Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Inside the World's Most Advanced Planetarium

Posted by samzenpus on from the laser-floyd-will-never-be-the-same dept.

notthatwillsmith writes "Earlier this month, the most technologically-advanced digital planetarium in the world opened in San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences. The new Morrison Planetarium's 75-foot screen replaces the traditional Zeiss projector with an array of 6 high-resolution DLP projectors arrayed around the edge of the theater, which are powered by three very different, but interesting computing clusters. The three clusters allow for projection of traditional planetarium shows, playback of ultra-high resolution movies, and display of anything from current atmospheric conditions on Earth to a (greatly accelerated) trip to the farthest reaches of the universe, all rendered in real-time on an 8800 sq. ft. dome. Maximum PC went on a behind the scenes tour with the engineers who built the systems that do everything from run the planetarium lights to the sound systems to the tech behind the screen to show you how it works and what it's like to drive, well ... the universe."

33 of 133 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Attention spans by colourmyeyes · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...said every generation ever.

    --
    My grandmother used anecdotal evidence all the time, and she lived to be 120 years old.
  2. Re:Attention spans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not very interesting to today's kids unless there be lazer flashes and starships goin' round.

    And Pink Floyd.

  3. Shh! Don't tell McCain! He'll go POW on you! by Dr.+Spork · · Score: 5, Informative

    This thing sounds expensive. I wonder if this ended up costing more than the $3,000,000 that the Alder Planetarium payed for it's high-tech projection system.

    When, in a recent debate, McCain was reaching for an example of ridiculous pork that he demonstrates spending that's run out of control, he mentioned this as a paradigmatic waste of money: "Three million dollars for a (heh heh) projector." See the story here.

    Be glad he doesn't read Slashdot!

    1. Re:Shh! Don't tell McCain! He'll go POW on you! by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I was seriously annoyed when I saw that. It is perfectly legitimate to argue that federal money shouldn't(or should) be spent on planetarium hardware; but describing a planetarium projection system as an "overhead projector" is seriously pushing the bounds of honesty. If you think that educational hardware is a bad use of federal money, fine, come out and say so; but don't set up a ridiculous strawman(actual overhead projectors cost less than $500, anybody would be stupid to pay $3,000,000).

    2. Re:Shh! Don't tell McCain! He'll go POW on you! by speaker4thedead · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Since when were the presidential debates about honesty?

      --
      "My religion is to live --and die-- without regret." -- Milarepa
    3. Re:Shh! Don't tell McCain! He'll go POW on you! by jlarocco · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Must you idiots turn every fucking article into an anti-McCain or anti-Obama flamefest? Both popular candidates suck. Get over it. If you really must whine about politics,take it to one of the millions of websites dedicated to that shit. This isn't one of them.

      --
      Maybe not
    4. Re:Shh! Don't tell McCain! He'll go POW on you! by Tablizer · · Score: 3, Insightful

      but describing a planetarium projection system as an "overhead projector" is seriously pushing the bounds of honesty.

      I heard it mentioned in 2 of the debates. The way McCain described it could be interpreted either as a planetarium or an office-style overhead projector (as I remember it). I'll give him the benefit of a doubt, for its not something familiar to most politicians.

      More interesting, however, was how Obama handled it. In my opinion, Obama's approach was brilliant: he *ignored* the point both times. Most listeners are probably thinking, "If a planetarium projector (with possible educational value) is the worse pork McCain can site, then he's wasting time fussing about nitty little things when we are teetering on a potential repeat of the 30's."

      Knowing when to shut up is an important campaign skill (and one lost on Biden apparently :-). Obama let McCain happily eat himself rather than get caught up in tit-for-tat over that.

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
    5. Re:Shh! Don't tell McCain! He'll go POW on you! by osu-neko · · Score: 2

      I'll give him the benefit of a doubt...

      Well, depending on what you think he thinks it means, you have to characterize him as either dishonest or stupid. When you say you'll give him the benefit of the doubt, I'm wondering which one of those you consider to be the benefit of the doubt.

      Unfortunately, I'm having a lot of these moments with McCain. He's constantly saying things that make me think he's either trying to pull one over on people, or he's actually stupid enough to believe it himself. I don't know which is true, but it's really not good either way...

      --
      "Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies."
    6. Re:Shh! Don't tell McCain! He'll go POW on you! by Jeremy+Erwin · · Score: 4, Informative

      The Adler wanted a world class projector system--and the Universarium IX projects a image so detailed that audience members could benefit from binoculars

      It's only an absurd notion if you have no binoculars at hand.

    7. Re:Shh! Don't tell McCain! He'll go POW on you! by skam240 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "He did mention that it was for a planetarium the time I seen him mention it. If you can't put 2 and 2 together to get what he was talking about it probably didn't matter what he called it."

