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The first planetariums were mechanical miniature models of the solar system, masterpieces of watchmakers' craftsmanship.
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Planetarium by David Hahn (orrery, astronomical clock, celestial globe), manufactured for Herzog Ernst II. of Gotha in 1780.
Photo: Schlossmuseum Gotha |
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Projection planetariums have made the word popular: opto-mechanical projection instruments which project the stars, Sun, Moon and planets onto a hemispherical dome.
A modern technical definition could read as such:
The planetarium is a room which can be darkened, covered by a generally hemispherical dome on which stars, the Sun, Moon, planets and other astronomical objects and atmospheric phenomena are projected by a planetarium projector or fulldome projection system. The projection dome covers an auditorium containing seats - usually permanently installed - for the audience of the planetarium shows.
The planetarium is able to reproduce the stellar sky for different times and sites of observation. The demonstrations of the planetarium projector are supplemented by slide, video, special-effect and increasingly by digital fulldome projections. Additional audiovisual media permit the planetariums to create programs in the form of multimedia presentations.
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| Planetarium show in the Jena Zeiss-Planetarium |
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Mobile planetariums use an "inflatable" dome, a portable projector, and they do without seats.
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