Opening: Hybrid Planetarium with ZEI Technology Opens in India

JENA/Germany, 26.08.2015.

The Chief Minister of Kerala, Oommen Chandy, opened the completely revamped Priyadarsini Planetarium at the states Science and Technology Museum in the Indian city of Thiruvananthapuram (Tivandrum) on 6 August 2015. ZEISS had been commissioned to upgrade the planetariums technology, including installing a new projection dome. In close collaboration with the client and ZEISSs Indian representative office for planetariums, Orbit Animate Pvt. Ltd., Indias first hybrid planetarium with a tilted dome has been created. The hybrid planetarium consists of two synchronized components: the opto-mechanical planetarium projector, a ZEISS STARMASTER for perfect simulation of the night sky, and the ZEISS digital fulldome system with nine projectors for still and video projection. While the classic Starball enables the night sky to rise and set with maximum brilliance, the digital projection system can superimpose individual constellations and astronomical phenomena with pinpoint accuracy. The combination of analog star projection and a digital planetarium significantly increases the possibilities for presentation and celestial phenomena are clearly demonstrated, inspiring visitors to take up astronomy and other sciences.

"The guests of honor reacted to the presentation of the new possibilities for education and entertainment with spontaneous applause," said Wilfried Lang of ZEISS Planetariums. "The short movie about light produced by ZEISS for the International Year of Light attracted particular attention." In his opening speech, Museum Director Arul Jerals Prakash said: "This is the most advanced and versatile planetarium in India. It opens up the wonders of astronomy."

The Science and Technology center in Trivandrum was officially opened in 1984.

According to Lang, the upgrade project presented everyone involved with a major challenge. The new planetarium, with a diameter of 17 meters and a tilted auditorium, replaced an old one with a horizontal dome and a diameter of 15 meters without any enlargement of the building. In addition to the technology for the planetarium, ZEISS also installed a modern sound system and the illumination for the dome. Visitors can now enjoy the star shows from more than 200 comfortable seats. Shows and live presentations will be offered in Malayalam, the local language, and in English. Most of the visitors will be schoolchildren and young adults.

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The completely revamped Priyadarsini Planetarium at the states Science and Technology Museum in the Indian city of Thiruvananthapuram (Tivandrum) opened on 6 August 2015 with ZEISS technology.

Gudrun Vogel

Planetariums

Phone: +49 3641 64-2770

Fax:

gudrun.vogel@zeiss.com

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the optics and optoelectronics industries. ZEISS develops and distributes lithography optics, measuring technology, microscopes, medical technology, eyeglass lenses, camera and cine lenses, binoculars and planetarium technology. With its solutions, the company constantly advances the world of optics and helps shape technological progress. The company is divided up into the six business groups Industrial Metrology, Microscopy, Medical Technology, Vision Care, Consumer Optics and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology. ZEISS is represented in over 40 countries with around 30 production sites, over 50 sales and service locations and about 25 research and development facilities.

In fiscal year 2013/14 the company generated revenue approximating 4.3 billion euros with just under 25,000 employees. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. Carl Zeiss AG is the strategic management holding company that manages the ZEISS Group. The company is wholly owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation).

Further information at www.zeiss.com

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