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Planetariums Look Back to the Future!. Questions and Concerns of the small dome majority in the 21 st Century. Dr. Ronald Kaitchuck Ball State University. Keith Turner: Carmel Clay Schools/Carmel Planetarium. Chris Scott: student Indiana Purdue University. Main Points of Discussion.
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Planetariums Look Back to the Future! Questions and Concerns of the small dome majority in the 21st Century. Dr. Ronald Kaitchuck Ball State University Keith Turner: Carmel Clay Schools/Carmel Planetarium Chris Scott: student Indiana Purdue University
Main Points of Discussion • Overview of our Facilities • What is a Planetarium today? • Do the numbers!!! • Difficult projection environment • Projection technology changes • Format and File type • Production and Design of content
Carmel Planetarium 9.1m Optical mechanical K-12 Public school Astronomy classes: 11-12th grades “raised” by an Astronomer BSU Planetarium 9.1m Optical mechanical University setting Large undergrad enrollment Summer workshops Astronomer Overview of our Facilities
What is a Planetarium today? “We are in the business of delivering understanding…”
What is a Planetarium today? • Typical Planetarium • Full Dome video versus traditional star projector = the great debate today over star fields… • Video in the planetarium: multiple screens versus Full Dome… • Most planetariums must produce their own shows
Do the numbers!!! • 3,400 total planetariums in the world • Doubled in the last 30 years… • International 69 million for 2004 attendance… • USA…29 million for 2004 attendance • Domes that are 13 meters or smaller…equal 68% of US attendance… • 1493 Planetariums in US…how many are smaller than 13 meters? 1421 or 95%... • Of the 95%...most are secondary school small planetariums… The “Small Dome Majority”…
Difficult projection environment Audience is fully dark adapted GRIS: we need CRT projectors for video; masks for slide images 30’ image projection = “inverse square nightmare”
Projection technology changes Slideprojectors are being phased out….. major manufactures have stopped making them… CRT video projectors…are getting harder to acquire…… CRT = no GRIS LCD and DLP = GRIS
Production and Design of content • High Cost of Full Dome productions… • Provide information for images: time is money • Narration sent on separate track • Clips cut off at edges: Helix Nebula and Globular Cluster • Include scale or comparisons • Planetariums with video use NTSC standard
Almost dome…done • Content delivery drives our profession and yours! • Our role, our goal - explain to public importance of science and exploration • Most planetariums are not full dome • Work with us to teach science understanding…
Don’t forget the needs of the small dome majority • Provide information for images: time is money • Narration sent on separate track • Clips cut off at edges • Include scale or comparisons • Planetariums with video use NTSC standard
Planetariums have always been great at reinventing themselves, making do on a small budget, and coming up with creative sponsorship ideas!!!
Credits • Lochness Productions: Mark Petersen • www.jpl.nasa.gov • www.hubblesource.stsci.edu • www.marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov