on a the membership. number of other special anniversary celebra- With business completed, Donna Pierce tions planned (50th Anniversary of Sputnik, moved to adjourn the Council Meeting, sec-

44 Planetarian March 2007 Assignment and Release IPS/Eugenides Foundation Scriptwriting Contest Entry Form (Entry guidelines appear on Page 33)

Complete one form per script. Enclose with each script by the deadline: December 31, 2007.

Submission date: ______

The undersigned does hereby assign and release unto the International Planetarium Society (IPS) the script titled ______and permits the use of content of the script in whole or in part in connection with planetarium programs of all kinds.

The undersigned acknowledges that the script assigned here may be included within any script bank maintained by IPS, that IPS may publish the script in the society journal Planetarian, that IPS may maintain scripts for distribution to its members on magnetic media and in hard copy form, and that scripts assigned to IPS may be screened by a committee to control duplication of material and to eliminate known proprietary material.

The undersigned does hereby represent unto IPS that this assignment and release is not contrary to any copyright registration or other registration relating to copyright protection with respect to the script; that this assignment and release is not in conflict with any other agreement executed by the undersigned, and that the undersigned will, to the extent reasonably necessary, execute such further assurances of title as may be necessary and defend the same.

IN WITNESS HEREOF, the undersigned has executed this assignment and release as of the date first above written.

SUBMITTED BY:

(Signature) ______

PRINT NAME: ______TITLE: ______

ORGANIZATION/PLANETARIUM: ______

ADDRESS: ______

______

WITNESS: (Signature) ______

PRINT NAME: ______TITLE: ______

March 2007 Planetarian 45 that great? low cost. But limited to still images. Forum We’re finding new ways to put over this Decisions, decisions. My guess is that I'll be joy of the sky, which prompted my decision virtually slide projector-less within a couple to use this poser as the subject for discussion years. this time round: Alan Gould The release of new, traditional, slide-based Holt Planetarium planetarium shows is clearly on the decline, Lawrence Hall of Science as is the production of slide projectors. University of California Nobody expects (or wants) them both to Berkeley, California, USA wither and die, of course, but to what extent should this trend be fought against? Is it simply part of the natural evolution of the profession? Can we expect to see a time, no mat- As technology evolves, so does our ability ter how long it takes, when new slide and to utilize new techniques to communicate digital shows can exist together in the pro- our messages. Audiences expect to see fession in comfortable numbers? The num- improvements and advances in the way sub- bers of domes converting to digital world- jects are presented, but one thing should wide will eventually plateau out, of course, never change: the need to compose a grip- but how will the demand for slide-based ping story and present it in an engaging and shows have coped with the transition by meaningful way. Technology shouldn't be then? seen as merely new frills and toys to play Steve Tidey with—it's a tool, and it's only as good as the talent and vision of those who use it. 58 Prince Avenue, Slide projectors to the public mean still Southend, Essex, SS2 6NN Much as I am endeared of slides, I never imagery, and this technique still has its place England really mastered them as I should have. My if a presenter melds it properly with the skills in slide production, masking, and so story he or she is telling. But still imagery [email protected] forth were never honed to where they can be done with any number of technolo- should have been. Never really honed at all. gies—we don't have to depend on slide pro- For those who need to hang on to their At the same time, my skills in digital image jectors to do it. I used to avoid CRT and LCD slide projectors for as long as possible work are not what they because they can't (or don't yet want to) should be, either, but I've So what I find myself in anticipation of is make the jump into fulldome video, I noticed that in some ways the next generation of reasonably priced believe there is an intermediate solution. So, it's easier to get a nice look- I was watching an episode of The West Wing ing digital product than it high resolution projection systems. today. A group of administrators from NASA is to get a decent photo- shows up at Josh’s office asking for money graphic slide image. At least for me. The projectors for projecting stationary imagery for a Kuiper Belt explorer mission. Josh says younger generation even more so. Digital for years because I disliked the drop in reso- he doesn’t know anything about space, and images are certainly easier to reproduce, lution and color balance when compared to that the Bartlett administration’s policy on store, ship, and organize. slide emulsions. But the improvements in space is simply to tell NASA to stop screwing So what I find myself in anticipation of is video technology are advancing at an expo- up. He launches into a mini tirade about the the next generation of reasonably priced nential rate, and we're rapidly approaching HST not initially working properly, probes high resolution projection systems. At IPS in the time when brightness, resolution, sharp- getting lost because of metric or feet confu- Melbourne, I saw how inexpensive it is to ness, color diversity and saturation are sion, and he claims the ISS should be have a convex mirror digital projection sys- almost matching what can be done with renamed the “SS Good Money After Bad,” tem, especially for small to medium size 35mm slides. etc. Then one of the party invites him to domes. With the cost of a mirror being so Some "classic" facilities are buying up used spend the night looking at the sky for the much less than that of a fisheye lens, one can CRT or LCD projectors (they're out there by first time through her telescope. He accepts pour one's hard earned pennies into the the thousands and getting cheaper every and is quickly transfixed by the beauty and highest resolution projector available. Spread day). Placing three discreet "screens" of video mystery of what he sees. He goes into his of pixel size from front of dome to back is on the dome would allow for the placement office the next day and thinks seriously the main drawback there, but no system is of digital animation (say on a wide-angle about how to sell a crewed mission to Mars perfect (though Denver's Museum of Nature center screen) and utilizing multi-visual concept to the American people. & Science planetarium comes close). techniques with still images on the left and That highlighted for me the instinctive Can slide shows and digital shows coexist? right screens. Many of us have already seen pull that the cosmos has on almost every- They certainly are now coexisting, but I this arrangement for years, but by adding body when they experience it up close, expect it to become more and more difficult even more video projectors people can not think about the less mundane day-to-day to maintain slide-based shows and less and only buy the time needed to raise the funds aspects of life, and where we fit into the less difficult to create digital and fulldome for a modern system but also improve the whole cosmic kit and caboodle. And it also video shows. dynamics of their programming. highlighted the importance of every single Still, it's pretty impressive how relatively Mike Murray planetarium show that you and I the rest of high a resolution one can get with slides, and Clark Planetarium us in the profession host for the public. They the slide projectors are a fraction the cost of 110 South 400 West may not always say as much, but we’re video projectors. Magnificent resolution at Salt Lake City, UT 84101 USA touching something deep inside them. Ain’t 46 Planetarian March 2007 I do not expect optomechanical slide pro- projection systems—stars, special effects, subject (traditionally, a model who looks like jectors to completely fade away within the zoon-slues and slides—into a single, flexible, the young Lindsay Wagner wearing a yellow next decade. They will, however, become digital projection system. The latest video sweater, holding a purple parasol and a red more and more expensive and impractical to systems can project virtual flat-screen images beach ball, posing in front of autumn leaves own and maintain. Already it is difficult in anywhere on the dome screen, and can at the beach) and the viewer (symbolized by some countries to obtain processing for slide manipulate these images in real-time includ- a close-up of a beautifully flecked iris with film, and the choice of new slide projectors ing scaling, translation, cross- fade, 3D effects, the pupil open but, please, not dilated). continues to diminish. At the same time, dig- full-motion video, etc. In effect, any number In the case of slides, the Imaging Chain ital projection continues to improve in qual- of slide projectors or zoom-slues can be simu- includes a camera or film recorder, film, film ity and reduce in cost. Stunning, high resolu- lated in a fulldome system—with no slide processing, slide mounts, and slide projectors tion space imagery and other material are trays to change, no bothersome dust, no with their lamps and lenses. This whole increasingly available online in digital for- mechanical parts to wear down, and only a chain has to function with reliable precision mat, and inexpensive digital still cameras are single integrated projection system to main- to be useful to us. But support is eroding readily available with 10 million pixels or tain. Fulldome systems would require over chaotically for various links in the chain. It's more. The transfer to slide film is therefore 60 million pixels over the hemisphere to like snow on a roof in spring—it doesn't melt already a costly and cumbersome step in the approach the resolution of a typical 35mm at a linear rate of so many centimetres per content generation-to-projection chain. slide projector with standard 4-inch focal day; instead, it slides off in large chunks at Unfortunately, digital projection still can- length lens. However, in practice, systems unpredictable times. For example, here in not match the resolution of a what used to be called "Picture 35mm slide projector at a compa- But support is eroding chaotically for various City," two large professional rable cost. Yet for many, the con- photo-finishing labs near us dis- venience and efficiency of digital links in the chain. It's like snow on a roof in appeared suddenly within a year. image capture, processing, stor- spring—it doesn't melt at a linear rate…it More of that is on the way. age and recall (not to mention slides off in large chunks at unpredictable At Strasenburgh, a Planetarium full-motion video) greatly out- times …two large professional photo-finishing Task Force led by some board weighs this disadvantage. One members has agreed to support can now purchase a mega-pixel labs near us disappeared suddenly within a an intermediate step between DLP or LCoS projector with year. slides and fulldome video, name- 2,000-3,000 lumens and 3,000:1 ly the use of about three video contrast ratio for less than the cost of a slide exceeding 6-8 million pixels over the hemi- fields as substitutes for our most frequently projector dissolve-pair. There are many sphere provide enough image quality that used slide projectors. Funding is being sought options for serving digital images as well, most facilities do not utilize slide projectors at this moment. The Task Force is very inter- including HD video that approaches 35mm or other limited field-of-view "inset" projec- ested in fulldome video as a concept, but slide quality with 2k or more horizontal pix- tors, aside from an HD projector for standard they need to be shown the twin problems of els. Video projector contrast continues to films and PowerPoint presentations. Even bounce back and GRIS (Gray Rectangles in increase, and ultra-high contrast options are lower resolution fulldome systems effective- Space) to understand how hard it really is. now becoming available such as SEOS's ly manipulate slide images that, while not We have other problems to solve. Video Zorro projector. cinematic in quality, are considered by lacks the resolution of film, so far. But we can Academy 2k resolution (1828 x 1332 pix- many to be acceptable for educational use. convey detail with Ken Burns scanning so els/2.4 million pixels) has been used for Given the current pace of development the "camera," rather than the viewer's eye, many digital films, while Academy 4k (3656 and decreasing cost of digital graphics tech- explores the image or scene. Video and slides x 2664 pixels-9.7 million pixels) is generally nologies, it is not unreasonable to expect don't coexist well on the dome at the same considered to fully capture the resolution half of all planetariums worldwide to be time—not to mention video and stars. So and grain of 4-perforation, 35mm film. Since operating fulldome systems within the next we'll have to figure out how to make them planetariums use SLR format slides (36mm x decade, with many, if not most, of the work in the same show. Maintenance and 24mm) which are 8-perfs wide, then scan- remaining optomechanical planetariums operation are unknowns, too: we don't find ning and projecting at approximately twice using inexpensive video projectors instead of the mid-century built-like-a-tank engineer- this number of pixels would be required to slide projectors within this same time frame. ing in video projectors that Kodak used to satisfy the most discerning eye. The Kodak Ed Lantz put into slide projectors. Photo CD Pro, for instance, allows 35mm Visual Bandwidth, Inc. Meanwhile, however, support is growing scans up to 6144 x 4096 or about 4400 dpi, 1290 Baltimore Pike, Suite 111 for the Imaging Chain for video output. thereby producing 72 MB image files. In Chadds Ford Software for image creation, animation, and practice, however, few would notice the loss Pennsylvania, 19317 USA geometric adaptation is losing its mystique. in resolution when dropping down to half More and more scientific results are being this scan resolution, such as the 3072 x 2048 released as motion video. Many of the most pixels provided by standard Kodak Photo important concepts, such as motion and CD. The smaller file sizes of 2200 dpi scans In the short term, slides and digital video wide ranges of scale, are best conveyed with (18 MB) are much more manageable as well. will coexist. At Strasenburgh we could con- some kind of moving image. Students and While video projectors that can handle this tinue to operate that way for a long time— adult volunteers have no interest in slides, resolution are currently expensive, it is still except that slides rely on the maintenance of but are excited about doing something "on best to capture the full slide resolution to what we here in the town that formerly the computer." allow digital zooming and to future-proof called itself "The World's Image Centre" refer So we're entering new territory, and we'll your digital slide collection. to as the “Imaging Chain.” The Imaging have to blaze our own trail. In the long run, Fulldome video can now consolidate all Chain comprises everything between the (Please see Forum on page 50)

March 2007 Planetarian 47

(Forum, continued from page 47) digress. The next question is, what can other There are multitudes of planetarians who facilities do? We can't really force vendors to cannot afford, or prefer not, to purchase new resistance is futile. (Forum Editor’s note: You produce different versions of their new pro- digital equipment to replace their slide pro- will be assimilated!) grams, can we? From their point of view, jectors and/or their analog planetarium pro- Steve Fentress would that be cost-effective? That is an ugly jector. Quality presentations can be present- Strasenburgh Planetarium reality. Or is it? Would it be unreasonable to ed with either solution, anyway. Therefore, I Rochester Museum & Science Center ask for images in digital format so that we believe that slide projectors and analog star 657 East Avenue can turn them into slides? To ask for a projectors will be around for many years to Rochester, New York, 14607 USA soundtrack in a digital format we can use to come. Also, as newer systems are installed, integrate into our own systems? If enough of the “outdated” equipment will perhaps be us are vocal enough, maybe this can be stan- recycled and become “new” and valuable to dard practice. Or maybe we just don't deal people who may never have had a planetari- For a moment, I need to speak from the with some vendors anymore. So slide projec- um before. IPS is committed to assisting peo- heart. Not as an employee of P.G. County tors aren't produced anymore. So what. ple in less advantaged areas of the world to Public Schools. Not as MAPS President. But as There are enough of us around who by now develop planetarium programs in this way. If a member of the planetarium community, know how to repair them. We can help each you are excited by the thought of helping who is, by heart, "old-school." So considering other out, in true planetarium community with this kind of initiative please contact the very real decline of traditional slide- spirit. me; we will gratefully take advantage of based planetarium shows makes my very Okay, say it's 10 years down the road, and your talents and/or “outdated” equipment! being want to protest "say it isn't so!" I want now theaters have 360 degree, 3D interactive Sue Button to fight it, to lash out, to convince the world multi-media astronomy programs. So what. IPS President that I am not really a dinosaur in a young Are your slide-based, live planetarium pro- 8793 Horseshoe Lane body. grams meeting the need of your facility? Are Chittenango, New York 13037, USA But then I realize that perhaps I am not you defining who and what you are? Then looking at the right question. Who is defin- you can let technology happen around you. ing the future of the planetarium? Ladies It serves its purpose, and we serve ours. From and gentlemen, is it technology? Because my heart, my friends. Treat it gently. Let me preface my statements. Even slide projectors are no longer manufactured Patty Seaton though the US Air Force Academy because of the trend toward digital technolo- H.B. Owens Science Center Planetarium Planetarium has closed, there is work afoot gy, are we going to let the manufacturers 9601 Greenbelt Road to revitalize the facility. It would become a define who we are and what we do? Is it the Lanham, Maryland 20706, USA public facility rather than the academic sup- fact that the digital age is introducing us to port facility it once was. As it closed in 2004, more readily available toolkits for video the staff and department to which it was editing? Are we letting "progress" define who assigned wanted to convert it to a more digi- and what we are? Evidence of technological progress con- tal future, eliminating many of the slides I'll be honest. The facility that I have had fronts us almost every day as we learn to live and projectors it then contained. Now, if it is the pleasure of working for on both a part with, if we can afford it, advances in the revitalized, it will be as a low budget facility and full time basis for the last, what, 20 capabilities of cameras, cars, telephones, unless and until it can "pay its own way." years, is a large dome with a small dome bud- computers, and so on. Planetariums, of Regarding slides and associated equip- get and purpose: we are part of a school sys- course, are no exception; advances in our ment: "to what extent should this trend be tem. And as I have been tasked to study the field are dizzying. I truly enjoy this progress fought against?" local curriculum and match my programs to and quality digital planetarium The planetarium at the Air Force the desired student outcomes, I have been lessons/shows. I also enjoy quality analog Academy had fought against the decline of pleased to see how many of the astronomy planetarium lessons/shows. The key word is slides and projectors from the early 1990s objectives are met by the simple use of the quality. and lost. The Air Force and, I suspect, the star projector. Period. As it was originally cre- Yes, I believe that the decline in slide- Department of Defense in general, instituted ated for—to teach the basic concepts of the based planetarium show production is a part a policy to eliminate all "wet" photographic stars/planets/Sun/Moon. We have actually of the natural evolution of our profession. processes so that slide production came to a revamped our programs to take out a lot of The current focus is on production for digi- screeching halt in the 90s. The planetarium the slides, videos, and hoopla (and provide tal planetariums because there is so little had an enormous historical slide collection those formats as web sites, online streaming, material prepared for those folks making the upon which we still relied but all the new and activities in pre- and post-visit materials) transition and in-house production is so images we wanted had to be digitized and as and returned to live programs with minimal costly and time consuming. Current plane- a result we began supplementing slide pro- automation. (Remember the days of "Under tarians who still utilize slide projectors will jectors with LCD projectors in the planetari- Roof, Dome, and Sky"?). The needs of my not all go away in the near future and will um. You may recall that LCD projectors do facility are met by traditional planetarium have to either make their own new shows or not have a black, blank screen; it was always programs. The needs of my public programs cry out for help. I have a favorite saying,” blue when no image was present and a not are often met by the same. Nobody does anything until they feel they so very dark grey screen when an image, Now, that isn't to say that I haven't taken have to—for whatever reason.” I believe that even a "blank" slide, was being projected. At advantage of other multi-media uses for my when the need for new slide based shows the IPS conference in Canada, we presented theater (we have an annual "poetry under becomes severe, some enterprising planetari- plans for our iris mechanism to allow us to the stars", for example). But the bottom line an or company will jump in and fill the void. blank out the LCD projectors when no slide is, I am trying not to be defined by the latest Then we can have coexistence of new slide was projected. trends in the multimedia circles. But, I and digital shows. It worked well, but of course did nothing

50 Planetarian March 2007 to maintain slide production at the are now controlled by the EPA, and the pro- such institutions. It’s just too expensive, not Academy. If we needed a slide or set of slides cess is no longer cheap. Slides, once they are only in money but in the message you send we had to "contract" through the purchasing in hand, require special treatment as they are your audience—are you up to date at the department to have the lowest price bidders mounted, and one must keep dust off the edge of technology? Or are you maintaining make the slides we wanted. This was an utter images and out of the glass mounts (also not a by-gone era? Of course, there is a small frac- failure, as the vendors were scattered around inexpensive). Adding gels or masks is time tion of any audience who will want the old the US and were never the same. The ven- consuming and labor intensive. style presentations, just as we maintained a dors had no idea what we were doing in the Manipulating a digital image does not intro- good group of people who came to every star planetarium with the slides. So, like many duce dust specks; masking and adding gels or gazer’s show, where only a pointer and occa- planetariums needing quick images for live words is easily done on the computer. The sional slides or animation were used. presentations, the NASA-produced images images are stored on a disk until needed, I think a presentation may contain both were liberally taken from the internet and then called up until no longer needed then digital images and slides, but I suspect that inserted where needed using the LCD or RGB back into the computer hardware it goes. ultimately the slides will be added by the projectors. Back up is easy and so is distribution. Aside individual program installer if he has license Because programming to to modify the production in support cadet classes was so that way. NASA and other specialized, almost all images organizations may continue were unique and could only What happens when a society loses its competitive to make slides available, but be generated in-house, mean- edge? Do they revert to older, more primitive meth- they will do so less as time ing at the US Air Force ods? The older, more primitive methods usually end goes by because of costs, Academy's Graphic Arts. especially as more and more Since the photo lab was now up costing more in the long run, but I am afraid that planetariums convert to the out of the slide production going back will cost more than money. digital gospel. business, all images were The numbers of domes given to us in digital format. converting to digital world- As a result all those programs wide will eventually plateau were converted to use still images from LCD from forming a consortium of many plane- out, of course, but how will the demand for projectors or video images from Barco or tariums and other special needs institutions, slide-based shows have coped with the tran- Sony RGB projectors. We were being forced I don't think the trend can be bucked. sition by then? into the digital world. Still, as late as 2004, As for projectors: if a small company There are several factors at work here. the Ring World presentation about Saturn chooses to continue to manufacture and One is that computers are getting more and and Cassini was a slide presentation which support slide projectors, it will not be a low more capable of doing all the things we take we would have installed in 2004, had not cost enterprise. Low production runs means for granted at the planetarium. Digital equip- events leading to the closing occurred. We high cost, small market share means low ment and capabilities continue to drop in were maintaining our slide projectors but, profits. Lamp prices will continue to climb. cost, but production costs are still high. The seeing the writing on the wall, realized that (Of course lamps in the LCD projectors are first may reduce attendance at a planetari- slides were going to become rare commodi- very high, too.) um. The second is a method by which a ties and the news that Kodak, among others, We keep seeing that digital resolution is planetarium may draw more customers. would cease 35mm slide projector produc- increasing, but I'm sure a still digital image Will the number of planetariums going tion had us planning to become as digital as will never match a still photographic slide. digital plateau? If the rate of planetarium possible. In fact, we were about to begin digi- But modern planetarium programs have conversion to digital presentation declines is tizing our 15,000 slide collection. introduced motion into the digital images, it a factor of the cost, the technology, or But now, with rumors that the planetari- and the observer's eye never realizes that the some other social factor? I have not looked um here may, once again, open, it will be digital image does not have the same resolu- at the numbers but here are some questions operated non-profit on a very low budget to tion as a 35mm slide. So maybe our need for to ask: begin with. All old slide projectors and spe- high resolution is not as important as we 1. Have the rate of new planetariums cial effects projectors will have to be re-fur- want it to be. being established declined? bished and used as long as possible. If ven- Can we expect to see a time, no matter 2. Are any of the new planetariums solely dors who still provide slides exist (at a rea- how long it takes, when new slide and digital slide based? sonable cost) we would likely use them. shows can exist together in the profession in 3. Are they all mixed media, meaning To fight a trend, that is a problem. comfortable numbers? some digital and some photographic? Individual planetariums cannot hope to stop What happens when a society loses its 4. How many of the new planetariums a trend being driven by the world of business competitive edge? Do they revert to older, have no photographic projection capability briefings and AV presentations. Businessmen more primitive methods? The older, more at all? are all going digital; since their briefings are primitive methods usually end up costing I would guess that all planetariums will short-lived events the images do not need to more in the long run, but I am afraid that fall into the latter category, meaning some be preserved, nor do they need to be high going back will cost more than money. photographic projection capability exists. definition or resolution, thus digital media is Audiences are fickle; they go to the newest The question is: What is the proportion of cheap and ephemeral. technology. It may be true that schools and digital projections to photographic projec- A planetarium, however, wants an image less affluent organizations might try to tions? to last, to be high resolution. As nice as the maintain the old technology just as they did When I came to the US Air Force image from a 35mm slide is, there are pro- with film strips, 16mm movies, slide and Planetarium in 1979 there were about 100 duction problems. The slides are no longer sound projectors, film cassettes, and tape slide or film projectors. The maximum num- cheap, the chemical processes to make them recorders, but it’s a losing battle, even for ber of photo-image projectors peaked during

