The
Southwest Minnesota State University Planetarium is located in SM (Science
& Math Building) Room 108. SMSU's planetarium houses a Spitz
512 star projector system with a 30-foot dome. The Spitz 512 planetarium
projector, located at the center of the theater, is the heart of the planetarium
and can accurately simulate the night sky as seen from anywhere on Earth
thousands of years in the past OR future. When the room lights are darkened,
the dome is transformed into an amazingly realistic simulation of the starry
sky. The Spitz 512 is capable of projecting the sun, moon, the 5
naked-eye planets, and about 4,000 stars on the domed ceiling with accuracy
in brightness and color. The result is a simulation of the nighttime sky
that can be seen day or night — cloudy or clear. Recently, we've
added a full-dome laser projector that brings brilliantly colored laser
animations to the dome. The Planetarium's auxiliary equipment includes
a triple rear-screen projector system with two random access projectors
in the front. There is a new slide automation system connected to
20 slide projectors, a new Dell computer that is used to play 8 separate
digital audio tracks. There are also DVD, VCR, and laser disk
players that are connected to two video projection systems. A stereo
sound system is used for background music, sound effects, and program narration.
The sound system includes two stereo amplifiers connected to 4 speakers
mounted behind the aluminum perforated dome, a 4-track reel-to-reel tape
machine, 2 cassette tape players, 3 CD players, and a turntable.
There are several special-effects projectors including a warp drive projector,
a zoom projector, and a zoom/slew projector system. Darkroom facilities
are also close by for slide preparation. Not far from the planetarium
is a roof-top observation deck and telescopes for observing the real sky.
