Imagine being able to explore the night sky, including the solar system and distant galaxies, all from the comfort of the Ohio State campus. These are just a few of the possibilities that the newly revamped and renovated Ohio State Planetarium, 5^th floor of Smith Laboratory, 174 W. 18^th Ave., can now offer. FIVE FACTS:

1. The wait is over! In October 2013, the Planetarium re-opened after a 16-month renovation process. Everything—from the leaky roof, to the broken seats—was stripped down and replaced. The Planetarium now boasts comfortable theater-style seating, a digital surround sound system, freshly painted walls, and new carpeting. However, the biggest and most noteworthy addition to the Planetarium is the state-of-the-art Spitz SciDome XD projector.
2. The SciDome XD projector is one of the world’s most advanced digital projectors and Ohio State is one of only ten institutions in the world using this technology. The SciDome XD has replaced the old Spitz A3P projector, which was installed in 1968, and the possibilities for planetary exploration are now endless. “The new equipment will completely change the types of shows we can present,” said Kate Grier, Planetarium director.
3. The improvements will allow the Planetarium to put on regular shows and programs for both the Ohio State and Central Ohio community. Before the renovations, the Planetarium was only able to give shows to groups by request and Ohio State astronomy classes. Now, with the new projector, shows can be specifically tailored to meet the needs of various audiences. This means students from elementary school to college will be able to see shows tailored to their educational needs. Additionally, the Planetarium offers a space for Ohio State astronomers to showcase their work. “We now have a cool, popular venue for the astronomers to show off all of the research and discoveries made here at OSU,” said Grier. “We can now do shows specifically about current research topics.”
4. Two of the shows offered by the Planetarium during Fall 2013 are The Autumn Sky and Oasis in Space. The Autumn Sky is a live show that explores the constellations, movement of the stars throughout the night, the motion of the Earth and Sun throughout the year, and the origins of seasons. Oasis in the Sky is a “fulldome movie” that came with the SciDome XD. Oasis takes viewers on a voyage across the universe, through galaxies, and other planets in search of liquid water. Both shows are presented by graduate students in the Department of Astronomy.
5. While the universe is vast and mindboggling, the Planetarium’s goal is to show visitors some of the amazing discoveries that have been made. “We hope people walk away with a new appreciation of the beauty of the night sky and universe,” said Grier. “Our goal is to simultaneously entertain and educate.”

By Marissa Pacheco, editorial intern at ASC Communications