March 2007 Planetarian 51 the Reagan Administration, when SDI fund- jectors have achieved true black levels). As niques, developed by master storytellers like ed the purchase of about 30 special effects video projector prices continue to plummet, Ken Burns, to enhance how the program projectors, so we had about 130 projectors I expect that affordable high-resolution, looks. We own many animation special including motion pictures, slides, film strip, high-contrast video projectors and associat- effects, and can incorporate them into a pro- and one shot projectors. Suddenly, when ed software will be available within 5-10 gram to enhance it and make it more inter- laser disk technology became common, years. This will mean that high-resolution esting to students. In a recent program there video projectors replaced the motion picture video projectors with associated fish-eye was video included in the show, but the tim- projectors, then PowerPoint (Microsoft’s pre- lenses suitable for a domed theater will prob- ing in the script between the video section sentation program) came along and we start- ably be able to show Spitz-like stars within 5- and an obvious array of slides across the ed to use computers to store and project 10 years. The Holy Grail of Zeiss-like star dome was short, and it caused us to rethink images. Ultimately, prior to closing, we had fields produced by video projectors may take how we could do it all on Final Cut Pro. We three LCD projectors, 2 RGB projectors, and somewhat longer, but they may be available copied the slides, put them in Photoshop, Digistar 2. We had all but abandoned the use about 10 years from now. sized them and then set them to run across of the special effects projectors. We still But, sometimes we forget that technology, the screen under the video. We made the relied heavily upon the panorama system however advanced, is but a tool for the cre- video and the slides fit the section of the and the all-sky systems, and we looked long- ative planetarian. Perhaps we need to script, and the slides only appeared when the ingly at the digital systems now referred to remember our roots. Our job is to be story- script dictated they should be there. It as fulldome systems. With such a system we tellers. Our industry challenge is to allow worked perfectly. would have happily replaced two 12-panel innovative and diverse ways of show pro- In another program the script was long, pan systems and 2 six-panel all-sky systems. duction at all funding levels, using whatever and there were many dates relating to histor- Were we different from other planetariums? technologies we can afford. Planetariums ical events. We could see that students who If we were, it was due to the fact that our and their associated shows (often purchased, were visual learners and not auditory learn- staff continued to be cut, so that the time but usually adapted) are products of their ers would have trouble following the demanded by the older photographic pre- creative staff. In my view, in order for our thought process of the script. In order to sentations was too much. A staff of two industry to survive, planetarians must be help those visual learners, we inserted a time could not create and install old style pro- allowed to continue to adapt the shows they line across the bottom of the screen so it grams and keep the presentation schedule give to their unique audiences. I believe that would make more sense to them and they we were expected to maintain. We had sev- the tremendous capacity of planetarians to could follow the historical events easier. At eral factors driving us from old style produc- grow and use newer technologies along with this transition stage of our journey from a tions to the digital. I suspect that is the norm. the old is one hallmark of our profession. slide-based planetarium, beginning in 1976, Mickey Schmidt Without such growth, the whole field could to the present, we are using slides on the Us Air Force Planetarium become nothing more than a collection of sides of the planetarium with the Barco pro- Colorado Springs, Colorado 80840, USA dusty, domed movie theaters. jecting the newly enhanced program burned Larry Cuipik on a DVD in the middle of the planetarium. Adler Planetarium In our industry, our vendors are very vigi- 1300 South lake Shore Drive lant about helping us transition into digital My personal opinion on the future of tra- Chicago, Illionois 60605, USA technology. The size of the technology for ditional slide-based planetariums is that those of us in small planetariums is getting improvements in digital media and digital more reasonable, so we can actually use it projection technologies will force an and it is becoming more affordable for small inevitable transition to digital production At Independence Planetarium in San Jose, planetarium budgets. The vendors are listen- and display techniques in the next few California, we paid attention years—regardless of what we might do to pre- to what was being said in the vent or delay this transition. As typically industry about the trend occurs when any technology advances, how- toward digital. When Kodak The important thing is the message and ever, there will always be a delay between declared they were no longer the knowledge imparted to the audi- the early adopters and others who are inca- going to produce slide projec- pable of affording the latest technologies. tors, it was a clear message to ence. (How many of us will go out immediately us to begin to wean ourselves and pre-order an iPhone?) In addition, there away from them. We gradual- are numerous existing planetariums (espe- ly began to buy computers cially in schools and universities) that have a and software that would allow us to put the ing to us at our professional conferences. The great challenge to convince their administra- slides in digital format. It was cumbersome at conversations we have with the vendors are tions that a large infusion of funds is abso- first because the technology was in the important. We learn from each other as we lutely necessary immediately, if not sooner. infant stages. We’d no sooner learn a new journey together along this long pathway of Most planetariums—even those in schools way to put the slides in a digital format and ever-changing technology. Going from slides and universities—already use DLP or other to make a new program, and then another to digital is just the beginning. It pays to be non CRT-based video projectors as a normal type of software would be introduced to the as flexible as possible and to have a vision of portion of their daily programming. As these industry. how the program should look. video projectors achieve greater contrast and We are now successfully transforming our The important thing is the message and brightness, they will eventually meet or old slide programs to digital format using the knowledge imparted to the audience. exceed the resolution and true black levels Final Cut Pro. The old slides are copied and The planetarium presents a shared commu- of slide projectors. (In fact, currently, at least put in Photoshop, if needed, to make them nity experience of looking at the night sky. one manufacturer advertises that their pro- brighter and nicer. We use different tech- For many it is a cherished and memorable

52 Planetarian March 2007 experience which sparks the imagination. jectors. planetarium field today are not astronomy For most at Independence Planetarium, it is We now also have a major planetarium people, but technical/video/computer peo- the information presented by the teacher, show producing company that indicates ple, who see the dome as a place to advance the use of the azimuth and meridian and that they are having trouble finding slide their technology and not teach astronomy. other things that are basic to every planetari- mounts and film for their slides. Yet the slide So these folks think that the latest technolo- um that are interesting to the audiences. It is mounts are still very available, as is the film gy is better. Unfortunately, this is not the how it is presented, not whether or not we from Ritz and Wolf camera stores, and direct- case. have slides or digital format that people like. ly from Kodak. So, here again, we have a When we did the first renovation at the In the end it comes down to the lesson plan, company that has decided, for some reason, Suits-Bueche Planetarium back in 2003, I and the presenter that conveys the informa- to slowly phase out anything that has to do chose the slide-based technology. Why? tion in a way that connects with the audi- with slides. Because slides still give sharper and more col- ence, not necessarily the slide or the video. It Now, in most cases, such as movie the- orful images up on the dome. Far superior to is a whole package that works together to aters, schools, and businesses, the solution any digital or video system. How, as plane- provide the beautiful symphony of multi- was simple: switch to PowerPoint. But in the tarians, can we teach people about the beau- media presentations that only a planetarium planetarium field, things are a lot more com- tiful, clear, colorful images we get from can offer. plicated. Many planetariums were built and Hubble, and then put them up on domes in Gail Chaid run on slide-based technology, whether you video/digital format, all blurred-up and Independence Planetarium were a 60-foot dome 1776 Educational Park Drive in a museum, or a 30- San Jose, California 95133, USA foot dome in a school. We always get people telling us that the Most planetariums in the country are still shows they see in my planetarium are clearer slide-based, and than at planetariums X, Y and Z. And all of The introduction of digital technology because this technol- those other planetariums they tell me about into the slide-based technology of the plane- ogy is being forcibly tarium field has created an interesting situa- phased out, it could are using the newer technology. tion. Do planetariums try to stay with the spell disaster for a lot older slide technology, or go to the newer of planetariums. digital/video technology? It is a debate While large museum-based facilities may washed out? Why even teach about Hubble, which will never be settled. But before I add have the funds to switch over to all dome if we are going to destroy its images up on my personal thoughts, it is important to video or digital systems, smaller planetari- the dome? We always get people telling us know why the slide technology is being ums will not be able to. Slide projectors were that the shows they see in my planetarium diminished. very inexpensive, could be repaired by the are clearer than at planetariums X, Y and Z. Back in 2003, Kodak sent out a press operators, and have a life span of more than And all of those other planetariums they tell release saying that it was stopping the pro- thirty years. The new technology runs hun- me about are using the newer technology. duction of slide projectors because there was dreds of thousands of dollars, cannot be ser- If we really care about the quality of what no longer a demand for them. Kodak was viced by the regular planetarium operators, we put on our domes, we should be fighting supposed to stop making the projectors in and has a life span of just a few years before furiously for the continuation of slide-based July of 2003 because, according to them, "no the technology becomes obsolete. Small programs. But if the technology is not there, one uses slides any more." Well, working 24 schools and museums cannot afford the and the companies are not there, then, quite hours a day, seven days a week, Kodak had to costs or the staffing for this new technology. frankly, the planetarium field will shrink to go into production of those slide projectors This could cause the demise of many plane- just a few major facilities (like back in the until November of 2004, more than a year tariums during the next several years. 1950’s), that can afford to change, and they after they were supposed to stop, because the Along the same lines, many planetariums will just be movie theaters. demand was higher than they thought. that cannot afford to switch over might Do I want to totally do away with the new Photographic supply stores and warehouses keep their older technology by making technology? No. When a program calls for it, stockpiled the projectors, because there was a repairs, thus causing a “leveling off” of the I do use video. Am I concerned about my old demand for the equipment. purchase of the new technology. But at the slide-based technology? Not in the near What is interesting is that Kodak slide film same time if planetarium companies stop future. My new (as of 2003) Kodak slide pro- is still being made, and although digital cam- making slide-based shows, even if planetari- jectors will last another 25 years, with no era sales have picked up, the use of slide film ums have the slide based technology, there upgrades needed. If my museum moves to a has not diminished enough to stop produc- will be nothing for them to purchase. new facility, with a larger planetarium, we tion of it. Fuji also makes slide film, and both It is an interesting dilemma. will go to a Hybrid system with our Chronos, Kodak and Fuji film can still be purchased in It is unfortunate that the evolutionary all dome video, and our 23 slide projectors many department stores. So if there was no course of the planetarium field is the newer and all of our 30 year-old Sky-Skan special demand for projectors, then why is the film digital/video technology. It is this evolution effect projectors. This way, we can run our still being made? The real reason that Kodak that is turning many planetarium domes old classic Loch Ness shows in clear, beauti- discontinued their slide projector produc- into movie theaters, instead of astronomy ful color, and also run newer programs if the tion was to lay off employees in their facili- centers. The personnel are also evolving, situation warrants it. ty. So it wasn't that there was no demand for which is driving this new technology. When But it is important, for the survival of the the projectors, they did it just to save labor I went into the planetarium field 34 years planetarium field as an astronomy education costs. So, in reality, it was Kodak that created ago, like most people back then, I went into resource, to let production companies know the scenario of no demand, thereby creating this field because I wanted to be an astrono- a dilemma for everyone who used slide pro- my educator. Most people coming into the (Please see Forum on page 57)

March 2007 Planetarian 53 gym teacher for allowing me to use her er presents will not be filled with words that Mobile News space. She exclaimed that she was really distract the audience, but with powerful pleased to be able to accommodate me images…the way a good PowerPoint should because every year she could see how excit- be designed! You see, the equipment is the ed the children were to have the planetari- tool. Whether high tech or low tech, we still um in their school. We discussed the simple have to be very careful about how we use it. but amazing technology of the STARLAB, a single slide projector and a small CD player Emails Received and how impressed the students were with Elizabeth Hallahan recently wrote to say: these basic tools. The teacher explained that “Hello Susan - I saw your information on she too uses a simple tool in her work: a the STARLAB Website. Allow me to intro- record player! She said that one day a stu- duce myself, my name is Elizabeth Hallahan dent asked if she would please play her “big and I am currently a graduate student pursu- CDs” again for class because she loved to ing a degree in adolescent education at St. hear that music! This teacher used a simple John's University, with a BS in mathematics, tool to enhance her already quality lessons. so my area of certification is mathematics. This teacher sees no need to upgrade to a “The product and everything about STAR- high-tech digital sound system and would LAB looks very exciting. I am looking to plan rather spend her money on more gym equip- a unit on intermediate level math and want- ment. The current system works for her and ed to bring in something fun and different. her students. My source of music is similarly Astrology and the planetarium seem like a simple: a small portable CD/tape player. It very good topic, something the students can works for me. relate to. I can see how it can easily tie to science standards, but was wondering how you Second Incident have utilized it before to tie to NYS math While training a new STARLAB teacher standards. Susan Reynolds Button for my former employer, OCM BOCES, I “I thought perhaps a project approach or a Quarks to Clusters explained that we sometimes use a slide pro- multidisciplinary use could be appropriate jector during our lessons. The trainee, who but would want the focus to be more on the 8793 Horseshoe Lane was a classroom teacher for the past 10 years, math standards as opposed to the science Chittenango, New York had only used a computer and PowerPoint standards. 13037 USA presentations during her lessons in her class- “Could you provide further information, room. She exclaimed, “Could you please or guide me in the correct direction, or let (1) 315-687-5371 show me how that thing works because I me know how you have utilized the plane- (1) 315-432-4523 (fax) have never used one before!” She kept her tarium theme with a focus on math. I also thoughts about using such outdated equip- live close to the Vanderbilt Planetarium so I [email protected] ment to herself. Later I demonstrated a live would incorporate a trip there as well. lesson for her. I taught a class of 14-year-old “Thanking you in advance for your time students, and used the slide projector to aug- and feedback.” “Quality presentation technique is the ment a lesson on deep sky objects. My I wrote back to Elizabeth and explained, key—equipment is just the tool.” I am certain trainee was amazed at how the students after I educated her about the differences you have heard that phrase before! Recently enjoyed the slide projector images and how between astrology and astronomy, some Steve Tidey asked me to write some com- this simple technology, along with a basic ways to use the planetarium to incorporate ments about current technology in the plan- analog projector, effectively excited students measurement/mathematics. Examples etarium. You can read my response in this and touched off an in-depth discussion of included charting and/or graphing the sea- issue’s “Forum” column. As I was thinking the subject matter. OCM BOCES does not sonal changes in the length and altitude of about my response I was reminded of a few have any extra money to update equipment the Sun’s path, calculating location using incidents that occurred which made me real- and will probably use a slide projector for at altitude of Polaris and the Sun and all the ize that, although we are experiencing a rev- least the next five years! Schools keep book- other facets of navigation, learning the sig- olution in the planetarium business, we do ing with us, so the presentation technique nificance of the longitude/latitude and right not need to feel pressured or disappointed if carries the day! ascension/declination measurement system we cannot get the latest and greatest equip- and how to use it, and studying patterns and ment. Let’s keep our eyes on our goals. If you Incident Three cycles of the Moon and Earth. are inclined and lucky enough to have the A quality systems engineer recently posed Gary Kratzer, in the Winter 2007 STAR- needed funds to get updated equipment, that a question to a group that I am associated LAB e-News, writes about some other ideas is great. However, we can still give high qual- with, the Technology Alliance of Central and lessons (starlab.com/slenews ity presentations that impress and engage New York. He queried, “I am putting togeth- v1w07.html). I am sure that Elizabeth would the audience even with “outdated” equip- er a meeting in April, where the guest speak- appreciate hearing more ideas from some of ment. er will need a slide projector with carousel. you. Does anyone have such an animal they Contact Information: Elizabeth A. First Incident would be willing to loan me for a night?” Hallahan, [email protected]. I was setting up my STARLAB in a gymna- Luckily, several of us still have carousel slide Some of you may have already read the sium at an area elementary school one day projectors and can afford to loan one out for Dme-L posting from Larry Krumenaker, who and I stopped to make sure I thanked the a night! I hope that the slides that this lectur- is conducting some interesting research dur-

54 Planetarian March 2007 ing 2007 and needs our help. at the high school level. It doesn't matter if mobile planetarium or no planetarium at all. He wrote: “When every high school is you are a regular classroom teacher or a plan- I have asked him to send me a copy of his sweating to the reading and math testing of etarium educator. Your name and school completed dissertation. If others would like ‘No Child Left Behind,’ how does an astrono- identification information will be removed to discuss how Larry plans to approach this my class manage to exist? And what does the from the dissertation and future published interesting project so that you can partici- class look like compared to those of previous articles so you can be assured of anonymity. pate in it, replicate it, or design one of your decades? If you agree, all you will do is simply take a own for your specific country, I am sure he “I am a PhD student at the University of survey, which may take 30-45 minutes at would be happy to have communication Georgia, and an astronomy educator. I've most. A few teachers will be interviewed. with you. been a high school physics and astronomy Your voluntary participation in this project teacher, both in and out of planetarium situ- will take place at one of three times between A Week in Italy ations. If high school astronomy teaching January and September of 2007. Carolyn R. Kaichi (Bishop Museum, interests you, then I would like to invite you “If you would be interested in helping Honolulu, Hawaii) was chosen as the lucky to participate in a survey of high school assess the national view of astronomy at the 2006 American Planetarian in Italy Contest astronomy courses. high school level, please contact me by winner. Her report of that awesome experi- “The substance of my dissertation will be email at [email protected]. A more formal ence is written below. Sounds like she had an looking at the current status and makeup of invitation to participate will be emailed to exciting, challenging and rewarding trip! these courses, how teachers express why the you. You may also mail an inquiry to me at Contact Information: Carolyn Kaichi, course should exist, and how ‘No Child Left Larry Krumenaker, Department of Math and Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice Street, Behind’ (NCLB) has affected astronomy Science Education, 212 Aderhold Hall, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96817 USA; (1) 808-847- teaching. The field has not been surveyed University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30306 3511; fax (1) 808-841-8968; email since the early 1990’s, since before NCLB and USA.” [email protected]. even before the full effect of national stan- While this is a project that pertains to To learn more details about the American dards in science or standardized testing in teachers in the USA and the very special cir- Planetarian in Italy opportunity, please go general. The findings could help schools that cumstances of the “No Child Left Behind” to: www.astrofilibresciani.it/Plane want to have astronomy courses in the initiative (www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml), I tari/Week_in_Italy/Winner_Week_ future or maintain them in the present. think we will all be interested in the Larry’s Italy.htm. “I need teachers who have taught or cur- findings. He will stratify his results according rently teach a bona fide course in astronomy to whether the teachers used a fixed or (Please see Mobile on page 57)

A Week in Italy: Final Report By Carolyn R. Kaichi When I initially embarked on this adventure to Europe, there were Bishop Museum many unknowns that were still unanswered. I believe I had expected 1525 Bernice Street more direction on the part of the coordinators and even with my cor- Honolulu, Hawai’i 96817 USA respondence with Loris there were still a million questions. I had read [email protected] a few reports from others who had been selected in previous years, but none of the experiences seemed exactly alike except for the STARLAB and planetarium elements. I am somewhat anal and this uneasiness was enhanced by the fact that I had never been to Europe before. Imagine my surprise after almost 24 straight hours of travel, after Loris had picked me up from the airport in Verona, he announced that I was going on a little “tour” of some of the sights of the area. Blearily I admired the beautiful shore of Lake Garda and the country- side of Brescia. I had arrived shortly after noon (keep in mind Hawaii is exactly 12 hours behind Italian time) and Loris insisted I “stay up” instead of napping, which I would have dearly wanted to do! Instead, I found myself hiking briskly up the mountainside with his family and friends to collect chestnuts—an activity I thoroughly enjoyed. That set the tone for the entire week—one of twists and turns and great experiences. The next day I met Loris at the Museo Civico Scienze Naturali., where he was instructing a group of first graders. I was waiting for Loris to finish his class so I could show him my PowerPoint and dis- 2006 Week in cuss the upcoming week when I found myself in front of the class Italy winner showing pictures of Hawaii to the children. They were attentive and Carolyn R. delightful. Even the teachers, who were initially wary of me and Kaichi at the wouldn’t allow me to take pictures of the children, were friendly and Serafino Zani Observatory. conversational by the end of the class. Photo provid- The following day was the official start of my instruction, and ed by Carolyn Loris picked me up in the morning and drove to the first school. Kaichi Again, there were little surprises along the way.

March 2007 Planetarian 55 I started off my presentation by having the their reports. However, Loris made it clear after students sit outside of the STARLAB, where I did the first few sessions that he wanted more folk- a power point on Hawaii, its geology and the lore and mythology, so I expounded on that. Hawaiian legend of the islands’ creation: Also, although it was stated that the students had studied English, I had initially thought the Pele, the goddess of fire, battles her sister Poliahu, classes that attended were students with some goddess of ice, over a two-timing god. The sisters astronomy background, but that was not the fight over the ocean, and as Pele touches the water case. Perhaps in different years the classes over the area that is now the Hawaiian Islands, the attending STARLAB are science classes. but in islands are created. Finally the sisters come to rest on my case they were all English-language stu- the Big Island of Hawaii, where they both reside to dents. this day. Pele reigns over Mauna Loa, the still-active Another myth I told was about Maui and volcano, and Poliahu reigns over Mauna Kea, capped the Sun, and I was able to demonstrate daily with snow and ice in the winter. motion in the STARLAB while relating that legend. I then moved into volcanology and the geology of the formation of the Hawaiian Islands, The story starts with the Sun, or La, moving too relating it to the Hawaiian legend. fast across the sky making the days pass too quick- I also showed some highlights of the Bishop ly. Maui’s grandmother weaves a rope out of her Museum and told the story of how the museum hair and tells Maui to go to the top of the tallest began. American businessman Charles Reed mountain where she lived to catch the Sun. Soon Bishop founded the Bishop Museum in 1889 as a Maui snags the Sun with his grandmother’s rope tribute to his wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi and tells the Sun to slow down. The Sun refuses, Bishop. Princess Bernice was next in line to Caption: Carolyn and the planetarium staff so Maui breaks off a few of the Sun’s legs (the with the "double STARLAB" of the Museum become Queen during the time of the Hawaiian “rays”). That resulted in the Sun moving slower of Constellations (Planetarium of monarchy. Against her family’s wishes and to Lumezzane). Photo provided by Carolyn across the sky and now the days and nights pass their great disappointment she gave up the Kaichi at a more reasonable time period. Sometimes La is throne to marry the commoner and a man of able to move more quickly across the sky, which non-Hawaiian descent. Their love transcended causes the winter days to be shorter. Other times her death as Charles dedicated their fortune to educate Hawaii’s chil- La is tired and limps across the sky, which is why the days of summer are dren by founding both the museum as well as a school. longer. The mountain that Maui climbed to catch the sun is on the island At this point, we talked about the Polynesian people as explorers of Maui and is named Haleakala. Hale means “house” and a kala means and how exploration is inherent in humans from the early explorers “of the sun.” It currently houses a number of astronomical telescopes, some to modern day astronauts and scientists. Parts of the presentation of which study the Sun. were recorded with narration and a soundtrack from a Bishop Museum STARLAB program, which is a large file and can be sent on I then showed the sky of Brescia compared to the sky seen from CD by request (Loris was left with a copy). The PowerPoint also Hawaii, and showed the position of the North Star at the two lati- includes a famous legend narrated by a Hawaiian storyteller, about tudes. The North Star, or Polaris, is referred to in Hawaii as Hokupa’a, the formation of the Hawaiian Islands: or “stationary star.” I talked about how Hokupa’a is used as a naviga- tional star, not only all over the northern hemisphere, but also by Maui, the “Hercules” of Hawaiian mythology, was out fishing with his Polynesian navigators, who have ‘rediscovered’ the lost art of navigat- brothers in the middle of the Pacific with a magic fishhook that was given ing by the stars as their ancestors did thousands of years ago. From to him by his grandmother. Maui tells his brothers to paddle without look- there, I showed the Big Dipper and the “pointer stars.” I had forgotten ing at him and promises that they would return with a large catch of fish. that in many places in Europe, the asterism is not referred to as a dip- Soon the brothers feel a huge tug on Maui’s line, and they ask what he has per, and so we talked about the different names: the Cart, the Plow. caught. But Maui doesn’t tell them and warns them not to look back. and the Bear. Then I related the Native American tale about the little Eventually the brothers are overcome by curiosity, and turning to look at bear who woke up in the middle of winter. Maui, they break the magic spell. They see that Maui has pulled up the bottom of the ocean with his magic fishhook. However, because the spell Little Bear woke up in the middle of his hibernation and couldn’t get was broken, Maui was only able to pull up the tallest peaks, not the great back to sleep. He was hungry and thought, “If I could only get a little continent of land he was trying to reel in. The peaks of the land become snack then I know I’ll have no trouble getting back to sleep!” So he got up the Hawaiian Islands. Suddenly the line snaps, and the fishhook flies up and stuck his head out of his cave. In the middle of winter where bears into the sky, where it sticks to become the constellation Ka Makau Nui o live, there is little to eat. So the little bear found himself walking through Maui, “Maui’s Fishhook,” known as Scorpius in the West. the barren land with no food in sight. In time he came to a big lake frozen over with ice. Under the ice the bear could see the lake was full of fish. “If I Next we convened in the STARLAB, where it usually took a few could only get one of those fish, how happy I’d be,” thought the bear as he minutes to get everyone settled down. Although they were high looked for a hole to stick his paw through. At last he found a tiny hole, just school students, I find that kids of all ages get very excited, especially big enough for him to stick his little tail through. He thought, “Those fish if it’s the first time they are experiencing a STARLAB program. I was a will see my tail and think it’s food, then as they bite at it I’ll pull them out little surprised that the Italian students behaved identically to and eat them!” So he stuck his tail in and waited. He waited and waited American students; some were rowdy, but most were just excited to and waited…and fell asleep waiting. He woke up two weeks later to find be there. his tail frozen solid in the ice! So he pulled and pulled and pulled—the In the STARLAB, I began by trying to do a lot of astronomy, as I had more he pulled the longer his tail became, until finally he shot out and thought the previous American educators had done from reading flew up into the sky and became the bear with the long tail we see today.

