Pittsburgh Carnegie Science Center's Buhl Planetarium reopens
See craters on the moon in a much clearer picture.
That’s just one of the close-ups you can view inside the Carnegie Science Center’s updated Buhl Planetarium on Pittsburgh’s North Side.
A multi-million dollar renovation was unveiled Tuesday.
The attraction — the country’s fifth-oldest planetarium — will show more realistic visuals of space.
Looking for an out-of-this-world adventure? Choose your family mission at Space Out! Astronomy Weekend! Fly over Mars and the rings of Saturn, see art and acrobatics come to life in a new show, and view real meteorites. ?✨?
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— Carnegie Science Ctr (@CarnegieSciCtr) November 16, 2020
The planetarium re-opens with “Space Out! Astronomy,” on Saturday and Sunday. Shows include Stars Over Pittsburgh Planetarium, Starry Messenger, Solar Quest, Cosmic Chemistry as well as a Laser Galactic Odyssey performance, which is an additional charge, according to the science center website.
“Buhl Planetarium has an established legacy of transporting millions of visitors to the far reaches of our galaxy,” said Henry Buhl, Jr., director of the Carnegie Science Center Jason Brown.
The upgrade was funded by a $1 million gift from The Buhl Foundation, $1 million from Bob and Joan Peirce, and additional donors.
“This will be the closest most of us come to flying to the moon,” said Michael Hennessy, Buhl Planetarium and digital media manager. “We really are pilots of this space ship. We can fly you to the moon and it’s all based on real data. This is the most fun job in the universe.”
Hennessey said visitors can view stars and constellation at the planetarium and identify what they saw in the real sky.
Part of the improvements included a dome upgrade. Every panel was replaced.
The screen clarity went from 4K to 8K resolution — now having 52 million pixels. There Sony projection system uses 10 projectors.
Crisp, bright stars will now pop against a rich, dark night sky, according the science center. The Evans & Sutherland Digistar 7 software features a library of planetary models, real-time 3D computer graphics, and a catalog that incorporates data from organizations all over the world, according to a news release.
The science center also received a $32,000 grant from the Allegheny Regional Asset District to provide assistive listening devices and live-time closed captioning glasses that convert speech to scrolling text.
There are handheld star globes which provide tactile representations of the night sky, featuring stars and constellations in raised relief for those with visual impairments. Other advancements, according the science center, include flying over Martian canyons and through Saturn’s rings. Guests can choose their own adventure and test their knowledge of space trivia through a wireless system.
Data feeds from astronomical observatories on earth and in space will stream into the planetarium for instant dome display, incorporated into daily shows. Full-dome movies will be available in the future.
Science Center visitor capacity of 15% because of the pandemic. In the planetarium which seats 150, 30 people, including staff, will be permitted. Guests will be three seats apart and every other row. Seats will be cleaned after each show. Facemasks and cleaning protocols are in place, including an air filtration system that exceeds recommendations from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, according to the science center.
It’s recommended to purchase timed-tickets online here.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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