      I disagree. He chose the wording projector specifically because it implies a cheap device and therefore enforces the idea that this is wasteful spending. Plus, by questioning an institution devoted to intellectual pursuits he gets to attack those darn intellectuals modern Republicans seem to hate so much.

      "Secondly, for all the bitching and moaning I see going on around here about space exploration being a drain funds for fattening up the poor, I find it odd that most slashdotters don't see they value in buying a couple thousand PCs and copies of Starry Night Backyard for each one of them for 3 million."

      You seem to be implying that spending money making sure American's aren't living in absolute poverty (thus reducing the chances that their children become criminals) is more important than a space station that could easily be replaced by cheap unmanned satellites and a major push by NASA to go back to the moon to address our insecurities in regards to China's proposed landing there decades after we have. Is that correct or am I missing something?

      "I think the planetarium, just like the public library, is becoming more and more outmoded by the home PC."

      Have you ever seen a young child at a planetarium? Especially an academically inclined one? I can think of few better ways of addressing the United State's lack luster performance in turning out scientists and engineers than to expose children to stuff like this. We are a long ways off in home PC technology in instilling the awe of the universe that a planetarium can provide.

      --
      I ignore Anonymous Coward posts. If you want to discuss something, that's awesome. Log in.
    8. Re:Shh! Don't tell McCain! He'll go POW on you! by walt-sjc · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They will make fun of the other guy. Making fun of presidents is a party neutral national past time.

    9. Re:Shh! Don't tell McCain! He'll go POW on you! by walt-sjc · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Why don't you use yours? But seriously, I am so tired of all the political BS too. The Parent AND GP are right. I'd say mod down any post that flames either candidate. Throw Bush in there too. We all know his record, what kind of man he is, what kind of man his VP is. We have all already made up our minds. No need to keep harping on it. It serves no purpose.

    10. Re:Shh! Don't tell McCain! He'll go POW on you! by DeltaStorm · · Score: 3, Informative

      They didn't even get the money. They released a statement after the debate http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/pressroom/pr/2008_10_08_AdlerStatement_aboutdebate.pdf

      --
      .sdrawkcab si gis siht
    11. Re:Shh! Don't tell McCain! He'll go POW on you! by Rakarra · · Score: 2

      Excuse me mods, but it's neither flamebait nor inaccurate to refer to Sarah Palin as a 'dizzy bitch.' She's pretty much made that her campaign theme as the small-town outsider who is here to teach us city folk that the rural life is more honest, American living. Apparently I don't live in Real America, and I make non-American voting choices.

    12. Re:Shh! Don't tell McCain! He'll go POW on you! by skam240 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You know what, it's a shame that you didn't get modded troll for this crap. And that's exactly what it is, crap.

      Wow, that's a strong start. I know myself and everyone else is taking you more seriously now, rather than less. Why don't we start calling each other names as well?

      Of course maybe you are being ironic in calling me a troll in such a fashion and this all just went right over my head.

      First you start off basically stating that you know his motivation behind something when clearly you don't.

      Isn't that what you are doing in proclaiming his honest intentions?

      Secondly, most people would use the word projector for the unit because that's what it is.
      That's the accepted term for it and there are thousands of references made to that exact term in relation to a planetarium by doing a simple Google search. This isn't a made up term.

      I wish I had an example on hand for this but I don't (and this is not important enough for me to spend a bunch of time digging for an example) but have you ever seen those surveys in which a group is asked a question given minimal info and most people in it give a negative response? Then a similar group is asked the same question but with greater depth and they generally answer in a positive manner. The term "welfare" is a good example of this where many people have a negative impression in regards to it but then turn around and express their support of a wide variety of welfare programs.

      The point I am making with my ramblings is that I think most people have an impression of a projector as a cheap device, even when mentioned in conjunction with a planetarium and by mentioning a large price tag without saying a bit about why it has such a large price tag, it seems to me he's begging for a knee-jerk negative reaction from the crowd.

      If anything your line about Republicans hating intellectuals is a vastly more bogus statement than McCain calling it a projector.

      The latest fad for Republicans right now seems to be to label Democrats as elitist and out of touch with regular Americans and that the real, honest American is McCain's Joe Six-Pack. Do you really think the archetype, Joe Six-Pack, is intellectually inclined in any way? Furthermore, there is a constant push by many conservatives in this country to get creationism taught in science classes and to have the class curriculum cast strong doubt on evolutionary theory. Really I could go on and on with little examples like this that all seem to ad up.

      If you really held any value in what you said you'd be honest and admit that it's YOU who are wrong.

      Huh? Are you saying I'm wrong because I disagree with you? I'm not following.