56 Planetarian March 2007 I pointed out Scorpius and illustrated how the tail of the Scorpion For some reason there wasn’t a teacher workshop as I had expected, is difficult to see from 45 degrees N latitude in Brescia. I also pointed although on the last day I did present a program at the planetarium in out the Summer Triangle stars, and told the story from Japan about Lumezzane for a group of public and staff of around 15 or so. This was the holiday called Tanabata. the only time I also met some of Loris’ colleagues, whom I had hoped to meet earlier in the week but never had the opportunity. The plane- The Weaving Goddess Orihime weaves beautiful silk cloth for the peo- tarium program seemed to be well received and I hope that people ple of her land. The handsome herder, Kengyu, falls in love with her and understood most of what I was trying to present. The program was the two spend so much time together they begin to neglect their duties. the expanded version of my Explorers program that I used during the The King of the Gods, father of Orihime, realizes he must correct this prob- week. lem so he places the two lovers across a vast river in the sky—the Milky I believe that I fulfilled my part of this special opportunity and I Way. Now Orihime and Kengyu cannot be together except on one day. On hope I contributed to the overall pool of knowledge this program was the seventh day of the seventh month, a flock of birds fly up to the sky created for. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience and would and form a bridge for the two lovers to travel across the river to be with gladly do it again if I had the chance. I cannot say enough about Loris’ each other for a day. The people of Japan celebrate this day with a nation- hospitality and dedication as a teacher, and by the end of the week I al holiday called Tanabata. On this day feasts and celebration take place felt like part of his family. His children and friends were warm and in recognition of this joyful event. accepting and I was extremely fortunate to have met them. But without Loris’ guidance and assistance I would not have had the same I stuck with that format for the rest of the week, going to another incredible adventure this turned out to be. Traveling alone in a coun- high school on the last day—the one with the “magic walls.” I could- try without the language skills would have been pretty intimidating n’t get a real handle on what that was, from previous reports, but without Loris’ travel ti and encouragement. He encouraged me to quickly understood that was simply projecting the STARLAB on take those day trips out to Brescia’s city center, Verona, and Milan blank classroom wall space. At first that seemed like a strange con- when I was a little perplexed by the public transportation. Without cept, but when I actually did it I realized it wasn’t as bad as I thought his persistence, I would not have experienced half of the amazing it was going to be. The stars showed up quite nicely and although you sights that I did and now I wish I had more time to spend traveling in couldn’t get the effect of a real”‘sky,” you could effectively show that wonderful country. Thank you again to Loris, Jane Sadler at small areas of the sky fairly well. And certainly it was the only way to Learning Technologies Inc. for this opportunity, and Susan Button accommodate the larger numbers of students that were in each ses- from Quarks to Clusters for your support!” sion (50+). Aloha, Carolyn

(Mobile, continued from page 54) (Forum, continued from page 53)

The deadline for a 2007 application is that they need to keep producing classic Spaceship One and have it parked in my gar- April 15. To receive application materials slide-based shows. Hey, the auto companies den, all fuelled up, by the deadline of April 9, you can write to me or to Loris Ramponi don’t stop production of stick-shift cars even 2007. (Associazione Amici dei Planetari, c/o Centro though the demand is very low, so why are So, can I let you in on a big discovery I’ve Studi e Ricerche Serafino Zani, Via Bosca 24, planetarium production companies phasing just made? Great! Gather round everybody. 25066 Lumezzane Italia) or fax 0039 30 87 25 out slide-based shows when the majority, a Come on, closer, don’t be shy. OK, for the last 45; mobile 348 56 48 190; email info@serafi- very large majority of planetariums in the few days I’ve been slaving over a hot abacus nozani.it or [email protected]. country, is still slide-based? (yeah, right) conducting a rigorous scientific We still need classic slide-based shows. It survey of the planetarium profession. And Special Effects: may be old technology, but it still works here are my peer-reviewed conclusions. (If You may remember a wonderful contri- damn good! you believe that, you’ll believe anything…): bution to the September 2006 Mobile News Steve Russo the world is continually in a delicate bal- column by Russell D. Sampson. At that time Suits-Bueche Planetarium ance; every time somebody outside of the Russell shared some ideas about a simple, Schenectady Museum planetarium profession does something inexpensive aurora projector. Well, he wrote Schenectady, New York 12308, USA incredibly dumb, somebody within our pro- again to tell me about another marvelously fession does something good and worth- simple and effective “trick of the trade!” while which maintains the delicate balance! Thank you very much for sharing Russell; Disaster is averted! So, until next time, keep his “twinkling stars” method appears on Page The topic you’ve just read responses on doing all that good stuff, because if you 58. was a pretty serious one, so let’s go in the don’t, the Earth is in dire peril of tipping Susan’s Note: If you are working with a complete opposite direction for the next col- over into some weird alternate universe portable planetarium, you do not have to umn and go for something much more thingy in which our planet orbits two suns climb a ladder to reach the projector! potentially light-hearted: so it never gets dark, people never see the Be sure to check out the “Planetarians’ stars, space educators aren’t needed, none of Calendar of Events” on Page 87 for some If you ever become a space tourist (hey, the shops stock sticky toffee pudding and workshops of special interest to portable sys- you never know!) what would you most like custard, nobody has invented ice hockey… tems. to do in space? (Keep it clean!). Oh, it’s all too horrible to contemplate. Signing Off: That’s all for now folks. Keep OK, that’s it for now. I’m off to NASA to in touch; it is through contributions from If you’d like to share your dreams about ask why, if their rocket scientists are so you that this column remains interesting the above, write them on the exterior of clever, they can only count backwards… and relevant to all of us.

March 2007 Planetarian 57 A Simply Scintillating Demonstration

Russell D. Sampson Robert K. Wickware Planetarium Eastern Connecticut State University Willimantic, Connecticut 06226 USA [email protected]

One of the most common the stars is relatively undistorted questions we get in the planetar- and so the stars do not appear to ium is “why do the stars twin- twinkle as much. At this point kle?” It is such an obvious part you may want to talk about of people’s experience of the where on the Earth this kind of night sky, but in most of our atmosphere is most planetariums the stars appear common–for example in the unnaturally still. middle of the ocean or high off I co-direct a 60-seat planetari- the ground. You may also want um at a liberal arts university. to explain how astronomers are We offer public shows three or always seeking these kinds of four times a semester. One of my places for their observatories in favorites was our Cosmic order to get the sharpest views of Question Show. Here the public the stars and planets. The ulti- was asked to submit their ques- mate location with the best see- tions and we then prepared a ing is, of course, in outer space. show around a selection of the I then told the audience that best submissions. Last semester I when the atmosphere is turbu- received a question asking why lent it mixes layers of warmer the stars twinkle. I produced a and colder air together. This short PowerPoint presentation mixed-up atmosphere is made of complete with animations, but countless little cells of warmer it was incomplete and some- and colder air. These little air what inconsistent with the cells act as lenses that bend the experience in the planetarium. starlight as it passes through our The presentation stood in glar- atmosphere. ing contrast to the un-twinkling The schematic illustrates laminar airflow which is simulated by an unwrin- At this point I crushed the stars the audience would see from kled overhead transparency. The schematic to the right represents an ideal- overhead transparency with my our Spitz A4 star projector. To ized and highly magnified image of a diffraction limited star - an image seen hands. It’s good to lower your under excellent “seeing” conditions when scintillation is also reduced. The address this shortcoming, I voice and pause just before you lower set of schematics illustrates turbulent airflow which is simulated by devised the following demonstra- the wrinkled transparency film. The turbulence produces poor “seeing” and do this to add a little drama to the tion. thus increased twinkling and is illustrated by the corresponding stellar demonstration. I then carefully In the PowerPoint presenta- image. opened the crushed transparency tion I explained to the audience and revealed to the audience the that twinkling—or astronomical scintilla- turbulent the surface of the water is. folds and ripples. I explained that the air’s tion—is caused mostly by turbulence in the I then took a blank sheet of overhead turbulence acts like little ripples in the atmo- Earth’s atmosphere. Like the weather, the transparency film to further demonstrate the sphere and these ripples will distort the amount of twinkling can change from phenomenon. Try not to use the cheaper images of the stars and planets. As the wind minute to minute and day to day and from brands since they are more brittle. With the carries these ripples in front of the stars the place to place. Related to scintillation is the stars on, I turned up the cove-lights, walked starlight will appear to scintillate or twinkle. distortion of extended astronomical objects to the center of the dome, and held the trans- At this point I turned off the cove lights and by the Earth’s atmosphere—for example the parency up to the audience. carefully placed the wrinkled transparency blurring of planetary images. The amount of I suggested that the Earth’s atmosphere is, in front of the star ball of the Spitz. Again, to distortion is often referred to as “seeing.” A for the most part, a clear layer of gases–not add to the theatrical quality of the demon- good (and somewhat common) analogy is unlike a sheet of transparency film. I then stration, I climbed a ladder to reach the star that looking at the stars from the surface of told the audience that the “calm” state of the ball. I then gently waved the transparency in the Earth is like bird watching from the bot- atmosphere (i.e. laminar flow) is like the flat front of the projector and the stars on the tom of a swimming pool. The clarity of the unwrinkled transparency film (see Figure). dome twinkled. birds you see will depend on how calm or Under this kind of atmosphere our view of

58 Planetarian March 2007

an appropriate custom lens, and is offered by Digital Frontiers several fulldome vendors, including E&S, Sky-Skan and Zeiss. When fed by an 8-pipe of digital projector technologies, including render cluster, the result is over 12 million the Texas Instruments’ Digital Light pixels on the dome after vignetting and Processor (DLP) and Liquid Crystal on Silicon edge-blending are accounted for. Make sure (LCoS) spatial light modulators. you see the quality of the projected image Manufacturers of digital projectors have (crisp focus across the field) and edge-blend been very helpful in improving projector when shopping for such a system (should be performance for the planetarium market, a nearly invisible blend for solid colors and including a special iris that boosts contrast. black). Also, the SXRD contrast is limited, Even with this, contrast remains an issue for which could be an issue if operating in con- digital projectors (one exception: SEOS junction with an optomechanical star pro- recently demonstrated the Zorro projector jector. This 2-projector fulldome solution is with greatly extended dynamic range). very robust and low-maintenance, and Because of the contrast issue, make sure your would be high on my list of systems to con- system (not individual projectors) has 2000:1 sider. sequential contrast2 or greater, or you will be Laser projectors are relative newcomers to disappointed with the black levels, especial- the planetarium field. Display lasers are effi- ly if operating in conjunction with an cient, solid-state light sources and produce optomechanical star projector. Also, you will beautiful, highly-saturated colors for an want a brightness of 0.5-1.0 foot-Lamberts if extended color gamut that includes hot Ed Lantz possible to achieve film-like color saturation. pinks, deep reds, and lime greens. Zeiss intro- The typical DLP based system utilizes 6 duced ADLIP to the planetarium market sev- Visual Bandwidth, Inc. projectors, similar to 1290 Baltimore Pike, CRT configurations, to cover the hemisphere. Suite 111 Because these projec- Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania tors are digital with 19317 USA fixed pixels, it is now possible to add an [email protected] auto-align feature that automatically adjusts Digital domes are popping up everywhere. geometry, color bal- At the start of 2007, there were 248 theaters ancing, and edge- worldwide listed on Loch Ness Productions’ blends. Because of the THE FULLDOME THEATER COMPENDIUM difficulty of manually ONLINE! 1 Planetariums qualifying for this aligning multiple pro- list include domes ranging from 3m to over jectors on a spherical 23m, resolutions from 1 million pixels to screen, I personally over 12 million pixels, facilities both fixed would demand an and portable, domes both tilted and non-tilt- auto-align feature for ed, seating both concentric and unidirec- systems with 4 or more tional, and projection systems ranging from projectors, though it one to 11 edge-blended projectors. will add to the overall How does someone considering a new dig- cost and not all ven- ital theater sort through this bewildering dors can deliver auto- range of choices? Let’s take a closer look at alignment. As with all some of the tradeoffs and choices involved digital projector sys- in fulldome theater design, from the dome tems, inquire about Figure 1. Typical multi-projector edge-blended fulldome projection screen to the projector. lifetime and recurring installation. Diagrams by author. cost of lamps, which Hemispheric Projection can vary widely. Multi-projector edge-blend- eral years ago. ADLIP HD utilizes multiple Raster-based dome video projection has ed systems can scale up to extremely high edge-blended scan heads (typically 6) to cre- come a long way since the first edge-blended resolutions, but this comes with an associat- ate a high-resolution, full-dome image. Scan CRT (cathode ray tube) projection systems ed increase in system cost and complexity, as heads are remotely connected to the laser were demonstrated in early 1997 by Spitz shown in Figure 1. units via fiber optic cables. ADLIP HD resolu- and GOTO Optical. Two factors have accel- LCoS projectors are now available in tion is equivalent to DLP and CRT systems, erated the move away from CRT projectors. much higher resolutions than DLPs, allow- and sequential contrast is very high First is the inevitable obsolescence of the ing ultra-high resolution fulldome displays (30,000:1) allowing the projector to be oper- CRT. With only two major manufacturers with as few as 2 projectors. The Sony SXRD ated in tandem with optomechanical star remaining, support for this inherently ana- 4k projector boasts a resolution of 4096 x projectors without any interference with the log technology is clearly waning. The second 2160 pixels. Fed by four DVI inputs, each starfield. A more recent entrant is the ESLP factor is the low cost and incredible success SXRD can cover half of the hemisphere with laser projector from E&S that uses the grat-

60 Planetarian March 2007 ing light valve (GLV) device and the dome, forcing a high dome mirror scanner. While initially height. Tilted domes allow delayed by lingering R&D issues, greater height towards the rear to the ESLP is now shipping and can better accommodate doorways. be seen in action at the newly ren- Extreme dome tilts create ovated Griffith Observatory in Los other challenges, including visi- Angeles. Laser projectors have yet tor disorientation or vertigo. To to achieve widespread adoption. minimize vertigo, visitors typi- When shopping for a laser display cally enter at a lower level and system, be sure to consider long- exit at a higher level, preventing term maintenance costs, contrast them from having to walk limitations, and eye safety issues downwards. Another is a possible that may affect your theater safety hazard that is created design. when the seat backs do not rise Many smaller domes are satisfied appreciably above the level of with single-lens (fisheye) LCoS or the rows behind them, creating a DLP projection systems. Long forward drop-off without a safe- before planetariums covered their ty rail. I personally find a dome domes with raster video, a compa- tilt of around 20 degrees a good ny called Alternate Realities (later compromise, offering ample renamed Elumens) was quietly foreground under the horizon, delivering fisheye video projectors Figure 2. Typical single-projector fulldome projection installation. slightly reclined seating, and to the simulator industry. While good clearance at the rear for not quite cinematic quality, single- doorways. lens systems are simple to set up and main- the dome. Concentric seating has the advan- Interestingly, the eye is very tolerant to tain and can be driven by a single laptop tage that the forward-looking audience is programming rendered with a particular computer, making them an excellent choice always greater than one dome radii from the dome/horizon tilt and played back on a sys- for smaller educational planetariums, dome screen (the first row in unidirectional tem with a different tilt. One study by Spitz exhibits, production workstations or theaters are often placed so close to the Inc. suggested that a 15 degree camera tilt portable domes (see Figure 2 for block dia- dome that one can clearly see pixels and provided the best results on all dome tilts gram of a typical single-lens installation). For screen perforations). Concentric seating also ranging from 0-30 degrees3. unidirectional theaters, a higher resolution nearly doubles theater seating capacity com- can be obtained with “truncated hemispheri- pared to unidirectional designs. Dome Screen cal” systems that utilize the full pixel width Concentric seating presents serious diffi- When designing a new facility, the most of the rectangular frame with the circular culties when presenting content beyond important factor driving cost and perfor- fisheye image, thereby truncating the pro- stars, planets, and 360-degree panoramas, mance is the dome diameter. Building costs jected image at the rear of the dome. When however. Programming featuring characters, are impacted by square footage and ceiling shopping for these systems, make sure to text, or specific areas of interest cannot be height, which are dramatically impacted by inspect image focus for flare at the edge of seen simultaneously by all in the audience even a small increase in dome diameter. the field, and color convergence. (without some severe neck stretching), Theater revenues and audience throughput requiring specialized storytelling techniques. are a function of seating capacity, which Seating Arrangement Programming developed for unidirectional scales according to area. A 12m tilted dome As most planetarians already know, there theaters cannot easily be adapted to concen- with unidirectional seating can seat approxi- are two basic seating arrangements: concentric theaters, while the reverse is fairly easily mately 75-100, while a 15m dome seats 125- tric and unidirectional. Unidirectional seat- accomplished. Some concentric planetari- 200 and a 23m dome, 250-300. Less seats gen- ing is by far the most popular in modern full- ums simply populate only half of the theater erally indicate greater comfort (wider rows dome theaters, allowing stadium-type seat- when presenting unidirectional program- providing additional legroom) and better ing under a tilted dome and drawing the visi- ming. viewing experience (seats are not too close to tor’s eyes towards a central, vertically-orient- the front or sides of the dome screen). ed focus allowing the use of contemporary Dome Tilt Dedicated digital dome theaters most storytelling devices. There are numerous Unidirectional theaters have the addition- often use a truncated hemisphere or hypo- variations on unidirectional seating arrange- al choice of dome tilt. By tilting the dome hemisphere with 165-170 degree total eleva- ments, including epicentric and chevron, screen, visitors may sit in a more upright tion. This tends to bring the dome center of but all are loosely based on the principle of position, and a virtual horizon line can be radius down to eye level and reduces the angling individual seats towards the front of simulated that is true to gravity and includes required ceiling height slightly. Dome the theater. substantial imagery below the horizon line. screens are typically powder-coated or paint- The classical planetarium has concentric Dome tilts range from slight (10 degrees or ed perforated aluminum which is largely seating with all seats facing the center of the less) to extreme—up to 25-30 degrees. There transparent to sound and allows free air flow dome and the star projector. The common are distinct architectural challenges created and partial passage of water from fire sprin- focus of the show is that area of stars at the by small domes with slight tilt having to do klers. Dome reflectivity is low to minimize zenith, requiring the front-row seats to with ingress and egress. Ideally, the dome cross-dome scatter that degrades contrast in recline substantially. This, unfortunately, spring-line (or base-ring) is very close to the brighter images. Reflectance (sometimes competes with attempts to focus the audi- eye-plane of viewers to maximize the referred to as “gain”) of 0.3 or even lower is ence on a presenter standing in the center of immersive effect. Doorways must fit under best, assuming that the projection system is

March 2007 Planetarian 61 bright enough to tolerate the resulting loss able for temporary installations), negative and operational staff, ease of use for pro- in image brightness. Dome reflectance of pressure fabrics (requires assembly of support grammers and operators, upgrade capability, over 0.5 will look very washed out with frame, suitable for semi-permanent installa- and risk of obsolescence. brighter images. tions), and fiberglass structures (full assembly If you are planning a new project or an When selecting a perforated aluminum required, suitable for permanent installa- upgrade, David McConville’s fulldome.org dome screen, be sure to inspect the manufac- tions). There is also a very inexpensive forum and Ryan Wyatt’s fulldome Yahoo turer’s dome surface for gain uniformity— “umbrella dome” on the market. Many larger email list (groups.yahoo.com/group/full- both across a single panel and from panel-to- planetariums also have a small portable dome/) are invaluable resources for asking panel—and also panel seaming techniques. It dome for educational outreach or for show questions and hearing the experiences of is ideal to have a uniform dome surface production. others. Doing your homework will save you without visible seams to maximize “sense of needless headaches and ensure that your the- presence” by removing “reality cues,” Other Choices ater meets your expectations, both on open- reminders that one is simply sitting under a There are many other choices to be made ing day and over the years to come. dome screen. in designing a digital theater, including The trend in recent years is to provide an audio system (stereo or 5.1 up to 23.1), light- References unobstructed 360% gap between the bottom ing (LEDs are the best!), digital planetarium 1FTHE FULLDOME THEATER COMPENDI- of the dome and the “knee wall,” creating a engine (typically integral to the display), and UM ONLINE! ; www.lochnessproduc- very flexible projection cove for the place- more. Many vendors will recommend stan- tions.com/lfco/lfco.html ment of video projectors, lighting and spe- dard configurations and components. Some 2Lantz, Ed, “Fulldome Display Specifications: cial effects. With changing technologies it is institutions prefer to make their own choic- A Proposal,” Fulldome Standards Summit difficult to predict future projection configu- es, often with the help of a consultant who is at IPS 2004; extranet.spitzinc.com/refer- rations, so built-in flexibility is preferred. I’ve familiar with the many tradeoffs involved ence/IPS2004/default.aspx even designed conduit leading to dome cen- and their consequences, and who can 3Thompson, Brad, “Four Issues to Consider ter in “pitless” digital planetariums just in “watchdog” the vendor to ensure that they When Producing Fulldome Content for case a centralized projection system is later deliver as promised. In addition to theater Wide Distribution,” Fulldome Standards desired. design and resulting “wow factor” of the dis- Summit at IPS 2004; extranet.spitz Portable domes include positive-pressure play, other considerations include recurring inc.com/reference/IPS2004/default.aspx inflatable fabrics (very easy to set up, suit- maintenance costs, required maintenance

