Rising Stars
SLIPPERY ROCK — The planetarium at Slippery Rock University has the ability to give anyone a different view.
Krishna Mukherjee, a physics professor, said the 50-seat planetarium on the first floor of the Vincent Science Center is a little different from most other similar facilities.
“It's entirely run by students,” Mukherjee said.
The original projector was bought in 1969. The planetarium was mostly dormant until the mid-1990s, when Mukherjee began working at SRU.
Mukherjee said that outside groups, such as schools and senior centers, always have used it, but the number of shows has increased over the past few months.
This semester, the planetarium has begun featuring free, public shows every Thursday at 6 and 7 p.m.
Daniel Arnett, a senior computer science major who took on the responsibility of running the planetarium about a year and a half ago, said the shows feature a combination of serious presentations and more entertaining videos.
“It's a mix of entertainment and education. We try to make it fun,” Arnett said.
He said the show times may change next semester.
Mukherjee said students are creating their own music and video for the shows. SRU also can show movies in the planetarium.
“It's a fun thing,” Mukherjee said.
The planetarium is digitally run.
In 2008, SRU began looking at replacing the old projector with a digital projector. However, a digital projector and computer system specifically made for planetariums can cost nearly $100,000.
So, about two years ago SRU hooked up a basic digital projector, which costs about $2,000, to a desktop computer and used an inexpensive dome mirror to contour the projection to the shape of the planetarium's ceiling.“This is a completely unique system,” Arnett said.Mukherjee, who noted that some pixellation can be seen in star projections, said it would be nice if a grant could help pay for an actual planetarium projector.The old projector is in the center of the room. Arnett said that he plans to have it lowered slightly into the floor since it partially blocks the audience's view.A view of the stars over SRU is projected using software called Stellarium. Arnett controls the show with his iPhone.He said that he likes to address serious topics, such as where human beings fit into the universe.“Most of our shows try to deal with the big picture,” Arnett said.However, music videos and similar videos also are shown.Arnett said that he is working to start up a “planetarium club,” bringing in students interested in operating the facility and creating shows.One of these, Adam Riddle, a senior computer science, philosophy and history major, said he likes the variety of the shows that are displayed, noting that many of the serious parts of the presentations discuss philosophy.“This can be used to teach anything,” Riddle said.People interested in learning more about the planetarium or booking a show can send an e-mail to sruplanetarium@gmail.com.
