Planetarium reopens

Thursday, 11 December 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Senuri De Silva The Planetarium will reopen on 9 December with its upgraded technology and an array of new shows for public viewing.

The new projector creates stunning high quality images

As the result of a Rs. 200 million project carried out by the Ministry of Technology and Research, the Planetarium now boasts of a 4K projector system by Carl Zeiss that is capable of broadcasting on the full dome of the planetarium. It was unveiled by Professor Epatha in a ceremony held at the Planetarium last Friday. The projector is capable of transforming the spherical shape of the planetarium ceiling into the night sky, taking viewers through our solar system and to the farthest corners of the universe, uncovering its hidden secrets in plain sight. In a statement released to the public, Ministry of Technology and Research Secretary Dhara Wijeyatilake spoke of the initiative, saying: “The Ministry will embark on many initiatives to upgrade the Planetarium so that our students and others will have close encounters with what man has discovered. May those who wish to pursue the learning necessary to go out there to space and continue man’s amazing achievements to learn more of all that surrounds us.”

Taking a journey into outer space with astronauts in orbit

The Planetarium was installed in 1965 as one of the main attractions of the industrial exhibition held that year. It has a seating capacity of 570 and an array of new shows with titles such as the birth of a solar system, Hubble vision, natural selection, dawn of the space age, stars, and exploring the universe probing the heavens with Galileo. The Planetarium will be open to the public once again from 9 December, with shows being held at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday, and at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The Planetarium will be closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays. Pix by Sameera Wijesinghe

Professor Epasinghe lauches the new projector at the Planetarium

Smithsonian national air and space museum curator, martin collins, Secretary to ministry of technology and research, Dhara Wijeyathilake, carl zeiss, project manager, lutz miller