62 Planetarian March 2007 sion costs, improve performance through NASA Space Science News the use of new technology, broaden university and industry participation, and increase Two planetary missions will launch this public awareness of solar system exploration. summer: Dawn, which will explore the aster- According to the press release, NASA has oids Vesta and Ceres, is scheduled to launch selected concept studies for missions that no earlier than June 20, 2007, while Phoenix, would return a sample of an enigmatic aster- which will land near Mars’ northern polar oid, probe the chemistry of Venus' atmo- cap, is scheduled for launch no earlier than sphere, and reveal the interior structure and August 3. history of the Earth's Moon. The Origins In September, NASA’s Science Mission Spectral Interpretation, Resource Directorate released the 2006 Solar System Identification and Security (OSIRIS) mission Exploration Roadmap (available online at would survey an asteroid and provide the http://verity01.jpl.nasa.gov/sse/multi first return of asteroid surface material sam- media/downloads.cfm). The scientific foun- ples to Earth. Michael Drake of the dation is a set of fundamental questions: University of Arizona, Tucson is OSIRIS's Anita M. Sohus • How did the Sun’s family of planets and principal investigator. NASA's Goddard NASA/Jet Propulsion minor bodies originate? Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland • How did our Solar System evolve to its would manage the project. Laboratory current diverse state? The Vesper mission is a Venus chemistry California Institute of • What are the characteristics of our Solar and dynamics orbiter that would advance System that led to the origins of life? our knowledge of the planet's atmospheric Technology • How did life begin and evolve on Earth composition and dynamics. Gordon Chin of 4800 Oak Grove Drive and has it evolved elsewhere in the Solar Goddard is Vesper's principal investigator System? and Goddard would manage the project. The Pasadena, California 91109 • What are the hazards and resources in the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory USA Solar System environment that will affect (GRAIL) mission would use high-quality (1) 818-354-6613 the extension of human presence in gravity field mapping of the Moon to deter- space? mine its interior structure. Maria Zuber of (1) 818-354-7586 fax A unifying theme is habitability—the abil- the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, anita.m.sohus@jpl.nasa.gov ity of worlds to support life. Some of the mis- Cambridge, Massachusetts is GRAIL's princi- sions envisioned include Europa Explorer, pal investigator. NASA's Jet Propulsion Titan Explorer, Venus Mobile Explorer, Laboratory, Pasadena, California, would I am honored to have been elected an IPS Europa Astrobiology Lander, Neptune- manage the project. Fellow recently. I can't hold a candle to the Triton Explorer, Saturn Flyby with Shallow Also selected for further study are three work that all of you do and the knowledge Probes, Comet Surface Sample Return, Venus missions of opportunity that would make that you have about astronomy, planetari- In-Situ Explorer, and South Pole Aiken Basin new use of two NASA spacecraft—Stardust um technology, and education. It has been Sample Return, along with smaller- and and Deep Impact—that have completed their my delight to work with and for you. medium-class missions, It seems like the last several Planetarian and, of course, research deadlines have been just before major NASA and analysis of the mis- news was announced, so I didn’t have any- sion results. If even a thing to write about in time for the dead- few of these missions lines. This is catch up time! make it off the drawing board to their destina- Barbara Morgan on Schedule tions, we’ve got a lot to First, looking ahead to this summer, the look forward to in the STS-118 shuttle mission is currently sched- next 30 years. Of course, uled to launch no earlier than June 28. all of these missions are Educator astronaut/mission specialist in addition to the Barbara Morgan will be onboard to operate Vision for Space the robotic arm as part of the assembly of Exploration’s emphasis the International Space Station. A number of on sending humans to special educational activities are being the Moon and Mars. planned in conjunction with the flight, In late October, NASA although astronaut Morgan will not be announced the semi- teaching from space. The best way to stay finalists vying to be the informed about the STS-118 educational next Discovery Program activities is to subscribe to the NASA mission. According to Education Express listserve at the program website, www.nasa.gov/education/express. STS-118 the unique approach of Astronauts Dafydd “David” R. Williams (left), representing the Canadian mission information is on-line at the Discovery Program Space Agnecy, and Barbara R. Morgan, both STS-118 mission specialists, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shut is to increase flight wait for the start of a mission training session in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at Johnson Space Center. NASA photo. tlemissions/sts118/index. rates, contain total mis-

March 2007 Planetarian 63 primary objectives. The Deep Impact principal investigator. two mission concepts now enter a period of eXtended Investigation of Comets (DIXI) The Stardust NExT mission would use the further study and design before one of them mission would use the existing Deep Impact existing Stardust spacecraft to flyby comet will be given the green light to go to Mars in spacecraft for an extended flyby mission to a Tempel 1 and observe changes since the the 2011 launch opportunity (Earth-to-Mars second comet to take pictures of its nucleus Deep Impact mission visited it in 2005. launch opportunities occur every 26 to increase our understanding of the diversi- Tempel 1 made its closest approach to the months). According to the press release, the ty of comets. Michael A'Hearn of the Sun in 2005, possibly changing the surface of Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution University of Maryland, College Park, is the comet. Joseph Veverka of Cornell mission, or MAVEN, would provide first-of- DIXI's principal investigator. University, Ithaca, NY, is NExT's principal its-kind measurements and address key ques- The Extrasolar Planet Observations and investigator. tions about Mars climate and habitability Characterization (EPOCh) mission would use and improve understanding of dynamic pro- the high-resolution camera on the Deep Mars Finalists cesses in the upper Martian atmosphere and Impact spacecraft to search for the first In early January, NASA announced the ionosphere. The principal investigator is Earth-sized planets detected around other two finalists in the latest round of competi- Bruce Jakosky, University of Colorado, stars. L. Drake Deming of Goddard is EPOCh's tions for scientific missions to Mars. These Boulder. Goddard will provide project management. Date Target Spacecraft Event The Great Escape mission would directly determine the basic processes in Martian Feb 28, 2007 Jupiter New Horizons Jupiter flyby atmospheric evolution by measuring the structure and dynamics of the upper atmo- Mar 16, 2007 * International Space STS-117 Launch sphere. In addition, potentially biogenic Station (ISS) atmospheric constituents such as methane Apr 25, 2007 * Earth: Polar AIM Launch would be measured. The principal investiga- Mesospheric Clouds tor is Alan Stern, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colorado. Southwest Jun 5, 2007 Venus MESSENGER 2nd Flyby Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas will provide project management. Jun 20, 2007 * Asteroids Vesta Dawn Launch NASA has selected Alian Wang of and Ceres Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri Jun 28, 2007 * ISS STS-118 Launch to study the chemistry, mineralogy, and astrobiology of Mars using instrumentation Aug 3, 2007 * Mars Phoenix Launch on the European Space Agency's ExoMars mission, scheduled for launch in 2013. Sep 7, 2007 * ISS STS-120 Launch Two proposals for technology development studies that may lead to further NASA Oct 2007 * ISS STS-122 Launch contributions to ExoMars or other Mars missions also have been selected. Urey Mars Oct 7, 2007 * Gamma Rays Gamma-ray Large Launch Organic and Oxidant Detector would inves- Area Space tigate organics and oxidant materials on Telescope (GLAST) Mars using three complementary detection Dec 2007 * ISS STS-123 Launch systems. The principal investigator is Jeffrey Bada, University of California at San Diego. Dec 6, 2007 * Earth's weather NOAA-N Prime Launch California. Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer, or May 25, 2008 Mars Phoenix Landing MOMA, would investigate organic molecu- lar signatures and the environment in which Oct 2008 Universe Kepler Launch they exist using a mass spectrometer and gas chromatograph. The principal investigator is Mar 2009 Mars Dawn Gravity Assist Luann Becker, University of California at Santa Barbara, California. Mar 18, 2011 Mercury MESSENGER Orbit Insertion NASA's twin Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatories (STEREO) were launched Sep 2011 Asteroid Vesta Dawn Arrival October 25, 2006 and will dramatically improve our understanding of the powerful Apr 2012 Asteroid Vesta Dawn Departure solar eruptions that can send more than a billion tons of the Sun's outer atmosphere Feb 2015 Asteroid Ceres Dawn Arrival hurtling into space: go to www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/oct/HQ Jul 2015 Asteroid Ceres Dawn End of primary _06340_STEREO_launch.html). STEREO has mission already sent back incredible images: see www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stereo/news/ Jul 14, 2015 Pluto New Horizons Encounter first_light.html.

*No earlier than (Please see NASA on page 68)

64 Planetarian March 2007 March 2007 Planetarian 65 style”? Or even “Goodness. Do I write like Unfortunately, he thus presents the reader Reviews that? My grade school grammar teacher with a constantly shifting perspective—the would be horrified!” Ptolemaic, the Copernican, and the modern, Among all the published print on the often on the same page or within the same planet, there are some real gems and there paragraph—that disrupts the development of are some clinkers. This column has reviews of both kinds. Read the William Vollmann prefaces his new book on books if you get a Copernicus with a page that reads in part: chance. Analyze the “This book is a member of a series of books styles, and see if there is anything you’d like about science written mostly by non-scien- to incorporate into tists. In my own case, the result was an your own written autodidact’s exercise in explicating a subject communication. Or anything that pro- slightly beyond my intellectual competence.” vides pointers on how to do better. Many thanks to loyal reviewers Francine any narrative or conceptual thread. Even Jackson, John Schroer, and Ryan Wyatt for more damaging to the overall flow and this issue’s reviews. We’ll begin a while back structure of the book, Vollmann slogs in time, and head out to the far reaches. through De Revolutionibus chapter by chapter, even when he seems unable to follow Uncentering the Earth: the mathematical arguments, and then, as if April S. Whitt Copernicus and the Revolutions to share his discomfort, he complains about Fernbank Science Center the experience and highlights particularly of the Heavenly Spheres knotty and opaque portions of Copernicus’s 156 Heaton Park Drive NE William T. Vollmann, Atlas Books LLC, 10 manuscript. The muddled result obfuscates Atlanta, Georgia 30307 USA East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022, 2006, concepts rather than clarifying them, and ISBN 0-393-05969-3, US $22.95. while a few of the examples give insight into [email protected] how Copernicus worked, the majority come Reviewed by Ryan Wyatt, Rose Center for across as non sequiturs. How many of you write planetarium pro- Earth & Space, American Museum of Natural Vollmann also gets some of the science grams? Hands? How many write classroom History, New York, NY 10024, USA dead wrong. The text is littered with minor lessons, or scripts for demonstrations in your but annoying flaws: a useless and incorrect museum or center? I know there are newspa- William Vollmann prefaces his new book formula for angular momentum, fundamen- per column authors out there, and writers of on Copernicus with a page that reads in part: tally erroneous diagrams, and scrambled def- magazine articles. How about web page text? “This book is a member of a series of books initions, to name a few. On occasions when Blogs? Email? Does anyone still write mes- about science written mostly by non-scien- an astronomer-editor corrects his work, sages on paper with pen or pencil? tists. In my own case, the result was an auto- Vollmann often deflects the correction as a As you read what others have written or didact’s exercise in explicating a subject parenthetical or even buries it in an endnote. as you’re editing your own work, have you slightly beyond my intellectual compe- At the very least, Vollmann selected ever “taken a step back” in your mind, and tence.” The series to which he refers is the appropriate books to tackle his research, and said to yourself, “Now there’s a great writing Great Discoveries imprint of Atlas Books and he annotates his work well. His voluminous W.W. Norton. endnotes and extensive bibliography make Although many of the books in the series it easier to track down places where he has (e.g., Rebecca Goldstein’s brilliant volume on either misinterpreted or simply ignored the Gödel and Madison Smartt Bell’s capable work of his predecessors. treatise on Lavoisier) give concise and thor- Vollmann lends nothing to his topic that ough introductions to famous scientists and other authors haven’t already illuminated their work, Vollmann has produced an abso- with greater accuracy, readability, and schol- lute embarrassment to the publisher. arship. For a more concise history, one Although he gets much of the science cor- would do better to pick up John Henry’s suc- rect, his labored prose reflects a level of con- cinct and instructive Moving Heaven and fusion about the topic that prevents him Earth. For a detailed look at the Copernican from describing it lucidly. Core themes system, one should reference Owen emerge, most prominently the aesthetic Gingerich’s extensive work (e.g., many of the qualities of the geocentric system, with its collected essays in The Eye of Heaven). And elegant nested spheres dividing the imper- for a sense of the aesthetic impulse that fect sublunary world from the idealized underlies the Aristotelian system, one could superlunary realm. In fact, the author seems look at C.S. Lewis’s The Discarded Image. so captivated by the ancient Greek cosmolo- Vollmann touches on all these ideas, but he gy that he bemoans its loss and continually mangles them and never manages to sculpt a drifts back to an Aristotelian viewpoint. unifying theme.

66 Planetarian March 2007 ing rah-rah of Spencer and Rugg, who, in great detail, have come up with a time line for the development of what is—and should be—our next chance for the ultimate vacation. Now, surprisingly, the authors stay clear of any form of development other than tourism; their goal is strictly allowing the average person—of any age—the ability to see what, with few exceptions, only astronauts are capable of enjoying. That just does- n’t seem fair to the authors, so they have come up with plans for a space hotel, shut- tles to get us there, a mini computer “bot” to direct the traveler to any place he needs to go, and the computer brains to mesh this whole thing together. In fact, about a quarter of this book is titled “The Space Experience,” which is the diary of a lottery winner whose prize is an all-expense-paid trip aboard the Destiny, the world’s first orbital super yacht. And, what lies at the forefront of this whole design and construction process is the Reviewed by Francine Jackson, University of Space Tourism: Do You apparent necessity to have everything paid Rhode Island Planetarium, Providence, for out of private funds. The entire industry Want to Go? Rhode Island, USA John Spencer with Karen L. Rugg, Apogee is based on “wealthy private citizens and lot- Books, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, 2004, tery winners,” with the idea that, after this It seems as if anyone taking a course in ISBN 1894959086, US $20.95. early shot in the arm, the tourism market astronomy wants to know all about cosmo- will be able to sustain itself.The first step, logical principles, which, for the most part, Reviewed by Francine Jackson, University of though, is to convert the International Space are the hardest concepts for a neophyte Rhode Island Planetarium, Providence, Station into the first generation private astronomer to comprehend. Any introducto- Rhode Island, USA yacht, with others quickly following. Also, ry book on the subject usually assumes more the authors don’t background knowledge than the average want us to forget reader has. Not so here. Tony Fairall’s In November, 1997, Japan’s New Type maga- that orbital tourism zine asked its young readers, “What would Cosmology Revealed: Living Inside the Cosmic is just the first step in Egg is the product of a person like us, a plane- you most like to do before you die?” The moving up to the tarium director who takes joy in introducing most popular ambition: To travel into space. Moon, then Mars. astronomy to the public. And why not? Cosmic Egg starts here, at home, then Not surprisingly, expands our sight straight out of the galaxy, In 1992, the paper “The Prospects for Space much of the book reveres Dennis Tito, the through the depth of the universe, or, “con- Tourism: Investigation on the Economic and first civilian to have paid his own way into tained within a very large spherical shell…a Technological Feasibility of Commercial space. His liftoff was obviously a catalyst to cosmic egg wherein we live for…eternity. An Passenger Transportation into Low Earth writing what should be a primer for anyone egg that, like its chocolate counterpart, Orbit” was presented at the International who has a wish to look down at the Astronomical Federation Congress. In March Earth. And, it works. If you read this of 1996, Ad Astra, the magazine of the and don’t want to follow in Mr. Tito’s To anyone looking to recommend National Space Society, was dedicated entire- microgravity footsteps, perhaps you a good book on cosmology, this ly to space tourism. In November 1997, should consider an imagination trans- Japan’s New Type magazine asked its young plant. is ideal. readers, “What would you most like to do Do you want to go? Read this book before you die?” The most popular ambition: first. It may have you chomping at the To travel into space. So, why aren’t we? bit to get off this planet and see it as so very never hatches. We have no way of ever This question had so bothered author few have been able to. Also, it may have you knowing what is outside.” From there we John Spencer that he founded the Space buying more (or starting to buy) lottery tick- begin the journey both through the universe Tourism Society to pioneer the frontier of ets, in hopes that you might be one of the and through history, learning exactly how space travel in low Earth orbit, on the persons responsible for an alternative desti- we found our way to where we are today. Of premise that the public wants to go. In fact, nation vacation in the very near future. course, Edwin Hubble appears very promi- in March of 1995, Newt Gingerich, speaking nently, but so do Vesto Slipher, whose con- at a National Space Society policy seminar, tributions are often passed over; Fred Hoyle, believed that a hotel would be orbiting the Cosmology Revealed: Living Earth by 2015. So, where is it being construct- Inside the Cosmic Egg of the alternative steady state; and others perhaps not normally mentioned with ed? Anthony Fairall, Springer-Praxis Books, respect to this, such as Jaan Einasto and the This book is all about the dream. In Space Chichester, UK, 2001, ISBN 1-85233-322-7, really historical work of such as Richard Tourism, you can actually feel the cheerlead- hardbound, US $44.95.

March 2007 Planetarian 67 Proctor and the Herschels. The language is clear, concise, and very readable. The illustrations and images contained in This publication is a must- each chapter are perfect complements to the have for planetarians work- text. Also, there are two “beautiful” sections, ing with the visually chal- one a set of Hubble images of objects in our galaxy, other galaxies, and the two “distant lenged or impaired visitor. universe” photographs. The second is a set of three-dimensional images (glasses are in the back) starting here, in our solar system, out- visually challenged explore our nearest ward through the galaxy, to the distant neighbor, the Moon. Using a large print font galactic neighbors, and ending as close as we and Braille type underneath, the Little Book can get to the Cosmic Eggshell. of Moon Phases takes you on an exploration The only downside to this book is the of the Moon, why there are phases, and what copyright, 2001. As with the rest of astrono- each of theeight phases looks like my, discoveries happen too fast. Cosmology Once in a while I come across a book that The Little Book begins with a short intro- Revealed has everything: it is short, only gives a new method of teaching astronomy. duction to the Moon’s motions, how it keeps about 130 pages, but to the point. To anyone For many of the visitors to our planetariums, one side facing towards Earth, and how the looking to recommend a good book on cos- it is just a matter of getting them seated in Moon’s movement in its orbit creates the mology, this is ideal. our theater and starting our presentations. phases viewed by earthly observers. Noreen However, what could your theater do for an then guides her readers on how to use the The Little Moon Phase Book – audience member who is visually challenged embossed maps with each major phase. or even incapable of sight? How do you The Moon is bordered with a hyphenated English Large Print and Braille/ communicate the wonders of the universe line. Lunar features are shown in photo- El Pequeño Libro de las Fases de and the joys of skywatching to someone graphic detail, as seen through a telescope. la Luna – Español who has limited vision? The maria feel like smooth areas, while Noreen Grice, OZONE Publishing Corp., One of the folks working on this problem craters are raised bumps. The area of the PMB 500 RR-8 Box 1995, Bayamón, Puerto is Noreen Grice, the planetarium operations Moon not receiving any sunlight is com- Rica 00956-9676 (www.ozonepublishing.net), coordinator at the Charles Hayden pletely smooth. At the upper corner of each ISBN 0-9773285-0-3 US $23.95 Planetarium in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. page, the phase of the moon is shown as seen Noreen is also president of You Can Do by the naked eye, and the sunlit area glows Reviewed by John Schroer, The New Detroit Astronomy (www.youcandoastrono in the dark! Science Center, Detroit, Michigan USA my.com) and is the author of the Little Moon This publication is a must-have for plane- Phase Book. While only 12 pages long, this lit- tarians working with the visually challenged tle publication has a big goal: helping the or impaired visitor.

(NASA, continued from page 71) Centers (ASTC) is running an IPY-related pro- Earth on January 15, 2006, and in December ject called IGLO (International Action on scientists revealed results about a cosmic zoo MGS Falls Silent Global Warming) and their website of particles formed at different times and After 10 years in space, the Mars Global www.astc.org/iglo/ is likely to be a good places within our Solar System. Latest news is Surveyor spacecraft went silent in source of information and educational activ- at stardust.jpl.nasa.gov. November. NASA has convened an investi- ities. In a recent Dome-l posting, one plane- The Japanese Hinode (“Sunrise”) satellite gation to look in-depth into why MGS went tarian reminded us that climate is an astro- (formerly known as Solar-B) is also returning silent and to recommend any processes or nomical topic—just look at Venus and Mars, extraordinary new images of our Sun procedures that could increase safety for for example. (www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/solar-b/in other spacecraft. MGS operated longer at And finally, another reminder to send dex.html) which support many scientists' Mars than any other spacecraft in history feedback to your NASA education and out- prediction that the next solar cycle is going and for more than four times as long as the reach contacts on a regular basis, especially to be a big one (science.nasa.gov/headlines/y prime mission originally planned. about how you use specific NASA resources 2006/21dec_cycle24.htm?list958533). In late January, the Advanced Camera for in your shows, exhibits, programs, etc. This Looking away from our neighborhood, Surveys on the Hubble Space Telescope also feedback is the only way to show that there the French/ESA COROT satellite began its went blank, apparently due to a nasty short is value in working with planetariums. mission to peer into the blinding light of circuit. Fortunately, the workhorse Wide Audience numbers are a valuable metric, and nearby stars in an attempt to discover the Field and Planetary Camera 2 can be pressed if you can tell us further the age, diversity, first rocky planets outside our solar system back into work, along with the Near Infrared etc., of your audiences, that is even better. (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/COROT/SEM Camera Multi-object Spectrograph (NIC- Remember the old adage: if management YOPQJNVE_0.html). MOS) and fine guidance sensors. doesn’t know about it, it didn’t happen. A newly-discovered hybrid gamma-ray The International Polar Year is upon us, burst observed by the NASA Swift mission with the official start in March 2007. The Highlights from 2006 shows us we still have many fascinating two-year IPY period runs through March The year 2006 was book-ended by news things to learn about how these energetic 2009 because the polar research seasons at items from Stardust, NASA's comet sample events create black holes and neutron stars: each pole are 18 months long and they over- return mission. The capsule containing pris- (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/swift/ lap. The Association of Science-Technology tine samples of Comet Wild 2 returned to bursts/hybrid_grb.html).