      ...That's why I had a job. I didn't get any free ride as my family made too much money but I had to make my own way through school. So don't come off with a holy than thou attitude. I feel bad for the honest welfare recepient who wants to get ahead but finds it difficult but the vast majority of these people have no such aspirations and I'm helping to keep them alive so that I can also pay for their cancer and heart disease treatments. Ain't life grand?

      On this point I guess I ran away with a misunderstanding on my part (so my bad on this) although I would disagree with the "vast majority" comment. I am actually currently working at a grocery store finishing off what's left of my degree and I see the same thing you describe with people abusing their food cards buying shrimp platters and deli sandwiches. I have not seen anything to suggest, however, that these people represent the "vast majority" of welfare recipients.

      I didn't go to the planetarium as a child. I had a night sky to look at. My interest in astronomy wasn't fostered by people throwing money at me telling me to find a place in life. I did that on my own. If a kid can't look up at the night sky and see the wonder in it all the planetarium isn't going to make a damn bit of difference and you know

      --
      I ignore Anonymous Coward posts. If you want to discuss something, that's awesome. Log in.
  4. Home version by syousef · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I've been thinking of buying a projector for my 3 month old son's bedroom when he's just a little older (I've read their distance vision improves at 8 months). That plus decent planetarium software would let me project the stars on the ceiling for him at night. I've got a spare PC that'd do fine but unfortunately it's over AUD1000 for a semi decent projector (and a few hundred dollars a pop for the lamps - that's the real killer). I can't justify that. Plus it would give me a flat not spherical projection.

    I can't think of anything mid way in between those garbage home projectors that project lines on your ceiling for the constellations, and a full blown projector setup.

    --
    These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
    1. Re:Home version by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      I can think of a couple of options for you here.

      First, don't worry too much about the flat. That can be fixed in software (as is already done for key-stoning). Although if you can't code your own display software you may indeed be in trouble here.

      Secondly for a bedroom at night, you won't really need that bright a bulb. And since the reason for the high cost is for the number of lumens, you might actually be able to cheaper. I know my phone on 'white' will light up bits of the room bright enough to be stars, so maybe some sort of kit starting with a neo and an appropriate lens?

    2. Re:Home version by jewelises · · Score: 5, Funny

      It might be cheaper to just get a glass ceiling.

    3. Re:Home version by siddesu · · Score: 4, Informative

      I use Stellarium (stellarium.org) on Linux on a large (47") TV. It is as cool as a planetarium, with more bells and whistles than you'd need. It works fine on a 32" too.

      If what Stellarium ain't enough and I need Imperial cruisers and a Death star here and there, I use Celestia (http://www.shatters.net/celestia/) with some custom add-ons. Extra benefits if you let kids design their own universes.

      The third piece is cartes du ciel, but I mostly use that to plan my observations.

    4. Re:Home version by lysergic.acid · · Score: 4, Interesting

      i know you were joking, but we actually had that when i was a kid.

      back when i was in 1st~3nd grade my parents and i lived in a rural part of Taipei (Taiwan) in my Grandma's house along with my uncles and their families. it was a traditional clan home, so my parents and i shared a single large bedroom, as did each of my uncles' families. each bedroom was sorta like a single-room apartment, so most of my uncles had TVs in their rooms, and one of them even had a home theater setup complete with a professional grade sound system.

      we'd just moved back to Taiwan so aside from the bed, all we had was an old 386 (ok, it wasn't really "old" at the time) running DOS. consequently, our bedroom was pretty spartan (read: ghetto) compared to the rest of the house. and since our bedroom was in the interior of the house, we didn't have any outside windows for direct sunlight. so my dad decided to have a "sunroof" installed right above our bed, which provided natural lighting during the day, and so that at night we could look up and see the stars.

      my cousins and i stayed up many nights sitting under that sunroof with a bunch of snacks bought from the local 7-11 just enjoying the night sky.

    5. Re:Home version by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      my cousins and i stayed up many nights sitting under that sunroof with a bunch of snacks bought from the local 7-11 just enjoying the night sky.

      Around the same time you got that slashdot handle?

    6. Re:Home version by Taibhsear · · Score: 2, Funny

      My ceiling is my mother's main floor you insensitive clod!

  5. The blue screen of death by andreyvul · · Score: 3, Funny

    would look pretty interesting on a huge spherical screen.
    Maybe it can even one-up Beijing's BSoD.

    --
    proud caffeine whore
  6. The technology behind this is quite impressive by KingArthur10 · · Score: 4, Informative

    The planetarium that I work at is also considering using the Uniview system. We currently use the Konica Minolta's single-projector MediaGlobe I/II system. It provides wonderful visuals and interactivity in our galaxy, but sadly, its intergalactic abilities aren't nearly up to what the Uniview can do. For those wishing to dabble a bit in the technology behind Uniview, though, check out the free Digital Universe.

