Strasenburgh Planetarium Reopening Party
January 2019
A Spectacular Celebration
Whether you’ve ever been to the Strasenburgh Planetarium or not, the time has come for you to prioritize this science-centric destination. After closing its doors for three months to undertake the most significant renovation of its 50-year history, the Rochester Museum and Science Center’s planetarium will reopen the weekend of January 12th and 13th with a celebration of epic proportions. To experience the new upgrades, guests can purchase tickets to a new all-ages featured presentation, “Outer Space to Inner Space,” or a much-loved star show, “The Sky Tonight.” Families can also enjoy other activities in the Planetarium lobby and Science Museum, including photo opportunities, space-themed make-and-take crafts, Mars rover demos, and more!
Stellar Improvements
Renovations and upgrades include a full overhaul of the Star Theater and replacement of the 1968 Carl Zeiss Mark VI star projector with a modern Digistar 6 full-dome visualization system. This new projection system will captivate audiences in part thanks to two HemiStar fisheye lenses donated by local optics company Navitar. Incandescent lighting has been replaced by programmable LED lights, and a flexible seating plan will reduce crowding inside the theater.
An Epic Journey and a Star-Show Favorite
Throughout the reopening celebration, guests can enjoy two ticketed performances designed to showcase the new state-of-the-art equipment. The new, all-ages featured presentation, “Outer Space to Inner Space,” will take visitors on a journey from Earth, through our solar system and galactic neighborhood, and back down to the micro world of molecules. It’s a colorful, faster-paced show featuring a blend of movie-like images of planets, stars, and constellations set to music. For those who love a good Star Show, the perennial favorite “The Sky Tonight” has been recreated using the beautiful capabilities of the Planetarium’s new full-dome projection system. It’s an exploration of the stars, planets, and constellations you would see the night of the show from Rochester if the sky were clear. If you’re a long-time Carl fan, not to worry. You can still see the stars with Carl starting in February. When the time finally does come for the old projector to be retired, he’ll be moved to a place of honor in a museum exhibit.