68 Planetarian March 2007 protection to the public is controlling. As a General Counsel result, a comprehensive analysis of your accessibility obligations requires a review of both federal and state law. Because state laws The Legal Framework are generally verbose and complex, a review of each state’s statutes is beyond the scope of Passed into law in 1990, the Americans this column, and again illustrates the impor- with Disabilities Act (“ADA” or “the Act”) tance of discussing these issues with your serves as the primary source of disability and own attorneys. accommodation law in the United States. According to the legislative declaration of Sections with Particular purpose, the ADA was designed to provide the 43 million disabled Americans with a Relevance to Planetarians Like most organizations operating in the mechanism by which to seek redress for dis- United States, a planetarium (or museum or ability-based discrimination. science center) likely has obligations arising The ADA is divided into four broad sections, each relating to a specific area of con- from all four Titles of the ADA. To the extent cern. Title I requires employers to provide that a planetarium serves as an employer, for equal employment opportunities to quali- example, it must comply with the provi- fied individuals, regardless of their disability. sions of Title I which generally requires that Title II applies to state and local government activities, and generally requires that gov- Like most organizations operating in the Christopher S. Reed ernment services, pro- United States, a planetarium (or museum or grams, and facilities science center) likely has obligations arising CSR Media, LLC are adequately accessi- 12106 West 75th Lane ble. Title III imposes from all four Titles of the ADA. similar requirements Arvada, Colorado on private organiza- 80005-5306 USA tions. Finally, Title IV provides accessibility requirements for employers make reasonable accommoda- (1) 720-236-3007 telecommunications systems and requires tions so that qualified individuals may per- (1) 760-466-6440 (fax) public accommodations, whether publicly form the essential functions of their jobs. or privately owned, to provide avenues of The precise contours of Title I, however, are [email protected] effective communication for people with best left to a discussion of labor and employ- disabilities. Note that there is no distinction ment law. In the remainder of this column, I between for-profit and nonprofit entities— discuss some of the major points of Titles II Planetariums and the ADA both would fall under the ambit of Title III. and III, the operative provisions of the ADA In previous columns I have discussed Although the Act is the principal source of that are most relevant to planetarians in issues that relate primarily to intellectual disability and accommodation law in the terms of accommodating disabled visitors. property and the rights and responsibilities United States, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 As I mentioned briefly above, Title II associated with planetarium shows, music, provides that recipients of federal funding applies to government entities such as states images, and similar elements. Departing are prohibited from discriminating against and municipalities. Accordingly, planetari- slightly from the general content-oriented individuals with disabilities. Issues relating ums, museums, and science centers that are focus of my prior columns, in this install- to the Rehabilitation Act frequently arise in owned and operated by government enti- ment I hope to provide some general back- the context of federal grant programs, since tles, including state-run colleges and univer- ground on laws relating to accommodating government agencies such as the National sities, are governed by the rules set forth in Science Foundation generally inquire about individuals with disabilities. As usual, this Title II. In general terms, Title II provides Rehabilitation Act compliance on the appli- column should be considered a source of that a public entity may not prohibit a dis- cation materials and grant recipients are gen- basic background information on disability abled individual from participating in any erally required to warrant compliance with and accommodation law, and not a point- service, program, or activity solely because the Rehabilitation Act in the grant contract. by-point guide to this complex area. Instead, of the disability. Various states have also implemented I aim to provide you with the basic legal Public entities must make “reasonable anti-discrimination laws aimed at protecting landscape and some key points so that when modifications” to accommodate individuals individuals with disabilities. Although feder- confronted with an accommodation con- with disabilities and must provide certain al laws generally trump state laws, in some cern, you will be better prepared to identify aids to assist such individuals participate in issues (such as anti-discrimination regula- the relevant issues and focus the discussion public programs and services, provided, tion), whichever law provides the greatest with your own counsel. however, that such accommodative aids, services, and modifications do not “fundamentally alter” the nature or character of the pro- General Counsel is intended to serve as a source of general information on legal grams, and that the costs of the aids, services, issues of interest to the planetarium community. Planetarians seeking information and modifications are not passed along to on how the principles discussed in a General Counsel column apply to their own circumstances should seek the advice of their own attorneys. those who benefit from them. Because integrating individuals with dis-

March 2007 Planetarian 69 abilities into mainstream society is a major like wheelchairs or personal services to indi- The Department of Justice also offers an objective of the ADA, public entities must viduals with disabilities (e.g., assistance with ADA information line at (800) 514-0301, strive to incorporate their disability accom- eating). which connects callers directly with ADA modations into their ordinary programs and The rules relating to the modification of specialists who are familiar with various services. While it is permissible to offer sepa- existing facilities are slightly different with areas of ADA compliance and can offer assis- rate programming for those afflicted with respect to public accommodations, as they tance and advice on a wide range of accessi- disabilities, it is unlawful to prohibit an indi- require physical barriers to be modified bility-related topics. As of this writing, the vidual from attending an “ordinary” pro- when “readily achievable,” which has been information line is staffed Monday through gram. For example, a planetarium may offer defined to mean, generally, “easily accom- Friday, 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, special showings of its programs with cap- plishable and able to be carried out without except on Thursday, when it opens at 12:30 tions to accommodate those with hearing much difficulty or expense.” If such modifi- p.m. impairments, but it may not prevent a hear- cations are not readily achievable, public As I have reiterated several times, the ADA ing-impaired individual from attending a accommodations must take alternative mea- is a remarkably lengthy and complex body show without the captions. sures to ensure that individuals with disabili- of law. While it is difficult to argue against its Contrary to widespread belief, the ADA ties have equal access to the accommoda- fundamental goals and objectives, under- does not require that public buildings be tion’s services and programs. standing the technical minutiae and com- equipped with elevators, ramps, and other As with Title II, Title III mandates that plex compliance requirements of the ADA accommodations. It does, however, require new construction and facility alterations can be overwhelming and frustrating. that the programs and services that are must be accessible provided that incorporat- Fortunately, attorneys, architects, and other offered inside the buildings be made accessi- ing the accessible elements is not “structural- professionals are already experts in the field ble to those with disabilities. A courthouse ly impracticable.” The Act, and various and stand ready to help battle your compli- with courtrooms accessible only by stair- guidelines and other documents interpreting ance issues. way, for example, could comply with the the statutory provisions provide a morass of Many institutions and certainly most pub- ADA by simply holding court sessions in very specific formulae, standards, and tech- lic entities have attorneys either on staff or ground-floor rooms. In the case of new con- nical explanations relating to what is and is on call that can discuss, in far more detail struction or substantial alteration to existing not required under certain conditions and than I have presented here, your responsibili- structures, however, public entities are circumstances. ties under the ADA and can advise you on required to ensure that the newly designed The technical complexity is far beyond issues specific to your circumstances. Armed facilities are accessible. the scope of this column and, once again, with a basic understanding of the law and its Facilities that are privately owned need underscores the importance for consultation general requirements, your discussions with not concern themselves with Title II, but with qualified, competent counsel as well as the legal and design professionals will be far must instead consider Title III of the ADA architects familiar with ADA compliance more useful. which is applicable to any entity that owns a issues before embarking on any sort of new General Counsel is intended to serve as a place of “public accommodation” such as a construction or facility renovation project. source of general information on legal issues restaurant, hotel, or a museum, science cen- of interest to the planetarium community. ter, or planetarium. The requirements for For More Information Planetarians seeking information on how Title III compliance are relatively similar, Although the complexity of the ADA can the principles discussed in a General Counsel requiring public accommodations to probe daunting at first, one advantage of such column apply to their own circumstances vide an integrated setting in which it pro- intricacy is that it has led to the develop- should seek the advice of their own attor- vides equal access to its goods and/or services ment of a great deal of interpretive material neys. to both disabled and non-disabled individu- designed to help people understand their als. legal rights and responsibilities. One particu- Like public entities, a public accommoda- larly useful resource for further information tion must make reasonable modifications to is the Department of Justice, the government its policies, practices, and procedures so long agency charged with overseeing the imple- as the modifications do not impose an mentation and enforcement of the Act. undue burden and do not fundamentally Their ADA web site at http://www.ada.gov alter the nature or character of the services provides a wealth of information on the var- provided. While public accommodations are ious sections of the Act, technical assistance required to provide accessible facilities, they manuals, standards for accessible design, and are not required to provide personal devices a slew of other resources.

Contrary to widespread belief, the ADA does not require that public buildings be equipped with elevators, ramps, and other accommodations. It does, however, require that the programs and services that are offered inside the buildings be made accessible to those with disabilities.

iStockphoto.com

70 Planetarian March 2007

advantage of a multitude of benefits. President’s Message Council hopes that current and new members make use of all the opportunities that what makes science so dynamic and excit- IPS now offers in order to get the most out of ing. your membership. You can promote how we I feel very strongly that many people do serve our membership to others by citing the not understand that IPS, like that galaxy, is extensive list of benefits on the IPS website surprisingly more massive and mature than (www.ips-planetarium.org/or/ips-how the casual observer could detect. It is excit- to.html). Just to clarify how complex and ing to examine how impressive it is. beneficial IPS is, I would like to emphasize Although the International Planetarium and make a few comments about points on Society was formed a mere 36 years ago (the that list. I have included some points of my first conference was held in October of 1970), own that are intuitive but infrequently used it has quickly evolved into a robust organi- by members. The on-line list is impressively zation and continues to mature as our indus- long, so take your time and really think try rapidly changes. It quietly provides a about each one so that you can get the most enormous amount of assistance to planetari- out of your IPS membership! ans all over the world. IPS members represent schools, colleges IPS is a professional organization that is and universities, museums, and public facili- and will continue to be responsive to the ties of all sizes, including both fixed and needs of its over 700 members from 35 coun- portable planetariums as well as digital and tries. Encouraging the sharing of ideas analog. Members include directors, teachers, technicians, programmers, writers, artists, Susan Reynolds Button among its members through conferences, publications, and networking is the primary media specialists, presenters, vendors, scien- Quarks to Clusters goal and greatest influence of the Society. By tists, students, and sponsors and friends of 8793 Horseshoe Lane sharing their insights and creative work, IPS the planetarium and the night sky and members become better planetarians, pro- multi-media presentations. That means that Chittenango, NY 13037 USA grammers, artists, technicians, teachers, and a variety of interesting people are available (1) 315-687-5371 so on. to be tapped for advice and resources (and to visit on vacation!). (1) 315-263-1985 (cell) Challenges for the IPS Speaking of resources, you can gain infor- [email protected] Challenges for the IPS council include mation from reading our colorful quarterly efforts to increase the visibility of IPS, to journal, the Planetarian, which is filled with encourage new affiliations, and to promote insightful articles and a wide range of feature 2006 Election Results new memberships (to become even more columns; the IPS Conference Proceedings I would like to express a sincere “Thank massive!). We are taking steps in that direc- that contain texts of contributed and invited You” to everyone who recently voted. As a tion immediately. Council recently papers and panel discussions; and special result we have an eminently qualified new approved a new initiative in an effort to publications (see Dale Smith’s article else- president elect, Thomas Mason from make IPS more inclusive, to increase visibili- where in this issue of the Planetarian). You Armagh Planetarium, Ireland. Welcome ty, and to introduce non-members to IPS and can keep abreast of current and future events aboard Tom! Congratulations also to Lee all that it has to offer. Through this initia- and job openings and find contacts through Ann Hennig and Shawn Laatsch; we are all tive, invitations were sent to planetarians reading the IPS News, the IPS website, and grateful for your continued excellent service. who are not currently IPS members to members-only web resources. Members I certainly appreciate the chance to work become an associate of the Society. IPS receive many free CDs and discounted sub- with them, Tom, now Past President Martin Associates will electronically receive, free of scription rates to IPS video compilations, George, the entire council, and the various charge, the IPS News. This will allow col- which deliver still images and extensive committees as we strive to provide members leagues who are not members to glimpse video footage from NASA, ESA, and the with services that meet their varied needs. some of the issues and workings that IPS Space Telescope Science Institute. For the Please contact us with your concerns and addresses and perhaps entice them to join us most part, members generally already take suggestions about how IPS can better serve in our work and fun. In short, this initiative advantage of all of those benefits. you; we depend on your input! is designed to spark interest and inform new contacts about IPS activities and benefits. The Privilege of Voting What does IPS Offer? Council will review this offer after two years However, I do not feel that most of you A student recently asked, “Mrs. Button, to determine if it is as effective as we hope. really avail yourselves of the many other have you heard about scientists’ discovery of A second strategy for improving our visi- privileges and benefits. You have the privi- a galaxy that seems too massive for current bility is to rework and streamline the lege, as a member, to vote. Members are enti- theories?” (www.universetoday.com/ Outreach Committee. Jon Elvert, the new tled to one vote per person, either by proxy, am/publish/distant_galaxy_too_massive.ht chair of this committee, will share more by mail (postal or electronic), or fax, on any ml) specifics on this in the June 2007 issue of the question pertaining to the Society. Members The discovery he cited indicates that Planetarian and you will see some wonderful elect IPS executive officers in this way. mature stars and large galaxies formed much initiatives born from his efforts. Generally only about 35% of qualified mem- earlier in cosmic history than was expected. bers take advantage of their voting opportu- An interesting class discussion ensued and I Take Advantage of the Benefits nities. This is one very important way that made the point that this kind of surprise is If you are a member of IPS, you can take you can influence the future of IPS. Another

72 Planetarian March 2007 way, and the strongest, to impact IPS and tarium profession. IPS has sanctioned Dome- communication more efficient and to gain understanding is to run for office. L as a worthy service to the profession; free increase participation of members by clearly Yet another excellent way to gain insight and open discussion is encouraged and essen- presenting opportunities for you to con- and a full sense of membership is to volun- tial. You can always find out more at tribute your special talents in small or big teer. IPS has many committees devoted to www.ipsplanetarium.org/ ways. None of us has a lot of free time, but areas of interest to the membership. resources/domel.html. Whenever possible, we all have something to offer and a little Committee chairs accept and recruit volun- attend our biennial conferences, which discretionary time. My job is to inspire you teers from the membership; hence, members bring together hundreds of planetarium pro- and define easy ways in which you can more can actively shape the future of IPS and the fessionals for paper sessions, invited speakers, fully become participating members. Don’t planetarium profession. Or you can bid to workshops, panel discussions, vendor wait for us to ask; speak up if you have an host an IPS conference! Conference bids for demonstrations, and exhibits. You can vol- idea. 2010 have been accepted from Alexandria, unteer to present a paper, a workshop, or Another goal is to continue the important Egypt; Saint-Etienne, France; and Beijing, chair a panel. The next IPS Conference will work of past presidents: to bring new affili- China. You can read an article from each of be held at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, ates and new members into the fold, to sup- these locations elsewhere in this issue of the Illinois, USA from 15-20 June 2008. There port colleagues in developing nations, and to Planetarian. Council will vote on the 2010 will be an information link soon on the web- make IPS more responsive to your needs and site at our meeting in August. site. the changing technologies. You also can find colleagues to network Lastly, for now, I want to see more empha- Donate, Share with by using the IPS Directory of the World's sis on making educational resources avail- You can also affect many aspects of IPS Planetariums and the IPS Resource Directory. able and on setting guidelines for making services, to you and fellow members, by Members receive a comprehensive CD cata- our shows age appropriate. I realize that answering calls for you to donate and/or log of planetariums and IPS members world- many facilities have expanded their domes share. Members can submit articles for publi- wide. Also on that CD is a resource directory to become virtual reality chambers of all cation in the Planetarian. Readers from the that is a "yellow pages" listing hundreds of kinds. I feel strongly, as you know, that there international community will be able to companies and organizations that are in is always an element of education in a pre- benefit from your experience and knowl- business to provide services for the planetari- sentation, even if the focus of a particular edge. The IPS Education Committee has post- um community. program is primarily entertainment. We ed some lessons on the website, and you can And lastly, you are strongly encouraged to must try to understand exactly what impres- share by submitting samples of your own. voice your opinion. Your IPS affiliate repre- sions we are creating and what learning is The next round of the IPS Eugenides script sentative (see the directory on Page 2) will taking place. To that end all planetariums writing competition begins this month (see present your the call for entries in this issue). The prize opinions and money is attractive and you'll earn extra concerns at IPS As you can see, there are many opportunities for prestige at and for your institution if you council meet- you to reap the rewards of belonging to the enter this contest and then are placed in the ings and during International Planetarium Society. Please avail top two award categories. At the very least the year through you would be contributing a new show idea email with coun- yourself of these powerful ways to develop pro- for your colleagues. Or you could volunteer cil, or you can fessionally and to stretch beyond your own uni- to create another special publication on a contact any offi- verse. Make the most of your IPS membership! topic that most interests you. cer directly to Monetarily, you can also donate to the make sure you Armand Spitz Fund, which is maintained by are heard. IPS to fund efforts that further the ideas Members can also nominate other deserving will be encouraged to work together and espoused by Armand Spitz, or to the Star IPS members for awards that recognize con- share experiences, both successes and fail- Partners’ Fund that was established to aid tributions they have made to our organiza- ures, so that we may all grow in understand- planetariums in countries with non-convert- tion and to our profession. ing and maximize the impact we deliberate- ible currencies and/or facing severe econom- As you can see, there are many opportuni- ly seek. Creativity in science and technology ic problems. You can have a meaningful ties for you to reap the rewards of belonging is our universe and it is this “hook” that will impact on the International Planetarium to the International Planetarium Society. inspire students to entertain the idea of Society’s goals and interests, beyond your Please avail yourself of these powerful ways becoming the new generation of creative sci- own lifetime and far into the future, by to develop professionally and to stretch entists and engineers that the world desper- make a charitable gift during your lifetime beyond your own universe. Make the most ately needs. or as part of your estate. At the same time, of your IPS membership! you can bring immediate and deferred tax Next Council meeting advantages to both you and your heirs. The New Presidency The next council meeting will be held It is vital that you use IPS to network. It is with an awesome sense of responsibili- during 4-5 August 2007 at the Rio de Janeiro Look on the IPS website for news and ty, excitement, and determination that I Planetarium in Brazil. Members: please con- resources and be sure to make suggestions take office as president for these next two tact your affiliate representative, me, or any and update contact information when need- years. I realize that I have “big shoes” to fill, other officer well before those dates if you ed. Read Dome-L, the IPS-sanctioned but pri- as do each of the presidents in turn. Your have information, questions and/or con- vately run and moderated email informa- support and ideas will certainly be appreciat- cerns that need to be addressed. Do not for- tion service for the world's planetarians. ed as we tackle the challenges of future get to inform your representative of your Subscription to Dome-L is free and open to development of IPS. preference for the 2010 conference site so anyone with an active interest in the plane- One goal of this presidency is to make that he/she can vote accordingly.

March 2007 Planetarian 73 Conferences Around the World Past President’s Message During October and November, while still serving as president, I found myself again travelling around the world. In the last week in our frequent (usually daily!) and detailed of October, after attending the very enjoy- discussions and I, and the other officers, are able one-day expo session at the Adler delighted to be working with him. Planetarium in Chicago, Illinois, USA, I was I was reflecting recently on some of the delighted to attend the Great Lakes special strengths of the IPS, and one in partic- Planetarium Association Conference which ular that stands out to me is the fact that we was held in Merrillville, Indiana, USA. A large have three people in presidential positions at gathering, many excellent presentations, any one time: the president, the president fine social events, and visits to local places of elect, and the past president. It is a system interest made for an excellent conference. I that has served us well for a long time. The was delighted to make many new friends two years' experience gained by the presi- and am currently enjoying reading the GLPA dent elect are a very important preparation Conference Proceedings, which was dis- for the two years to be spent as president, tributed to all attendees by Dale Smith very and the past president has experience to con- soon after the conference. tribute after having been “in the chair.” A few days later I travelled to Brazil to An essential part of that strength, though, attend my second conference in two weeks: is the enormous support from both the secre- the Brazilian Planetarium Association (ABP) tary and the treasurer/membership chair. conference in the city of Vitória, a coastal Near the end of 2006 I reviewed the com- city about a one hour flight northeast of Rio mittee structure of the IPS and, as I write this de Janeiro. A big thank you to ABP members message, President Susan Button is happy to for my very warm welcome and for having leave me with the task of sorting out a few me there at their most interesting confer- Martin George, Curator possible changes that may still need to be ence, with special thanks to Sergio Bisch, made. Launceston Planetarium Alexandre Cherman, Fernando Vieira and I made one specific change, however, in Ormis Rossi for their wonderful assistance. Queen Victoria Museum December, to one of the ad hoc committees. Naturally, the proceedings were conduct- It is the Language Committee, which I have, Wellington Street ed in Portuguese, but through the help of after some consideration, renamed the our Brazilian colleagues I was able to follow Launceston, Tasmania International Relations Committee. I feel what was happening during the sessions. I that broadening the scope of this committee Australia was deeply honoured that the ABP flew an will serve the IPS well, especially as we reach interpreter up from Rio de Janeiro for the +61 (3) 63233777 out to some areas of the world in which we two talks—one about the IPS and one about have very few IPS members and in which +61 (3) 63233776 fax Astronomy in Australia—that I presented. English may not be the native language. The interpretation was performed concur- [email protected] Naturally, this committee can work closely rently and flawlessly. Again, excellent com- with the Outreach and Membership company and several most enjoyable social It has been a great pleasure to serve the IPS mittees. A big thank you to all who continue events made the conference most memo- as president over the past two years, and I'd to serve on this committee! By the time you rable. like to thank the many IPS members who read this, I shall hopefully have added a few Just before departing for Europe, I was also have written so positively to me recently in new members in order that the committee delighted to visit the planetarium in Rio de relation to my role. It's always important to can fulfill this broadened role. remember, though, that the officers work as a strong team and it is perhaps not widely known that quite apart from their daily communication, the officers do have get- togethers at times other than the council meetings and biennial conferences. A special thanks to Shawn Laatsch and Kim Cooper for making their house in Greenville, North Carolina, USA available for such meetings over my period as president!

Congratulations to Tom Mason Speaking of the officers, congratulations and a big welcome to Tom Mason, our new president elect! When I wrote my last President's Message, the results of the election were not known but, by the time you read this, Tom will have spent nearly three months as part of the team of officers. A session at the Brazilian Planetarium Association Conference in Vitória. All photos by Martin George. Already Tom has become actively involved

74 Planetarian March 2007 The staff of the Munakata Yurix Planetarium in Japan (left); JPS members gathering in the planetarium at the Nagoya City Science Museum, where the Japanese Planetarium Society Conference was held.

Janeiro, which will be the site of our 2007 a significantly larger dome in a few years. I schools in the area. Their enthusiasm for council meeting this August. Since my last strongly recommend a visit! astronomy also extends to conducting spe- visit in 2004, a number of fine exhibitions Following the conference, I had the plea- cial stargazing evenings near the resort, have been installed at the planetarium and I sure of visiting both the planetarium at the adding to the enjoyment of visitors to one of strongly recommend to you all to go along Children's Centre in Hiroshima and the Australia's famous tropical island getaways. to see it if you are in Rio de Janeiro! Munakata Yurix Planetarium near Fukuoka. As I now move through my own two-year After Brazil, I made a short visit to the So many people contributed to making my period as past president, I am looking for- United Kingdom to meet up with Dr. Gloria visits there very enjoyable, but special ward to the continuation of my work as an Clifton and Gilbert Satterthwaite in London, thanks are due to Junko Onoda from the officer and intend to press on with some spe- who showed me around the construction Munakata Planetarium for her assistance in cific tasks. We are now very close to having site for the new Greenwich Planetarium. As I organising my visit. At each place, the “bub- two new affiliates—China and Brazil—and I write this message, their planned opening bly” enthusiasm of the staff was very obvi- am hoping very much that this will be con- date is in the (northern hemisphere) spring ous! firmed by the time of the council meeting in of 2007, so it's not far away! My last official engagement as IPS presi- August. The first official meeting of the new I then made a quick visit to the impressive dent took place on December 10, when I had Chinese planetarium group will hopefully Heureka Science Centre in Helsinki, Finland, the very great pleasure of opening a new take place around mid-year. I am hoping to which includes a major planetarium and is portable planetarium in Queensland, attend that meeting, which will likely be planning a significant expansion. Many Australia, on Hamilton Island. Ray and Libby held in Beijing. thanks to the director, Per-Edvin Persson, Johnson have been the driving force behind A very happy Autumnal or Spring and Kai Santavuori for showing me around the establishment of their dome, which will equinox to you all, depending on your hemi- on what was my first visit to the facility. be used at the resort and will be taken to sphere!

Japanese Planetarium Society Conference December saw me in Japan for a week, mainly to attend the wonderful Japanese Planetarium Society Conference, which was held in Nagoya. Some 250 planetarians attended from all over Japan, and here again I was delighted with the proceedings and met up with many planetarians for the first time. I am very grateful to the JPS, to all of the staff of the Nagoya City Science Centre, and especially to IPS Council Member Shoichi Itoh from the Suginami Planetarium in Tokyo, for assisting with my visit. Shoichi also did a fine job as my interpreter on no fewer than four occasions when I was speaking. I was delighted to learn that the Nagoya City Science Centre is planning a major upgrade for its planetarium, which will have The Heureka Science Centre in Helsinki, Finland.

March 2007 Planetarian 75 CLARK PLANETARIUM ORIGINAL FULL DOME VIDEO CONTENT

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• Music Entertainment Shows

clarkplanetarium.org/distribution • 801-456-4949 with the acquisition of the monumental International News property next door, De Tuinkamer (The Garden Room). Originally Eise Eisinga's pri- are welcome back with new reports, and I vate house 225 years ago, the planetarium look forward to contributions from other not only continuously enlarged its collec- associations as well. Upcoming deadlines are tion but also welcomed a growing number 1 April 2007 for the June Planetarian and 1 of visitors. At present, about 35,000 people July for the September issue. from the Netherlands and abroad annually visit the planetarium. Association of Dutch-Speaking The historical character of De Tuinkamer Planetariums perfectly matches the Eise Eisinga Have you already visited buhlplanetar Planetarium atmosphere. Its actual form ium4.tripod.com/oldestplanetarium.html? dates from 1745 and it previously housed The Buhl Planetarium staff is pleased to con- several professors of the Franeker University. firm that the oldest operational planetarium Both buildings will join at the rear and projector in the world still fascinates an include extra museum space and a café. increasing number of visitors! The Brussels Completion of De Tuinkamer redesign is Planetarium of the Royal Observatory also planned for next winter 2007-2008, without maintains its outreach program at several disturbing planetarium visits. This Eise science fairs, information and education Eisinga Planetarium’s 225th anniversary year stands, workshops, and live presentations in has been crowned by its Royal predicate and inflatable domes, as given at citation in the canonical books on Dutch ec.europa.eu/research/researchersineurope/ history. index_en.htm, www.vlaamsewetenscha Association of French-Speaking Lars Broman psweek.be, www.vlaamseruimtevaartda gen.be, and www.brussels-eureka.be. Planetariums Dalarna University At Brussels Eureka, the 55th World The Planetarium of the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie (CSI), La Villette-Paris, SE 791 88 Falun, Sweden Exhibition of Innovation, Research and New Technologies, the World Organization of opened its new configuration on 14 +46 2377710 Periodical Press (OMPP) awarded the interna- November. A new projector and a digital [email protected] tional prize to the planetarium of the Royal multimedia environment have been Observatory of Belgium "for all activities and installed by R.S.A.Cosmos, the French plane- www.sciencecommunication.se especially for the Planetarium's shows." This tariums company. The opening was focused will strengthen all planetarium incentives to on a show created by the Haydn carry on! Planetarium in New York, Search for Life: Are Sweden experienced real space fever in The Dutch Royal Eise Eisinga Planetarium We Alone? and presented in a beautiful December. Sweden's first astronaut, Dr. is expanding! The planetarium, located in French version by Nelly Dumas, head of the Christer Fuglesang, made his first space trip Franeker, the Netherlands decided to expand planetarium. The show was admired by a lot with the Discovery space shuttle 9-22 December, spending many days onboard the International Space Station. Among other tasks, he made three space walks outside the station. Both the launch and the landing, and an interview with Fuglesang in-between by the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria, were broadcast on Swedish TV in real time and viewed by hundreds of thousands of Swedes (in spite of some awkward times; the launch happened in the middle of the night, Swedish time). Many comments by Swedish politicians and astronomers included hopes that this event will make more young Swedish pupils choose a study and job career in science, helping us planetarians along! The International News column is depen- dent on contributions from IPS Affiliate Associations all over the world. Many thanks to Agnès Acker, Bart Benjamin, Tony Butterfield, Ignacio Castro, Gail Chaid, Alex Delivorias, Jack Dunn, Alan Dyer, John Hare, Tom Mason, André Milis, Loris Ramponi, Zinaida Sitkova, and Gopinath Subramanian for your contributions. Special thanks are due to Loris Ramponi, [email protected], Photo caption: De Tuinkamer and the Eise Eisinga Planetarium in Franeker, the Netherlands. Courtesy of Combi Hommema, Franeker. who contributes the Calendar of Events. You

March 2007 Planetarian 77 high reflectivity and a surrounding sound system. New programs currently being shown are The Pharaoh's Stars and The Sun's Secrets, and next May new programs will open about the solar system and on pre-Columbian archeoastronomy. The purpose of scientific activity diffusion is to incite the new generation of researchers at their earliest age on new fields of scientific knowledge. The XXXV AMPAC Annual Meeting was held on 23-24 November at the Arcadio Poveda Ricalde Planetarium in Merida, Yucatan. Newly elected officials are Juan Jose Najera, director of the Arcadio Poveda Planetarium Mérida, Yucatán as president elect; Francisco Javier Alcaráz as secretary and Vanessa García as treasurer, both from the Lic Felipe Rivera Planetarium, Morelia, Michoacán. The them of the meeting was “Different Representation of the Great Bear, painted by Roland Laffitte, inspired by the descriptions done by Al- Planetariums, same Goal.” Various lectures Sûfî from the Arabic constellations Nasch and Gazelles placed in the same part of the sky as the Great were given by noted researchers and Bear. Courtesy of Roland Laffitte, SELEFA. astronomers, among them “The Universe as a Membrane” by Eddy Salazar, “Astronomy of people (five presentations were done Association of Mexican Among the Yucatan Maya” by Orlando under the 273-seat dome). Planetariums Casares, and “The Chixulub Crater” by Dr Arcadio Poveda Ricalde, astronomy “ALMA and the planetary systems forma- The Luis E. Erro Planetarium, the largest in researcher. The Merida Planetarium is tion” is a new project arises in our communi- Mexico City with 150,000 visitors annually, named after him since he is a noted ty, a show which will be created by APLF has undergone a full renovation, moderniz- astronomer of Yucatan. Workshops were and ESO (European Southern Observatory), ing its projection equipment and infrastruc- divided into Digital Theatres, Mobile and technically conducted by a consortium ture, thanks to a $1.4 million grant from the Planetariums, and OptoMechanical Systems. of four planetariums: Montpellier (PI), Alfredo Harp Helu Foundation and match- Members noted with sadness the decease Toulouse, Saint-Etienne, and Bruxelles. ing funds from the National Polytechnic of Gabriel Muñoz, director of the Morelia A first meeting on the project was held in Institute, the planetarium's parent institu- Planetarium since its inauguration in 1974 January in Montpellier. The presentation of tion. The planetarium retired its 40-year old till his departure to teach engineering at the the show in different countries is planed for Zeiss IV projector and installed an Evans and University of Morelia in 2005. Muñoz was an spring 2008. If you will be interested by the Sutherland Digistar 3DLP Digital projector, IPS Fellow and will be remembered as an English, the German, the Italian, the Spanish, along with a new 18m perforated aluminum eager and active member, always willing to the Netherland, or the French version, please projection dome built within the original represent AMPAC on IPS Council Meetings contact Jean-Philippe Mercier (head of the 20m dome to improve visual images with Montpellier Planetarium) at [email protected]. Also in development is The Constellations of the Arabes, a 5-minute video that will show a well-known part of the sky (the great bear), with different representations along the centuries by various civilisations with a focus on Arabic figures created by Roland Laffitte. The project is being conducted with SELEFA (the Société d’Etudes Lexicographiques et Etymologiques Françaises et Arabes) and the Planetarium Scientific Center of the Alexandrian Library, Egypt. Distribution of the mini-show, in various languages, is planned for spring 2007. For more information, contact Olivier.Moreau@ forum-des-sciences.tm.fr. The 23rd APLF Conference will take place 17-20 May 2007 in Marseille, Aix-en- Provence, Saint-Michel l’Observatoire. You are kindly invited; contact Marie-France Duval at [email protected]. Participating planetarians at the XXXV AMPAC Meeting with the Arcadio Poveda Ricalde Planetarium Dome, Merida, Yucatán in the background. Photo by Antonio Sánchez Ibarra.

78 Planetarian March 2007 at IPS International Conferences and at odd- ers who are interest- year Council Meetings. ed should email Bill He was instrumental in obtaining the IPS at bill.samson@dun- International Conference Meeting held at deecity.gov.uk, the Alfa Cultural Center, in Monterrey requesting him to Mexico, in 1984 and presenting AMPAC's send out the details request to be accepted as an IPS Affiliate as soon as they Member Organization. He contended twice become available. proposing the Morelia Planetarium to be des- Steve Tidey has ignated as official site for the 2000 and 2008 sent news that as IPS International Conferences, always trans- part of his continu- mitting to all of us the warm hospitality of ing freelance work his native land Morelia , Mexico. He will be he has written the remembered as a good friend and an enthusi- first of what will be astic promoter of astronomy for children. He a series of shows for is survived by his wife Cielo and daughter. Aaron McEuan’s Salt . Lake City-based British Associations of Starlight Planetariums Productions (Utah, Bob Mizon mentions his involvement in a USA). dark skies project organized by the Campaign to Protect Rural England Canadian (www.cpre.org/BAA). The Clean Sky project Association of is part of the Campaign for Dark Skies New Science Year Star Count event (see www.dark- Centres skies.org), a national star count held in The Montreal January 2007. It is a sad reality that light pol- Planetarium has lution from poorly-directed and over-bright opened a new show lamps is present in the starry sky almost titled The Exotic everywhere in the UK, and has steadily Universe. Black holes, increased since the 1950s. The CPRE's Night quasars, gamma ray Blight initiative in 2003 drew attention to bursts, supernovae— this, and the British Astronomical our universe is full Association's Campaign for Dark Skies (CfDS) of objects with sur- works continuously to publicize and allevi- prising and some- ate the problem. times unsettling To gauge the visibility of the stars from properties. And various parts of the UK — and with a view to what about dark Top: The Perm Planetarium (photo by A. Evsyukova); Bottom: mounting of the observatory dome of the Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium (photo by A. repeating the experiment in the future to try matter and the ener- Mityugov). For the Russian Planetarium Society news, see Page 84. to assess any trend — the CPRE and the CfDS gy that is driving it joined forces to set up a national night sky to expand ever more survey (see websites above) by observers in quickly? This show both rural and urban locations. Variables invites Montreal patrons to discover an of energy without producing dangerous such as atmospheric conditions and differing unexpected cosmos—the universe as they’ve waste, using a rare crystal found only at the visual acuity come into play, but meaning- never imagined it before! Work is underway centre of our Milky Way Galaxy. Two young ful results can emerge if enough people take on two new shows slated to open in 2007. In friends start on a journey to get this crystal, part now and in the future. May, a new afternoon show called The New using an ill-tempered teleportation machine Mario DiMaggio informs that Thinktank Solar System will open. With all the commo- that will swing them across the Milky Way, Planetarium held its first birthday this past tion following the new planet definition, only to discover colourful nebulae and December. During its first calendar year of and after years of fantastic discoveries about young star clusters. Fortun-ately, their robot- operation, Birmingham's new planetarium our neighbour worlds in space, it's time to computer will help them find their way welcomed 60,963 visitors. This is a signifi- present a new and updated vision of our back to the black hole at the centre of our cant achievement for a small, 70-seat theatre, solar system. Marc Jobin, astronomer at the galaxy. Will they be able to catch the crystal as the international average for 10m domes Montreal Planetarium, is producing the without falling into the black hole? As John is around 41,000 visitors. show. Lennon once wrote: a splendid time is guar- Thinktank Planetarium had 20,000 more November 2007 will see the start of In anteed for all! This show, which is closely visitors than this international average fig- Search of the Galaxy (working title), a new tied with Quebec schools’ new astronomy ure. It is also worth mentioning that 60% of show for kids 8-10 years old that will replace curriculum, will be produced by Pierre Thinktank's shows are presenter-led, as eval- The Little Prince’s Universe in Montreal's Chastenay. For more info, contact him at uation consistently shows that visitors pre- school show roster. In Search of the Galaxy [email protected]. fer a skilled, live interpreter over a film. will also be presented to the general public In Winnipeg, the Manitoba Museum's The curator's post at Mills Observatory, on weekend mornings. The premise: in the Planetarium will be in production through Dundee, will fall vacant when Bill Samson year 3025, a young scientist has discovered a 2007 for a fall show and exhibit celebrating retires in March 2007. Any Planetarian read- way to produce an almost infinite amount the first 50 years of spaceflight. The exhibit

March 2007 Planetarian 79 exhibits for the new facility. Contact Alan Dyer at [email protected]. In Vancouver, the line-up of shows at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre over Christmas featured a new Christmas on the Coast program. Produced by Craig McCaw from Roundhouse Productions with great new images by the Space Centre’s producer Mike Koziniak, the 35-minute show blended familiar scenes of the west coast with all-Canadian music ranging from Bruce Cockburn and Diana Krall to Lorne Greene’s classic reading of The Night Before Christmas. Contact Erik Koelemeyer at ekoelemeyer@hrmacmi llanspacecentre.com. In Victoria, the Centre of the Universe Interpretive Centre developed a new cultural astronomy program this past summer about Mayan astronomy. The centre had both a multi-media show and a new Mayan planetarium show, both of which were well received. This past year the CU also took steps to strengthen its ties to its parent organization, the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics. To that end, not only did the schedule feature guest speakers from HIA, but many programs showcased the contributions made by HIA engineers and astronomers to projects such as ALMA (Atacama Large Millimetre Array), JWST (James Webb Space Telescope), and the TMT (Thirty Metre Telescope). This focus was long overdue—with so many interesting cutting edge projects underway, the CU looks forward to more exciting shows in the future. Contact: Steve Ewald at Steve.Ewald@nrc- cnrc.gc.ca.

European/Mediterranean Planetarium Association As we welcome 2007, the Eugenides Top: Group photo of Western Alliance Conference 2006 atendees outside the University of Nebraska Foundation's festive activities to commemo- State Museum. Photo by John Nollendorfs. Bottom: Some delegates at the WAC display the T-shirts promoting this year's WAC in Fairbanks, Alaska. Photo by Wilgus Burton. More about the WAC rate its 50th anniversary are coming to an Conference on Page 84. end. On 7 December 2006, in the Foundation's large auditorium and attended will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ities related to creative and performing arts. by Greek university provosts and representa- launch of Sputnik 1 in October 1957, and The popularity of the addition helped drive tives of the higher education and research highlight the space program's impact on the attendance to record levels for 2006, surpass- communities in Greece as well as ministers modern world. The planetarium program ing the planned goal of 250,000 early in and other political dignitaries, Greek Prime will follow the space program, but also will December with a month still to go. As such, Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis inaugu- highlight the many achievements in astron- attendance at the Discovery Dome theatre rated the Foundation's brand new Science omy carried out from the ground. For the did very well this past year, too, though and Technology Permanent Exhibitions on past several months, the planetarium pro- there is some concern that not as high a per- Matter and Materials; Communicating: duction team has been involved in exhibit centage of visitors are choosing a dome show Sound and Image; and Biotechnology. design and construction for the accompany- option in their ticket purchase. Spanning three floors and covering 1,500 ing Science Gallery, so they comment "It will The coming year will see a lot of activity square meters, these interactive exhibitions be great to get back to planetarium produc- in longer-term planning for what is dubbed were designed and constructed by La Cite tion again!" Contact Scott Young at scyou Discovery Dome II, a new digital dome the- des Sciences et de l'Industrie in Paris, France. [email protected]. atre in a planned new science centre built at During this same event, the Eugenides The major news in Calgary at the TELUS a choice site elsewhere in Calgary. However, Foundation honored renowned composer World of Science was the opening in fall for the next three years, the intention is to Vangelis Papathanasiou with its commemo- 2006 of a new addition to the building, the also use the present dome (now 10 years old) rative medal and the Eugenides Planetarium Creative Kids Museum. This unique chil- to try out new styles of programs and for- presented a special planetarium show, for dren's museum focuses on exhibits and activ- mats as part of a plan to prototype ideas and which Vangelis graciously allowed use of

80 Planetarian March 2007 parts of his Mythodea composition, which award will be shared by nine U.S. museums. turing the winter sky and the Underground was originally composed for NASA's 2001 The Merrillville Community Planetarium in Railroad. Installation is now underway for Mars Odyssey space mission. On 12 Merrillville has completed the installation of their summer show, Dinosaur Chronicles. The December the planetarium released its new an all-dome video projection system and Longway Planetarium in Flint opened the Christmas planetarium show, The Christmas LED cove lighting. The new equipment year with LFI's Lasers of Oz. In February, in Star, and awarded its millionth visitor, a 10- made its debut at the recent GLPA confer- conjunction with a nearby exhibit, they pre- year-old girl, a special pass that will allow her ence. The PHM Planetarium Air & Space miered Bozeman's Lewis and Clark and the and her twin sister unlimited and lifelong Museum in Mishawaka had a very successful High Frontier. Girl Scout merit badge pro- access to all of its shows. transit of Mercury viewing session with the grams and new telescope owner workshops Perhaps more importantly, not only for help of favorable weather, local amateur returned in January. the staff of Eugenides Planetarium but for all astronomers, and the local media. During the holiday season, the Abrams their planetarium colleagues around the Dayle Brown of South Bend reports that Planetarium presented the classic program world, this was the first ever demonstration she is hard at work on the new book Skylore Season of Light and George and Oatmeal Save of the capabilities of a full-color, 3D stereo from Planet Earth: Stories from Around the Santa. Returning in January was The Last projection in fulldome organized by Sky- World...Milky Way. B. J. Harper, retired plane- Question, a show based on the short story by Skan and hosted in November. The 3D stereo tarium director at Northrop High School in Isaac Asimov. The Chaffee Planetarium staff system consisted of four high-resolution (4k) Fort Wayne, received a grant to conduct a is producing a new show titled Solar System SXRD Sony projectors equipped with Sky- telescope making workshop during the sum- Safari and are collaborating with two laser Skan’s definiti HD lens that filled the dome show companies to develop an all-new sea- with over 10 million unique pixels which, sonal multimedia experience titled Holiday for stereo 3D, translates into 10 million times Magic. In early 2007, the Shiras Planetarium 2! In the reception that followed, colleagues switched to their new MediaGlobe full-dome from around the world exchanged views projection system. The planetarium recently and opinions related to the new planetarium added an 8-inch telescope and solar filter to technologies and the future of our business. their collection of telescopes. Finally, the Athens-based Foundation of The Delta College Planetarium celebrated the Hellenic World, a non-profit cultural its tenth anniversary in February of 2007. institution whose mission is the preserva- NASA exhibits now grace the lobby. Themed tion and dissemination of Hellenic history weeks were dedicated to various segments of and tradition, inaugurated its Tholos (mean- their patrons, including senior citizens, the ing dome) in December. Tholos is a brand local astronomy club, the college's own staff new, 14m dome theatre of 135 seats that and students, local teachers, and donors. resembles a planetarium, but whose shows Work continues on the Dassault Systemes will invite its visitors on a tour the various Planetarium's new show Bad Astronomy: virtually reconstructed sites of ancient Myths and Misconceptions, which is based on Greece. When fully operational, Tholos will Dr. Phil Plait's book. This new planetarium be able to project 3D content utilizing its The year 2007 logo of Day of Planetaria. show will be open in the summer of 2007, Courtesy of Italian Planetarium Friends SEOS immersive and interactive system. and will be made available as a show kit to Association. other planetariums. Great Lakes Planetarium Ohio. The Cleveland Regional Association Association mer of 2007. The Jefferson High School of Planetariums (CRAP) met at the Euclid Illinois. The William Staerkel Planetarium Planetarium in Lafayette will be monitoring Schools Planetarium in September (Fran in Champaign recently premiered Adler's the quality of the night sky in the sprawling Ratka, host) and in November at the Spirits in the Sky, Thunder on the Land, along Lafayette area. They hope to demonstrate a Midpark High School Planetarium (Len with Winter Prairie Skies and Follow the need for a countywide lighting ordinance. Muni, host). Clouds covered Ohio during the Drinking Gourd. They also hosted lectures on The SpaceQuest Planetarium in Indianapolis November transit of Mercury, but visitors at alternative energy, science in landscaping, reports that all of its automated shows have the Bowling Green State University and bird flu. Beginning in January, the been converted from their old Alesis ADAT Planetarium saw the Moon regardless of the Lakeview Museum Planetarium in Peoria to the new HD24 digital format. weather during the planetarium's public offered its Basic Astronomy Series, which Michigan. Late last year, the Cranbrook show run of Once in a Blue Moon. At the adapted some of its school shows for public Institute of Science Planetarium in Ward Beecher Planetarium at Youngstown presentation. The Cernan Earth and Space Bloomfield Hills began offering Holiday State University the staff ended the year Center in River Grove enjoyed clear skies for Magic, which was their first foray into full- with George and Oatmeal Save Santa, Holiday its public viewing of the Transit of Mercury dome program production. In early 2007 Lights (an in-house holiday program), and in November. In January, the Cernan Center they taught an astronomy course at nearby First Night Under the Stars for the local First premiered three all-new presentations: Lawrence Technological University and Night celebration. Shows in the new year Staerkel's Stellar Extremes, the Sky Tellers offered a telescope users workshop. At include Pittsburgh’s Women Hold Up Half the series, and LFI's Beatles Laser Anthology laser Southfield's Vollbrecht Planetarium, Mike Sky, the in-house Evolution: Galaxies, Stars, show. Best, who was one of 83 field investigators and Life on Earth, and the popular Indiana. The Evansville Museum and for Dr. J. Allen Hynek in the 1970s, gave a talk “Astronomy 101” series of live talks on all Koch Planetarium in Evansville received a titled UFOs Are Real in January. things astronomical. grant from the National Science Foundation This winter, the Kalamazoo Valley Wisconsin/Minnesota. Brian Wallace at to develop and deliver space-related activi- Museum Planetarium ran Calgary's In My the Forestview Planetarium in Brainerd, ties to rural audiences. The $2.5 million Backyard, as well as in-house productions fea- Minnesota reported a successful first year of

