The programmes are aimed at inspiring students.

These include Science quiz contests, Astro-

painting, Science elocution, Astro-poetry and Astro-quiz competitions. Special arrangements are
made to watch, study and photograph Solar & Lunar eclipses, and many such other events.
Telescopes are installed outside the Planetarium to enable eager visitors to watch these phenomena.

Construction Details from the DVHS Planetarium

A narrative story about the dome's construction was published on the web site Low End
Mac and can be read here. The dome is a 15' fiberglass dome built tilted forward with a
custom designed projector stand.

Photo Album showing how it was built

The photo below shows the
DVHS library storage room
on the 2nd floor prior to
our beginning construction
of the planetarium. Our
principal, Mary
Vinciguerra, suggested
removing these books from
the second floor and
putting them in storage
rooms on the first floor.
This shows how the room
appeared May 2004.

This is the entrance to the

planetarium on the second
floor.
These photos show the
room being painted flat
black to reduce reflected
light when the planetarium
is in use. The room was
painted in September 2004.
This is how the room
looked after the shelves
were removed. The room
behind the windows is the
planetarium office.

Painting began by getting

the edges and trim coated
in flat black.

This was taken after the

first coat of paint.

When completed, it will be

able to present traditional
and digital planetarium
shows in an immersive
panoramic environment,
including a traditional "star
ball" projector, 180-degree
panoramic digital projector,
and traditional slides and
computer projection
display including DVD and
video projection. The 15'
Astro-Tec dome will seat
Astro-Tec designed a custom-built underframe for the dome
approximately 20-25 adults
based on our specifications for the room. The dome is 15 feet
in chairs or 35 students
in diameter which makes the base an ellipse with a major axis
sitting on the floor. This
of 15 feet. The dome is tilted to allow some people to sit
photo shows the assembled
outside of the dome and to allow for the maximum amount of
bottom support frame for
floor space in the room after installation. The dome is colored
the projection dome.
off-white to reduce glare from the projectors.

The dome is tilted to allow

more people to see the
show and to allow entry to
the dome without crawling
through an opening as with
an inflatable dome. The
diagram at right shows the
rough configuration of the
dome. This was our
original design sketch
when planning the dome's
structure.

More detailed dome

drawing by Astro-Tec to
help MMI design the
projector base properly.
This one gives dimensions
and shows the projector at
the center of the dome's
hemisphere, where it
belongs.

Click on the picture for a

larger view.
This photo shows Astro-
Tec performing the test fit
of the dome parts at the
factory. They disassembled
the dome and sent it to
DVHS for reassembly. It's
a real thing! The dome was
installed in Fall 2004.

The planetarium dome

parts arrive by Fedex truck
on October 1, 2004.
The dome is under
construction. Our Astro-
Tec representative bolts
two of the eight segments
together.

The dome is winched to the

ceiling so the frame can be
assembled underneath.
The supporting frame is
bolted to the dome and
securely attached to the
floor. The door is over six
feet tall and wide enough to
accommodate a wheelchair
if necessary.

This is the appearance of

the interior before it was
painted. The pieces have
been bolted together and
caulked and the roof cap is
not yet in place.

This is a digital projector with a special lens. This projector

Projector: Hal 1200a defined the need for the off-white projection surface. We will
180x145 degree digital be able to project any picture which can be displayed on a
projector by Elumenati,llc. computer screen. We did a test on September 16, 2004 in our
portable planetarium dome. The digital system works great!!
Star Projector: R.S.
Automation Cosmos, of
Sorbiers, France and
supplied by MMI
Corporation.

MMI's traditional star ball projector is manufactured in

France and includes a remote control, planet projectors, and
other features. It is the most expensive component of the
planetarium.

Our stand has been received, installed, and it works great!

Computer: Mac OS X
This is the computer which will drive the sound system, DVD
running on a Power Mac
player, and digital projectors for multimedia presentaitons.
G5 tower

Our version of Stellarium was altered by a volunteer to the

Planetarium Software:
open-source project to allow us to install it in Mac OS X and
Stellarium
use it with our planetarium projector.
Nearly finished

This is the planetarium

nearly finished. The only
thing missing is the
projector stand for the
digital projector.