    --
    I came, I saw, She conquered.
  7. It is not a planetarium by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I love the Academy of Sciences and the old planetarium. Been going there since the 80's. Needless to say I was thrilled to be there when the new facility opened.

    It is not a planetarium. It is an IMAX movie. You sit, watch a film, and leave. There is no talk about constellations, or where in the sky you should look to see features. The movie has a lot of narration about saving the environment, man-made waste products, deforestation, and other topics completely unrelated to the solar system. In fact a large chunk of it is devoted to discussing extra-terrestrial life and the size of solar system as far as man has explored it.

    This falls in line with the new Academy of Sciences which is no longer about science, it's a marketing experience. There are a zillion gift shops with toys but NO BOOKS. I was amazed about how much historical and scientific material is completely missing from the new building.

    They are selling a fun experience for kids that is short on science, short on education and high on "fun". It's something a Great America or Disneyland designer would come up with. I'm sad to see the old one go and disappointed the new one took the easy way out.

    The old Academy of Sciences made science FUN. This one is entirely forgettable and you won't leave it knowing any more than you did coming in. It's a perfect trip for the family, but do yourself a favor and check out the Exploratorium if you to do right for your kids.

    1. Re:It is not a planetarium by DerekLyons · · Score: 5, Insightful

      They are selling a fun experience for kids that is short on science, short on education and high on "fun". It's something a Great America or Disneyland designer would come up with.

      You see the fruit not of amusement park designers but of decades of educators trying to make education 'fun' rather than educational.

    2. Re:It is not a planetarium by Stephen · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It is not a planetarium. It is an IMAX movie. You sit, watch a film, and leave. There is no talk about constellations, or where in the sky you should look to see features. The movie has a lot of narration about saving the environment, man-made waste products, deforestation, and other topics completely unrelated to the solar system. In fact a large chunk of it is devoted to discussing extra-terrestrial life and the size of solar system as far as man has explored it.

      I've been to the show, and I don't think this is a fair criticism. As well as being visually spectacular, I thought it gave a reasonable overview of the universe from the earth outwards.

      I was put off by the title of the show (Fragile Planet), but actually it had far less boring environmental preaching than I imagined. Most of it was about exoplanets and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. My one complaint would be that it got a bit speculative, even if it's based on the best science that we have at this time.

      It sounds to me like you have a rather narrow view of what is acceptable subject matter for a planetarium. Admittedly if I were writing it for Slashdotters, I would have gone into a bit more depth. But for a general audience, I thought it was actually pretty good and not too "dumbed down". I was pleasantly surprised.

      --
      11.00100100001111110110101010001000100001011010001 1000010001101001100010011
  8. Video Explanation by slifox · · Score: 4, Informative

    Found a video describing the planetarium tech:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJewbEIzesE

  9. But is it in stereoscopic 3D? by Shag · · Score: 2, Informative

    Like the little planetarium in my town?

    --
    Village idiot in some extremely smart villages.
  10. oldskool planatarium of Eise Eisinga by Tjeerd · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Perhaps it's interesting to see an oldskool planetarium built in the 1770's inside the house of the Frysian guy named Eise Eisinga. You can see some pictures here of the inside of his house and the planetarium.

    --
    To repeat what others have said, requires education, to challenge it , requires brains.
  11. Ahww, crap by Mindcontrolled · · Score: 2, Funny

    My new state-of-the-art home theatre has been made obsolete by something better *already*? Upgrading time...

    --
    Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.
  12. Japanese 4D2U system is even better by StupendousMan · · Score: 2, Informative

    The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, in Mitaka, has a system called "4D2U" set up in a small building. It features dome about 20 meters wide with (if I recall correctly from my visit in the spring) 11 or 13 projectors. Most of the projectors face in one particular direction, the same direction which the seats face, so that the resolution and color balance are highest where people are looking. The team at Mitaka has written their own software to do real-time motion through space and time; it looks a lot like Celestia, and may be based in part on it.

    You can see details and download code for your own use by going to

    http://4d2u.nao.ac.jp/index_E.html

    --
    Michael Richmond "This is the heart that broke my finger."
    mwrsps@rit.edu http://stupendous.rit.edu
  13. A bigger planetarium? by Looce · · Score: 2, Funny

    (The class learns that the planetarium is closed. Arnold steps to the front of the bus.)
    Miss Frizzle: Yes, Arnold?
    Arnold: Isn't there, you know, someplace else you could take us?
    Miss Frizzle: You mean, another planetarium?
    Arnold: Well, sort of, but bigger!
    Miss Frizzle: Bigger?
    Arnold: You know, the big one.
    Miss Frizzle: Oh ho! Arnold! Why didn't I think of that? T minus 5 and counting! Four, three, two, one, blastoff!
    Janet: What's happening?
    Class: A field trip!