March 2007 Planetarian 81 Pacific Planetarium Association PPA is hosting the next Western Alliance Conference of Planetariums 22-27 September 2007 in Fairbanks, Alaska. Dr. Neal Brown, University of Alaska Space Grant Director, is Alaska chairperson and is collaborating with many experts in Fairbanks to make this conference unique. The International Geophysical Year and Heliophysical Year and the 50th Anniversary of Sputnik launching will be highlighted at the conference. Susan Kramer is events coordinator. Susan is working on the pre-conference tour, which will begin in Anchorage, Alaska about 15 September. Those taking the tour will be driven from Anchorage to Denali National Park by bus through the spectacular scenery of Alaska. Two nights in Denali will allow for two tours of different areas of this unique national park. Conference hotels in Anchorage and Fairbanks are the Westmark ($68 per night per room in Fairbanks for the conference). Lots of update information is available on the Independence Planetarium website. Keep Eighth graders learn about the Sun in Dalarna University's new 2.5 m planetarium. Photo by Lars accessing the information for the latest Broman updates for the conference, or call Gail Chaid at Independence Planetarium in San Jose, operation. Over 2,000 people saw shows in Italian Planetaria's Friends California at (1) 408-928-9604, the new planetarium, which sports a 7.5m Association planet.esuhsd.org or planet.esuhsd.o (28 ft) Spitz dome with an E&S Digistar 3 SP 2 30 June will be the final date to participate rg/news/wac_ak.html. Projector. Dave Weinrich at the Minnesota in the X issue of the international competi- Alaska Airlines is giving WAC conference State University Moorhead Planetarium tion “Shadows of Time” for sundial makers, participants 10% off regular flight prices. recently ran Strasenburgh's Star of Bethlehem promoted also by Lumezzane Planetarium Check the Alaska Triphub Website at program in December, followed by Jon Bell's and Observatory (Brescia). More informa- alaska.triphub.com/trip/31402.aspx for Bear Tales and Other Grizzly Stories. tion, also in English, is found at the address Alaska Airlines WAC discount information. Dave Williams at the St. Cloud State www.ombredeltempo.it. Formal information will be sent out 1 April University Planetarium introduced the new The next Day of Planetaria will be held on 2007 for members of PPA, RMPA, SWAP, show Black Holes, based on a show produced 18 March 2007. GPPA, and vendors. If you are not a member by the Science Museum of Virginia. Since he of these associations or a vendor but wish to does not have multiple video projectors, receive a packet, please contact Gail Chaid at Dave merged the show into a single 17- Nordic Planetarium Association the number above or [email protected]. minute iMovie. The University of Per Broman reports that Broman Meanwhile, with the transition of slide Wisconsin-La Crosse Planetarium received a Planetarium has delivered no less than four technology to digital, Director Chaid at one-year extension while the University STARLAB Fibrearc planetariums during the Independence Planetarium has been work- decides whether to continue funding that last three months of 2006: two planetariums ing with the planetarium’s webmaster to facility. Gordon Stewart was hired to operate to Fyn Amt (County) in Odense, Denmark; preserve old slide programs. Slides have been the planetarium following Bob Allen's retire- one planetarium to Viborg Amt,Viborg, digitized, as have the old soundtracks. They ment. Denmark (their second STARLAB); and one are then re-mastered in Final Cut Pro and put The Allen F. Blocher Planetarium at the planetarium to the Department of Physics at on DVD. The result is a new presentation University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point the University of Göteborg, Göteborg, that audiences can enjoy. Lesson plans are recently presented Winter Wonders and Sweden. made and teacher packets put together to Season of Light. In February, they began offer- He has also delivered one small supplement the presentation in coordina- ing Staerkel's Stellar Extremes. At the Charles Eurodome—just 2.5m (8 ft.) diameter—to tion with California state standards, which Horwitz Planetarium in Waukesha, The Dalarna University, Borlänge, Sweden; this has resulted in attendance increases at the StarGazer was presented in October, will be used in training both science com- planetarium because there are so many new Staerkel's Stellar Extremes was presented in munication students and solar energy engi- programs offered that coordinate with the November, and Season of Light concluded neering students. It was inaugurated when standards. The staff has also increased pro- 2006. Nearby Gary E. Sampson Planetarium grade 8 pupils from many schools in grams that meet the standards for history as in Wauwatosa presented Black Holes in Borlänge attending Framtidsmuseet's well as science. November, Tis the Season in December, Energijakten (the Energy Chase) visited Near Independence Planetarium in San Stellar Extremes in January, and Science Communication during eight days Jose, California is the planetarium at De Anza Zubenelgenubi's Magical Sky in February. in January 2007. College in Cupertino. The sister city in Japan

82 Planetarian March 2007 The planetarium at Los Angeles Valley College has served the community well for 40 years but needed upgrades. After a lot of research, Director David Falk and others determined that the most flexible system for their needs was the Evans & Sutherland/Spitz SciDome. It has now been installed and students, teachers, and the community are enjoying the new system. David and his colleagues have started a scientific visualization certificate program with campus partners Media Arts and Commercial Music departments.

Planetarium Society of India A series of lectures were held at the M.P.Birla Planetarium, Kolkata conducted in collaboration with the Alliance Francaise. It included a lecture by Dr. Claude Cohen- Tannoudji, Nobel Prize winner in Physics for 1997. Other very interesting lectures included one on astrophysics by Dr. Jean Audouze and on quantum mechanics by Dr. Alain Aspect. Prof. R.Subramanian was in Thailand for discussions on the setting up of a very large observatory in Chaingmai. Prof. Gopinath, secretary of the Planetarium Society of India, along with Prof. Subramanian, visited the Rangsit Science Centre, a new facility coming up in the outskirts of Bangkok. Located in Pathun Thani, it is just after Rangsit and located close to some of the new theme parks. Coming under the Ministry of Education of Thailand, it boasts a tilted dome planetarium and an observatory housing a 16-inch Schmidt Cassegrain telescope. The complex has a huge Science Centre which has galleries on various topics. Mr. Suranant Supawannagit, director of the Rangsit Science Centre, explained the various facilities available. The first floor houses study rooms on various topics where students will be exposed to practical aspects of lessons learnt in the schools. An exhibit on the Sun is impressive Top: The Zeiss projector at the new Rangsit Planetarium.; and Bottom: Prof. R.Subramanian , director of M.P.Birla Planetarium, Kolkata, along with Mr. Suranant Supawannagit, director of the Rangsit with a walk through the interior segments Planetarium and Science Centre. Both photos by Gopinath Subramanian. Another picture of the new until one suddenly enters into a compact Rangsit Planetarium appears on Page 89. high-tech lecture hall inside. There are areas specifically dedicated to children, where the tiny tots can enjoy themselves. Mr. Suranant is Toyokawa, where the Konica-Minolta will open sometime in April, the grand re- explained that the planetarium has been planetarium factory is located. In honor of opening will occur in the fall of 2007. equipped with a Zeiss projector along with the original gift of the Minolta projector, the A three-day hands-on symposium on the Sky-Skan projection system so that planetarium has been called Minolta. With teaching astronomy will be held 3-5 August astronomy classes could be conducted for changes in the industry and the recent 2007 at Pomona College sponsored by the students using the Zeiss projector. upgrades for this 36-year-old planetarium, a Astronomical Society of the Pacific. The Planetarium Society of India is new name for the planetarium will be select- Participants will exchange ideas, techniques, proposing to hold an international meeting ed. A new Infinium-S Projector will be and materials for improving astronomy edu- where lectures on the theme of develop- installed in March along with a new Konica cation. Much of the meeting will be devoted ment of planetariums in India will be the Minolta Super MediaGlobe all-sky digital to hands-on techniques so successful for central focus. The PSI will be sending infor- system, AstroTec dome, LED cove lighting, astronomy education, especially in smaller mation to the affiliate organizations soon, so surround sound, new seats, and a new the- planetariums. For more information, go to that those intending to visit could make atre arrangement. Although the planetarium astrosociety.org/events/cosmos/html. plans well in time. The PSI will look into pro-

March 2007 Planetarian 83 viding local hospitality for a few partici- September in Lincoln, Nebraska at Mueller pants. It is proposed to have the meeting Planetarium for the Western Alliance sometime in early 2008, when the weather Conference. Highlights included two great will be very pleasant in India. Prof. workshops by Alan Gould and Dr. Cherilyn Subramanian is also looking into the possi- Morrow and a trip to Omaha to visit the bility of having one of the sessions in King Science Magnet School Planetarium. Dr. Bangkok, since he is currently stationed in Morrow also led the musical group AstroJazz Bangkok. Most flights to India could be rout- in concert. One lesson learned: The staff at ed through Bangkok with a stopover there. the Mueller Planetarium now knows that if they go full dome, they really need to paint Russian Planetarium Association the dome gray. You can't believe how reflec- Moscow: A conference on the Faulkes tele- tive a pure white plaster dome is until you scope program was held in September 2006 start throwing light all over it! Adam Thanz, incoming SEPA President. Photo at the Sternberg Astronomical Institute of The banquet speaker was Dr. James Rice Jr. by John Hare. the Moscow State University. Scientists of the Mars Exploration Rover science team. doing astronomical research and about 70 Dr. Rice has been a lifelong fan of space trav- specialists in astronomical education from mark the second SEPA conference for host el, both human and robotic, and he gave a Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Dave Hostetter. The conference dates are 22- stirring talk, now available to the delegates Nizhny Novgorod, Cheboksary, and other 26 July. Further information regarding SEPA on DVD video. Rice is open to other speaking Russian cities attended this meeting. is available at the website www.sepa engagements and can be contact at Mars Activities on this program in Nizhny domes.org. Space Flight Facility, Arizona State Novgorod planetarium will start in 2007. University Department of Geological Ural: The latest planetarium show festival Southwestern Association of Sciences, Moeur Building Room 131, PO Box was held in Perm in October 2006. Staff Planetariums 876305, Tempe, AZ 85287-6305 USA, e-mail members representing planetariums of The opening of the newest show It's About [email protected], (1) 480-965-3205. Barnaul, Bryansk, Ekaterinburg, Kaluga, Time in November at the Burke Baker Mueller Planetarium's current show is Kirov, Kostroma, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Planetarium at the Houston Museum of called What the Heck Is Happening With the Saratov, and Vladimir were present. Over 10 Natural Science marked the third upgrade to Planets? It is an in-house production based new planetarium shows were demonstrated the theater's full-dome system in the past 8 on the number one question Cirector Jack during the festival. years. The new show was a part of the Dunn has been getting since this summer. It Volga region: Construction works in the the+ater's change over from Barco CRT video features some incredible new animations main 16m (53 ft) dome and in the observato- projectors to new Christie DLP video projec- from space artist Joe Tucciarone that came ry of the Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium tors. In a few short weeks the complete plan- from GeoGraphics Imaging. The flight into resumed in November. etarium show library was converted over to the Orion Nebula is particularly effective. Southeastern Planetarium a new format of edge blending. Since the planetarium has a good CRT pro- Association For the ultimate upgrade, wedding bells jector with real black, the beginning of the were in the air for the marriage of Scott SEPA officers as of 1 January 2007 are flight looks really three dimensional when Adam Thanz, president; Patsy Wilson, past Young, son of Dr. Carolyn Sumners, inside the constellation of Orion starts zooming at president; Jon Elvert, president elect; Mickey the planetarium on 27 December 2006. If the the audience, blending well with the star Jo Sorrell, secretary/treasurer; and John Hare, recent full dome upgrade wasn't enough of a field. IPS council representative. Terms run for technology challenge, the wedding was One more bit of news: Dr. Jose Mena- two years. video conferenced using projectors in the Werth at the University of Nebraska at The 2007 SEPA conference will be held 9- theater to show images from the bride's fami- Kearney is getting a new 9m (30 ft) planetari- 13 October in Wheeling, West Virginia, a ly in China and a high definition camera um. Their current facility is a 7m (24 ft) joint conference with SEPA, MAPS, and sent a video stream from Houston back to dome with a Spitz A-3p star machine and GLPA. Conference Host is Steve Mitch, direc- China. bench seats. The new planetarium will be tor of the Benedum Planetarium. part of a new classroom building on the Lafayette, Louisiana has been selected as Western Alliance Conference campus. the 2008 SEPA conference site. This will Some 67 planetarians gathered in

84 Planetarian March 2007

(Live Action, continued from page 17) stages of completion, including final direc- Micoy’s 84 camera stereo live capture tor’s approval, there were often multiple ver- system7. This technology was actually pressed dome master frames played back at sions of whole scenes on the local produc- briefly considered for BH, and test frames normal speed from a workstation. Armed tion hard drives. Towards the end of the created by the Micoy system looked quite with faster commodity hardware today and final edit assembly, up to three times the acceptable in the Gates dome. However, at using such a playback tool, a production hard drive space necessary for the final the time of the production, the additional team can see not only when objects enter frame count were filled up at any given time. costs for crew and operation of the camera into frame (and the timecode), but exactly This included not only full resolution rig as well as post-acquisition stitching of the which part of the frame and whether they frames, but 512 x 512 versions for quick video streams were more than the show bud- are noticed by audience members. scrubbing, a full HD re-render of the dome get could accommodate. master for marketing purposes, and backup Although promising, multi-camera cap- • File Management copies. ture systems do not seem like a viable future Successful file management played a criti- alternative to single-camera techniques at cal role in ensuring that the BH was finished • New Capture Technologies this time. The capture resolution needs to not only early, but under budget. Besides the Although 70 mm film was mentioned ear- match the 2k and (more likely) 4k dome film and HD footage, the show was con- lier as the format for future live footage masters, and the price has to come down to structed from CGI from three different con- acquisition, the technology for video cap- make it attractive compared to 4k HD and 70 tent providers. Colorado-based James L. ture continues to advance. HD cameras with mm. Much of the high costs for the Micoy Arthurs, Inc. provided the dome masters for 2k resolution have been used to shoot array appear to be associated with the engi- three animation sequences that added up to Hollywood feature films (e.g., Panavision’s neering staff required to maintain and run 17% of the final show. Spitz Inc. created a 75- Genesis camera for Superman Returns; Gray the complex systems, the enormous file stor- second kayak sequence that combined green 2006), while new 4k cameras are currently age needs, and the image stitching overhead. screen live action and computer animation. being developed (e.g., RED Digital Cinema’s The bulkiness of the camera rig, nearly a Andrew Hamilton from the University of Red One3, Vision Research’s Phantom 654). meter across, also makes it difficult to use in Colorado, Boulder used his real-time soft- Wider availability as well as lower costs the field. Finally, joining together multiple ware, the Black Hole Flight Simulator, to ren- for 4k HD cameras will help speed the cre- video streams into a seamless scene can be der 16% of the show, including more than 3.5 ation of 2k fisheye dome masters. Although impossible if bright light sources (e.g., the minutes of the finale. Finally, NCSA provid- these are still not quite at the resolution of Sun) create internal reflections and lens ed not only a whopping 41% of the total large format film, workarounds are possible. flares across multiple CCDs. Even though running time, but did so by integrating the Shots that are carefully designed and com- hard drive prices continue to drop while research results from three separate scientific posed, with attention paid to what objects multi-core processing speeds increase, engi- teams as well as creating five unique visual- are on or off frame, can be the source for neering complexity and lighting concerns ization sequences of its own. dome masters using the techniques devel- will remain limiting factors for any multiple Throughout the production, dome master oped for BH. Shooting on video also allows camera system. sequences were transfered via hard drives the footage to be immediately played back shipped through the mail. The production and verified, so that the camera crew can Acknowledgments team came up with an efficient procedure catch compositional mistakes that occur as a The authors would like to Rich Lerner for for transferring files off the drives and then result of the unfamiliarity of fisheye film- providing answers to some of our technical pushing them through the split, qubifying, making. Film scanning costs would be elimi- questions; Greg Downing for the use of his and upload pipeline. For a show that would nated, since the image sequences would images; and Nigel Jenkins for providing new eventually have a final dome master count already be in a digital format. Frame rate versions of the fisheye distance tests when of 41,189 frames, even the filename conven- conversions to a video rate will also not be the old ones were unavailable. tion proved to be important. A final assem- necessary. The post-production task of bly of the individual scenes was not settled removing dust and defects from individual References on until three months before opening, near- frames will also be less of an issue, since most Block, B. 2001, The Visual Story: Seeing the ly 90% of the way through the 2-year project of the dust was introduced originally by the Structure of Film, TV, and New Media, timeline. Up until then, scenes were shuffled film scanning. Burlington, MA, Focal Press. around, and live footage was inserted as well Finally, several companies have been Elumens, 2001, Live Action Production as dropped. Using a filename convention developing multiple-camera arrays that can Guidelines for Elumens’ Vision Series that was based on the relative frame count record a 360° video environment map. Products, Cary, NC, Elumnens in the final show was unwieldy and confus- Immersive Media’s Telemmersion uses 11 Corporation. ing, since scenes were moved about in the cameras to do nearly spherical live capture. Giannetti, L. 2005, Understanding Movies, chronology so frequently. The solution However, because the individual cameras are 10th edition, Upper Saddle River, NJ: turned out to be simple: place all of the files at VGA (640 x 480) resolution, the image Pearson Education, Inc. for each scene within its own individual quality of a dome master fragment of the Donelan, K. October 5, 2005, “Black Holes: folder, and number the files within each tiled image stream would be insufficient for The Other Side of Infinity Focus Group folder the same, i.e. sequentially and always a large dome. Other companies are concen- Study,” Focus Quest Market Research. starting with “00001.” The scene folders trating on the defense and security markets, Gray, S. July 2006, “Hero Shots,” American themselves could be reordered into any such as iPix’s a double fisheye camera pair Cinematographer, 87(7). sequence, but the filename numbering with capture for each at 1600 x 1200 resolu- Heil, D., Miller, D., Schoemer, J., & Andrews, P. inside each folder would stay the same. tion5, and iMove’s six-camera array.6 May 1999, “Report to DMNS on Visitor Because the different content providers The most resolution from a multiple cam- Requests for Space Science Experiences,” were sending their sequences at different era array is still, at the time of this writing, DMNS.

86 Planetarian March 2007 Planetarian’s Calendar of Events

2007 Contact: Gail Chaid [email protected] 15-19 June. 5th Science Centre World 18 March. International Day of Planetar- 7 October. XXII National Meeting of Italian Congress, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. iums. www.planetaritaliani.it Planetaria, Milan, Italy, www.planetari- 22-26 July, Southeastern Planetarium 22-23 April. Annual Meeting of German taliani.it Association (SEPA) annual conference, Speaking Planetaria, Zeiss Schwaz 9-13 October. Triple Conjunction Planet- The Lafayette Natural History Museum Planetarium, Schwaz, Austria. arium Conference with the Mid- & Planetarium, Lafayette, Louisianna, 17-20 May. Meeting of Association of Atlantic Planetarium Society (MAPS), USA. Contact: dhostetter@lafayette French-Speaking Planetariums (APLF), South Eastern Planetarium Association gov.net. Marseille - Aix en Provence - St. Michel (SEPA), and Great Lakes Planetarium 18-21 October. Association of Science- l'Observatoire, France. [email protected] Association (GLPA). Host: Benedum Technology Centers (ASTC) Annual bg.fr, http://www.aplf-planetariums.org. Planetarium, Benedum Natural Science Conference, The Franklin Institute, 31 May-2 June. European collaborative for Center, Oglebay Resort, Wheeling, West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. science, industry and technology exhi- Virginia USA. Contact: Steve Mitch, www.astc.org bitions (ECSITE) Annual Conference in [email protected], www.ogle- Lisbon, Portugal. www.ecsite.net bay-resort.com/goodzoo/planetarium 16-20 July. Spitz Digital Institute, Chadds .htm Deadlines for “A Week in Italy” Ford, PA, USA, Contact: Joyce Towne at 13-16 October. Association of Science- 15 April 2007, planetarians from the United [email protected] or www.spitz Technology Centers (ASTC) Annual States inc.com/institute Conference, California Science Center, 31 August 2007, planetarians from France 4-5 August. International Planetarium Los Angeles, California, USA. 30 September 2007, planetarians from Spain Society Council Meeting, Rio de Janeiro www.astc.org For more information on the “Week in Planetarium, Brazil. Host: Alexandre 31 December. Deadline for entries for the Italy, go to: Cherman. 2007 IPS/Eugenides Foundation www.astrofilibresciani.it/Planetari/ 6-8 September. Forth European Meeting for Scriptwriting Competition. Week_in_Italy/-Week_Italy.htm Itinerant Planetaria: Bratislava, Slovaki. Contact Vidovenec Marian at emails 2008 [email protected] and January. Nordic Planetarium Conference, [email protected]; see Jaermuseet, Stavanger, Norway. Host also www.suh.sk/ips2007 Ivar Nakken, [email protected]. For corrections and new informatio for 20-22 September. Western Alliance 15-20 June. 19th International Planetarium the Calendar of Events, please send a mes- Conference (all planetariums west of Society Conference, Adler Planetarium, sage to Loris Ramponi at info@serafin the Mississippi River), Fairbanks, Alaska. Chicago. ozani.it

Kavanaugh, P. 2004, “Fisheye,” Xtreme Video Endnotes Magazine, available online at 1The exceptions that we know of are: The 2A dome master is a standardized file format www.dv.com/xtremevideo/magazine/fish Heart of the Sun (2006; dir. John Weiley), a by which fulldome movies are distributed. eye_1.1.html. fulldome documentary that makes heavy It consists of content inside a circle within Lantz, E. 1995, “Spherical Image use of footage from the IMAX film a square image. The image inside the circle Representation and Display: A New SolarMAX; Dinosaur Prophecy (2006; dir. is mapped to the hemispherical display Paradigm for Computer Graphics,” Tom Casey), which contains HD video surface of the dome using an equidistant Graphics Design and Production for composited into computer graphics (CG); polar azimuthal projection. Hemispheric Projection, SIGGRAPH 1995 Optical Nervous System (2004; dir. David 3red.com Course #2. McConville), a 2-minute short; R+J (2003; 4www.visionresearch.com/phantom65.html Shedd, B. 1997, “Exploding the Frame,” avail- dir. Harald Singer), a fulldome retelling of 5www.ipix.com/cv_360.html able online at www.cs.princeton.edu/~ben- Romeo and Juliet from LivinGlobe; and 6www.imoveinc.com/press/030505.pdf# shedd/ExplodingtheFrame.htm. Popmania (1998; Spitz), a music retrospec- search=%22imove%20geoview%203000 Yarbus, A.L. 1967, Eye Movements and Vision, tive show for a partially filled dome using %22 trans. L.A. Riggs, New York: Plenum Press. video composited into CG. Note that only 7www.micoy.com/immersive_video Zettl, H. 1999, Sight, Sound, Motion: Applied the first two in this brief list are documen- Media Aesthetics, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth tary science programs. Publishing Co.

