ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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The full dome video format has revolutionized the planetarium field in the last 15 years, and "made planetariums cool again." The ability to show both full-dome digital movies and to insert full dome clips/effects into the programs has taken the planetarium well beyond the days of clattering slide projectors. You do lose some of the pinpoint clarity and accurate variations in star brightness with video that you get with a star machine; for a number of us, the ideal solution has been to have a 'hybrid' system that combines a star machine and full dome video.
It is possible to show IMAX programs in a digital planetarium, though there are some issues there. As one example, if your planetarium has a flat horizon (necessary to simulate the actual horizon), IMAX films can be harder on the neck than if you have a Dome IMAX format in which the dome is tilted for easier audience viewing.
The flat screen of IMAX works better for many topics and, while strides have been made in 3-D for domes, 3-d is more tried and tested in the flat screen format. And of course there is a huge amount of quality product available for IMAX-type theaters.
So I'm afraid my recommendation is: "both."
Mike Shanahan
Director of Visitor Experience and Planetarium
Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jason Trinklein
Sent: Monday, September 09, 2013 8:36 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Planetarium vs. Theater/IMAX
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Dear ASTC,
In the planning of a new science center, would you advocate for or against the construction of a planetarium? Is the planetarium a facility that is languishing in utility or is it a quintessential feature? In your opinion, would a theater such as an IMAX be of greater utility and value? For centers with planetariums, how practical is the dome for use with projectors for more than just sky simulation?
Thank you in advance for your input, and a sincere thanks to McKibben, Rose, Ruggiero, and Buckingham for your thoughtful replies to my inquiry about credentials. The advisory board is starting to form and we are receiving a lot of positive support in our efforts to start our new science center.
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