On March 25, a large crowd gathered at Science Central for the long-awaited unveiling of the planetarium. Mandee Mikulski, the executive director, highlighted the community’s dedication to the project. The cost of the planetarium was reported to be $3.2 million by Larry Kay, the board chair.
Visitors of all ages can explore the galaxy and experience the night sky in new, immersive ways at the planetarium, according to Mikulski. She emphasized that the planetarium aims to enhance learning and bring families closer by turning curiosity into understanding.
Sarah Vise, the planetarium manager, showcased celestial events in a captivating presentation. The planetarium boasts a starball projector paired with a Digistar digital projection system that allows for immersive space journeys. Vise plans on doing around 4 shows per day to accommodate all interested visitors.
Stunning cosmic events are projected onto the 21 feet high and 28 feet wide planetarium dome for visitors to enjoy. It takes one to three staff members to conduct a presentation, and the staff are currently being trained for a variety of scheduled planetarium shows.
A variety of shows, including “Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon” laser light show and a lecture series on atmospheric phenomena, are planned for the coming months. In addition to scheduled shows, the planetarium is available for private rentals.
The region’s only public planetarium is a 1,830-square-foot space that can accommodate around 50 people. Admission to the shows is $11 for adults and children over 2 years old, $10 for individuals aged 65 and above, and free for children under 2 years old. Special planetarium events may have an additional cost.