March 2007 Planetarian 87 ting up an internet store to make them avail- Gibbous Gazette able to others who need them, similar to the folks I mentioned in my last column down “Ooooooooh! Aaaaaaaah!” went the crowd! in Florida at the BCC Planetarium? I’ve resisted upgrading my cell phone because I want to avoid the trap that the New at GLPA phone company is setting for me. Once I can The members of Great Lakes Planetarium take pictures with my cell phone, then I’ll Society have a new online store where you want to send them to friends and family, can purchase items and pay for membership increasing my phone usage and increasing using a credit card. Purchases are safe and their profits. I even waited until the digital secure, and made through PayPal, but you camera I wanted to buy for the planetarium don't need a PayPal account. Membership, dropped in price by $300 before I would pur- show kits, videos, tips booklets, scripts and chase it. I resisted fulldome video until I resource materials can all be bought online thought that the projectors could come as through the GLPA Online Store simply by close to film resolution as possible. visiting it at www.glpaweb.org/index.htm. Now I weigh the difference between There are even a few items that are available image quality and file size in my 4kx4k to non-members. dome and I wince when I see the photos my 1.2 mega-pixel camera phone takes. My new Ah, That First Conference phone can take pictures and movies, play My first planetarium conference was at songs and download ring tones, and even the original Hayden Planetarium at the help me find the nearest pizza shop. Its icons American Museum of Natural History in and navigation buttons are too small, but as New York in 1985 for a Middle Atlantic they say, “less is more,” right? But it is fun to Planetarium Society Conference. I took a James P. Hughes have my dad’s photo pop up when he calls People’s Express flight from Pittsburgh to New York via Newark, New Jersey. People’s Planetarium Producer me on my new phone. Isn’t technology something? I now wonder if I can have his Express was a walk-up airline and they even Henry Buhl, Jr. Planetarium voice as a ring tone shouting, “Jaaammeesss,” took your payment right on the plane. My, when he calls? how times have changed! I took the bus into & Observatory the city from Newark and tried to walk from Carnegie Science Center It Was Once Cutting Edge Times Square up to 81st street. Okay, so I was One Allegheny Avenue I recently purchased some vintage a little naïve, but you should know that my National Geographic magazines at a church hometown downtown area can be crossed Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania bazaar. They were mostly from the mid- on foot in about half an hour. 15212 USA 1950s and they have some great advertise- After getting a city bus to help relieve my aching feet, I arrived at the planetarium and (1) 412-237-3348 ments inside. The desert climates of Arizona and California are prominently featured in wandered inside in amazement. There were (1) 412-237-3395 fax the travel ads, as are the job offers from all talks and lunch and a special evening perfor- hughesj@ the high-tech aerospace companies that mance by space music artists Mark Petersen, carnegiesciencecenter.org sprang up in that region of the country at John Serrie, and Barry Hayes. The keynote the dawn of the space age. address was “Why I Hate Astronomers” by Other ads extol the joys of 3D photogra- Isaac Asimov. I left a little early to catch a Upgrades, Upgrades, Upgrades phy and slide shows and one Kodak ad fea- train over to Brooklyn because I was trying Well I finally did it…I went out and I got tures the picture of a proud-looking slide to pinch pennies by staying at the house of a myself a camera phone! My old phone was projector, its lens thrusting out from the relative of a coworker, so I missed Asimov’s broken and I was resisting going to the photo, with the words “The Showman” bla- talk (wince again), but the one part of the phone store since I knew how crowded they zoned underneath! Wow, I thought, with conference that had a huge impact on me can get right after work. Once inside the that one brown bakelite beauty you could was having the chance to go inside the pro- phone store, I’d have to sign a new 2-year position a constellation picture anywhere duction offices of the planetarium and stand contract to get a new phone for free. you needed to with the right number of shoulder to shoulder with Helmet K. Working for so many years for a non-profit wooden wedges and a properly opaqued Wimmer. I had seen his work in planetarium tends to make you a bit of a spendthrift. slide. shows that we had purchased from the Now I understand that a lot of you are Now I simply click on a little box and I Hayden—panoramas that looked three- joining an online community called SKYPE can fade up a constellation picture in any of dimensional, even though they were slides. (www.skype.com), where you can make long one of a million colors and I don’t have to He not only illustrated Hayden shows, but distance calls for free! I can remember Past worry about breathing in all the dust from with his talent and proximity to the New IPS President Terence Murtagh giving a talk the cove shelf that I fear may have been York publishing community, he illustrated at the IPS conference in Cocoa Beach, Florida lined with asbestos fireproofing material. For astronomical concepts for countless maga- back in 1994. He took pictures of conference as much as technology has changed, I still zine articles and books. attendees as they were entering the banquet rely on an artist, a light bulb, and a lens to During my behind the scenes tour, hall and then ran back to download them project my shows. I wonder how many of Wimmer revealed his technique of sculpting onto his computer so that he could display you are holding onto those single shot pro- on the illustration board so that the artwork the images during his address to attendees. jectors and you would be interested in set- literally jumped out at the viewer. I was

88 Planetarian March 2007 hooked, and I knew that I needed to look no to life. He retired in 1980. and with plenty of topic links and additional further for what I wanted to do with the rest links to other space-related blogs, this site of my life. He passed away last March at the Do You Blog? puts the “web” in “website.” age of 80 at his home in Florida; see Page 91 We’ve recently added a blog feature to Another online journal that I like is from for a tribute. I’d like to pay special thanks our website, and I am curious how many of someone very familiar to our group, Ryan and send our condolences to his friends and you are starting a similar feature on your Wyatt from the Hayden Planetarium in New family on his passing. We also send our websites. I know that today’s young people York. His Visualizing Science page at ryan- thanks and… spend a lot of time blogging and I’m not sur- wyatt.livejournal.com is a science visualizer’s prised that the word processing program answer to the Astronomy Picture of the Day Condolences to… that I am using to type this column in does- site. Let me know if you have a favorite blog …the friends and family of Dr. Rolf Erik n’t even recognize the word blog. It asks me or online journal. Zimmerman, who passed away on January to correct it—giving me the following sugges- 26, 2007. For 27 years, since its founding in tions for correction; bog, bloc, blot, blob and Music Under The Stars! 1974 until his retirement in 2001, Erik served blow. Blogs invite the establishment of a I had hoped to hear from a few of you as the director of the Robert J. Novins community—just like a professional organi- about your special musical programming, Planetarium at Ocean County College in zation (like IPS). but alas, I didn’t hear from a single person. I Toms River, New Jersey. As planetarians, we get together four times did, however, stumble across a fine program Born in 1941 in Newark, New Jersey, Erik a year through this publication and we that is being run out of Montgomery College developed a life-long interested in astrono- exchange ideas and information. I know that Planetarium in Takoma Park/Silver Spring, my and built a small planetarium at his blogging and online communities are chang- Maryland. Dr. Harold Williams, an astro- home when he was in junior high. He built ing the way we communicate, just like digi- physicist and planetarium/physics lab coor- his first telescope while in high school, and tal projectors are changing the way we edu- dinator, runs a very active live music pro- also founded a high school astronomy club. cate. gram on selected Saturday nights through- He went on to Pomona College in Last year we did some special musical pro- out the academic year. With bands with Claremont, California, and received his PhD gramming and quite a few of the people names like Unlucky Atlas, Aligning Minds from the University of California-Los attending said they learned about the show and SpaceSeed, it sounds as if you’ll be in for Angeles in astrophysics, the first to do so on the bands page on myspace.com. Doing a cosmic good time. If you’re in the area any from UCLA cum laude. some research on the web, I found a few time soon and would like to attend, check He was a lecturer at the Adler Planetarium blogs that may be of interest to you. One had the website at www.montgomery in Chicago while on summer breaks from a nice description of a planetarium at astro college.edu/Departments/planet/planet/ school while still an undergraduate. profspage.com/archives/99, although it is shows.html for schedule details. Star parties After receiving his PhD, he was a professor written by an anonymous astronomy profes- follow the live musical and laser show per- at Michigan State University in East Lansing, sor (he may be from the west coast, since he formance on clear nights! Michigan and at Kean College in Union, has advertisements for real estate near San The rock band Guster performed at the New Jersey, before taking the position at Francisco) who states that he doesn’t have a Charles Hayden Planetarium in Boston this Ocean County College. He continued to planetarium and probably never will due to past December. This alternative rock played teach after retirement. the high cost. This is a perfect example of an a thank you concert for Bostonians to pro- He was a founding member of ASTRA, the online journal. mote its latest album Ganging Up On The Sun. Astronomical Society of the Toms River With all the various download options The group formed in the city 15 years ago. Area, and served as its president from 1977 to 2001. He also was a longtime officer of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and a member of the International Planetarium Society. He is survived by his wife, Gayle; sons Brad, Brendan, Stephen, and Erik; a sister; eight grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. His family requests that memorials take the form of donations to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. …to the friends and family of Bradford Washburn, founder of the Museum of Science in Boston, who passed away on January 10, 2007. He was 96. Washburn is known for his adventurous spirit and his numerous mountain climbing expeditions. The Museum of Science was opened in 1951 and was the model for the popular science centers of today. After later adding the Charles Hayden Planetarium and the world- famous 2.5 million-volt Van de Graaff gener- ator, the Museum of Science continues to The new Rangsit Planetarium in Bangkok, Thailand; see related story on Page 83. Photo courtesy of fulfill Washburn’s intent to bringing science Glenn Smith of Sky-Skan Inc.

March 2007 Planetarian 89 Book ‘em Dan-O Zeiss STARMASTER projector and a 6-projec- on workshops and studios filled with cut- Jack Horkheimer of the Miami Museum tor full dome projection system from Sky- ting-edge technologies, many developed in of Science and Planetarium recently cele- Skan, Inc. Ventura County by schools and businesses brated the release of his first book, Stargazing …that Dr. Laura Danly is now the curator in fields such as telecommunications, with Jack Horkheimer: Cosmic Comics for the of education at Griffith Observatory in Los biotechnology, and aerospace. The ceiling of Sky Watcher. This comic-book style, 87-page Angeles, California? Dr. Danly was formerly the Verizon Clubhouse will be domed to book is designed for children and includes a the senior manager of astrophysics educa- accommodate a digital planetarium projec- variety of lessons on science and astronomy. tion at the American Museum of Natural tion system. Martin Ratcliffe (IPS past president) is the History in New York and most recently The Discovery Center is already using this editor of a new book out titled State of the served as curator of space science at the STARLAB projector to offer planetarium Universe 2007. Jointly published by Springer Denver Museum of Natural History. Danly shows at schools and community events, and Praxis Publishing from the UK, State of also has been an assistant astronomer and using a portable dome also funded by the Universe 2007 is promised to be an annual project scientist for education at Space Verizon. The Discovery Center still needs to survey of astronomical images, discoveries, Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, and raise another $45 million required to build and events. The book contains chapters writ- associate director for public outreach at the the Clubhouse, which it plans to design over ten by leading astronomers and educators. Maryland Space Grant Consortium, also in the next two years. Okay, so now I don’t feel Are you working on a special project or Baltimore. so bad about the high cost of my phone bill. publication? Tell us all about it here in a …that staff members of the Barnaul future issue by Out of Town Visitors emailing me all the Now that I have been initiated into the details. fulldome community, I also have had the pleasure of meeting some new planetarians Did you know… who were out and about looking at new sys- …that a planetari- tems. Late last year I was visited by Sam Tsoi, um called the senior technical officer from the Hong Kong Nihonbashi HD: Space Museum; Chee-Kuen Yip, chief science DVD Planetarium curator from the Hong Kong Science opened on Museum; and Gu Jieyan, deputy director of December 15, 2006 the Public Eduation Department of the in Tokyo, Japan? Shanghai Science & Technology Museum. It Designed as a tem- turns out that they all arrived on the same porary installation day, leaving no time for me to get any pho- through June 30, tos to share with you. If only I had my new 2007, this specially- camera phone back then, I could have created facility will uploaded them to a MySpace page and present a show shared them with you all online! Dr. Laura Danly, new curator of education at the Griffith Observatory in Los called Hokusai’s Also, don’t forget to plan on attending the Angeles, California. Photo courtesy of Marcus Weddle of Sky-Skan Inc. Universe (Hokusai no Triple Conjunction East Conference this Uchu). Produced by year in Wheeling, West Virginia at the planetarium creator Takayuki Ohira with Planetarium in Russia have been recently Oglebay Resort and Conference Center from stage direction from Amon Miyamoto, this inundated with calls regarding falling fire- October 9-13 with a side trip to my real space show also features artwork by Hokusai balls in the region? News reports have men- on October 11. Members from MAPS, SEPA Katusshika, famed for his Edo Period (1603- tioned that Natalia Pavlova and her other and GLPA with all be coming to this rare 1867) Ukiyoe art of Japanese woodblock research fellows are collecting sighting info alignment of planetarium professionals, and prints. The soundtrack features the voice tal- to determine possible meteoric landing sites. I hope that a few of our international col- ents of several Japanese actors and actresses, …that a new planetarium is now open at leagues will also attend! including Ken Ogata, Ryuta Sato, and Eriko the Museuo Elder in Las Palmas, Gran With all of you descending on our area Sato. The show also features a Megastar II Canaria? Located on the third largest of the later this year, I’m wondering if I shouldn’t planetarium projector capable of projecting Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa, set up a rummage sale of my own since we precision images of about 5 million stars! you can take a virtual tour with a very still have a lot of equipment we aren’t using Visit them on the web (if you read Japanese) impressive flash presentation at anymore. Let me know if you have any at www.tfm.co.jp/star/ www.museoelder.org/indexflash.html. I real- interests or needs. …that there is a website devoted to ly like their slogan: “The Museum is not a I’d like to take one final opportunity Abandoned & Little Known Airfields? There Mausoleum, it is a Fair for the Intelligence!” thank all of you who remember me each is, and it can be found at www.airfields-free- …that the Verizon Foundation has given a quarter with your news and pictures for this man.com/index.htm. Paul Freeman has com- $500,000 grant to the Discovery Center for column. I couldn’t do it without you. I hope piled a list of 1367 airfield in the United Science and Technology in Thousand Oaks, to make some changes over the next few States and includes photos of some pretty California at the Thousand Oaks City issues and I’d like to know what type of news interesting domed structures used for radar Council meeting on January 9, 2007? The and features you’d like to see here. Please equipment. Discovery Center plans to use some of the send me your ideas. I look forward to hear- …that the Rangsit Planetarium in grant money to fund the creation of the ing from you at the address listed at the Bangkok, Thailand is now complete after a 5- Verizon Community Clubhouse, the center- front of this column! year delay? An opening ceremony took piece of the Sci-Tech Exploration Center. place on February 21, 2007 to unveil a new The Verizon Clubhouse will feature hands-

90 Planetarian March 2007 Helmut K. Wimmer 1925-2006

Planetarium art—indeed, astronomical art—owes a great debt to including illustrating several textbooks. His skill often earned him a Helmut Wimmer. After a recommendation from long-time Hayden co-author credit on the books he illustrated. Planetarium lecturer Henry Neely, Helmut was brought on to the His work frequently appeared in the American Museum maga- American Museum-Hayden Planetarium staff as art coordinator in zine, Natural History, as well as many others. His colorful schematic 1955. Neely had encountered Helmut by chance, and was impressed concept of black hole phenomena has been copied extensively, by his obvious talent and personality. At the Hayden, Helmut devel- sometimes without proper credit. But those of us familiar with oped many innovative art techniques for the Hayden sky shows. It Helmut’s work can identify it almost immediately in any publica- was there that he began to perfect his use of the airbrush. Only tion. superlatives can describe his ultimate career. It was the practice at the Hayden to change shows over one night. Helmut Karl Wimmer was born in Munich in 1925. At the age of Technicians would change the various projectors and special effects. 14 he was apprenticed to a sculptor and architectural model maker. Helmut would change all the slides in the several slide projectors, While serving in the German army at 18, he was captured by Czech and everywhere else a slide was needed. What went where was in his partisans and turned over to the Russians. As a prisoner of war, he head. For hours each change night, Helmut would climb a ladder was sent to Gorky, where his talents were noticed by the overseers. scores of times. It was ultimately made easier when a wheeled scaf- He was soon assigned to a team to repair the ornamental plaster fold was used, but he had to climb it, too, just not so often. There works of the government buildings in were times when the staff tried to make Gorky. He was freed in 1949 and made the work a bit less onerous by playing his way to Munich, a story in itself. his favorite song, "Dark Moon" by Seeking what he hoped would be a Loretta Lynn. better life for his wife, Francie, and One show was titled Six Men Who their daughter, Monica, he made his Changed the Universe. For a hallway way to New York in 1954. A second exhibit, Helmut made busts of the six, daughter, Nina, was born a few years Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, later in the US. He soon began his Einstein, and Hubble. He was a sculptor career at the American Museum- again, perfecting the clay busts before Hayden Planetarium, retiring from casting them in plaster. He worked there in 1987. from illustrations of each of the men, Though skilled in painting, his seek- except for Ptolemy, of course. In ing a view of the third dimension Ptolemy’s case Helmut was accused of required something beyond the ordi- making him look suspiciously like nary paintbrush. He could achieve bet- Helmut himself. ter results by using the airbrush, even His humor was infectious, and once though it was unfamiliar to him at the used in a show. We had wanted to have time. He used masks and templates to a movable Earth projected onto the get sharp lines, like edges of spherical dome. He coated a glass ball with wax. stars and planets. Raising the masks In the wax, he scraped the geographic would permit a softening of the edges features. Fluoric acid was to be used to for nebular boundaries. Helmut was Helmut K. Wimmer, 1925-2006 etch the exposed glass. He had almost bold in his experimentation with dif- image provided by Hayden Planetrium finished it on a Friday afternoon, but ferent materials and techniques. the technicians etched it Monday When an astronomical concept was morning before he got to work. In explained, he visualized its illustration. He then transferred his view shows, we were able to joke that our German artist had succeeded to paper. To experiment with composition, Helmut often sprayed where Hitler failed: He had wiped the British Isles off the map. plastic over the finished portion of a work. If unsatisfied, he could Helmut’s last years were troubled by Alzheimer’s disease, and he wipe it off without damaging the good part and add something dif- had suffered a stroke. Although his vigor failed him toward the end ferent. The result was always closer to the desired concept. of his life, his lively work will last for years, well beyond the end of Over the years, Helmut drew so many pictures of the Earth that our own. His significant contribution to the reputation of the he could paint it from any point of view, no longer needing a globe Hayden, and to the field of astronomical art, cannot be suggested by or map. He could also represent constellations from memory. Of this brief note. He is most definitely a pioneer in the field. His name course, Helmut learned his English along with his astronomy while may not have been listed among the staff members of the Museum, he did all the art illustrations for the shows. A problem, however, but he was always a well-respected colleague of ours. surfaced in Germany. He could not tell his family and friends there Helmut Wimmer is survived by his wife, Francie, daughters about his astronomical work, because he didn’t have the technical Monica and Nina, and by three grandchildren. German vocabulary. One of the Hayden staff members, Franklyn M. Branley, was a by Kenneth L. Franklin very successful author of science books for children. Many of his Former Chairman and Astronomer Emeritus astronomy books were illustrated by Helmut. This exposure got American Museum-Hayden Planetararium Helmut numerous assignments from other authors and publishers,

March 2007 Planetarian 91 Time exists so everything doesn't happen about off color jokes directed at Uranus. Last Light at once. Lawsuits by several asteroids demanding Space exists so it doesn't all happen to you. inclusion in the solar system reportedly also Signature tagline from Scott Young, motivated the committee to take a hard line on planet definition. An original plan to use Manitoba Museum the world "Pluton" was rejected by their lawyers as demeaning and discriminatory. Others have defended Pluto, claiming the decision to downsize was based on unjust From Jim Beaber: “I enclose a quote from discrimination. One anonymous insider the following article in the New York Times claimed, "It's a new solar system, and if Picayune that might make us all want to stop you're not wearing rings, or you're too small, and think: you're just not flashy enough for the kids today. Besides, the committee was always FOOTIE-ON-THE-WATER, ENGLAND - Fresh uncomfortable with the attraction between on the heels of the Pluto coup, the Pluto and its long-term partner, Charon. It's International Astron-omcal Union (IAU) is just prejudice, I tell you." considering new regulatory language that Pluto's press agent released this state- would redefine how personnel and workers ment, "While Pluto is saddened by this turn in planetariums are termed. of events, it's not bitter, rather Pluto looks The IAU's head of the Supercommitee for on this as an opportunity to explore new and Non-necessary Items and Terms (SNIT), Dr. exciting projects." Margaret Watcherskies, announced that the IAU is considering whether planetarium April S. Whitt workers and personnel are truly Fernbank Science Center "astronomers" and/or "astronomy educa- To: Dome L tors". Dr. Watcherskies cited blogs, various 156 Heaton Park Drive NE I'm sure that by the time this is posted, postings in internet chat rooms, and other there will already be a decision made about material as examples that planetarium work- Atlanta, Georgia 30307 USA what is, or is not, a planet. It's already evident ers and personnel are confused and hostile that any decision is going to leave some [email protected] people, and are likely causing confusion and hostility in the general public over Pluto. group or other upset. Part of this attachment might be based in fond memories in learning December’s issue had news from the Frankly, we're a bit disappointed in the about the solar system, and perhaps (at least Australia conference. This one has bits and planetarium community," said Dr. Watcherskies. “We expected full compliance subconsciously) on the association of the pieces from the Pluto issue. Our audiences with the only official governing body for planet with Mickey Mouse's dog. It might are still asking, “How do you feel about Pluto naming stuff. In the universe, I mean. This is seem as though history and tradition have being demoted?” Hmmmm. rebellion, and we mean to crush these peo- created a deep and abiding love for this lone- Dave Hostetter shared some news from ple." ly little planet, but this is a mistake. At best, the South Eastern Planetarium Association The proposed change would have plane- any feelings we have can only be plutonic. meeting in Florida last June. Phil Groce fell 4 tarium workers and personnel now classified Jim Beaber feet down the elevator shaft in the planetari- as "Citizens Related to the Astronomy Profession" (CRAP). Response in the astro- um, pulled the cartilage in his right ribs, and sprained his left wrist. He had to go to the nomical community has been varied, with hospital emergency room, but showed up many astronomers frankly surprised that planetariums actually still exist. later in the hospitality suite all wrapped up Despite Planetary Downgrade, but having a good time. Pluto Is Still Disney’s Dog Star We heard his crash in the dark (it was dur- BURBANK, CALIF - In reaction to news today ing the constellation shoot-out), then the With thanks to Don and Nancy, and cour- that Pluto was demoted to the status of plaintive words, "It's Phil. I fell. It hurts." tesy of insider Betsy Wilson: dwarf planet, the Seven Dwarfs issued their By the time the lights came up, someone own short statement: had already coined the phrase "Fell Groce." PRAGUE - The international committee of Although we think it's DOPEY that Pluto "At least he's talking." astronomers decided this week to remove has been downgraded to a dwarf planet, "Yes, but that's normal." Pluto from the list of planets. A spokesman which has made some people GRUMPY and "Maybe it's an involuntary response." released this statement, "We're awfully sorry others just SLEEPY, we are not BASHFUL in By the next day we had signs posted: "Phil to have to let Pluto go, but this restructur- saying we would be HAPPY if Disney's Pluto Groce finally fell fully four feet." ing is necessary to move this solar system would join us as an eighth dwarf. We think "Phil Groce slipped here." forward. We've got to tighten our asteroid this is just what the DOC ordered and is nothing to SNEEZE at. All I can say is that it's a good thing he has belt and make difficult decisions. We've real- As Mickey Mouse’s faithful companion, a sense of humor. He took the "ribbing" very ly enjoyed working with Pluto in the past Pluto made his debut in 1930, the same year gracefully. The very best part is that after all and wish it no ill will. We look on this event as a great opportunity to revitalize our sys- that scientists discovered what they that, he was the winner of the Campbell tem." believed was a ninth planet. Award, so he got some actual respect, too. Of Behind the scenes, however, things were Said a white-gloved, yellow-shoed source course, when he won his door prize, the "Free reportedly more heated. Rumors abound close to Disney’s top dog, “I think the whole Fall Phil" chanting started. that Pluto orbited slower than other planets, thing is goofy. Pluto has never been interest- often appearing sluggish and possibly intoxi- ed in astronomy before, other than maybe cated. Some have reportedly complained an occasional howl at the moon.”

92 Planetarian March 2007

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