Time for an interplanetary party at Dynamic Earth
A programme of live shows is taking place at Dynamic Earth this weekend, in the run up to International Day of Planetariums on Tuesday.
The Edinburgh attraction is joining celebrations to mark the 99th anniversary of the invention of the modern public planetarium – spaces designed to capture the magic of the night sky whatever the weather.
According to the International Planetarium Society (IPS), there are more than 4,000 planetariums across the world, ranging from a simple light source and drilled holes to project stars, to complex opto-mechanical systems.
Others, like the one at Dynamic Earth, use advanced digital systems that super-charge the night sky experience for audiences. In addition to having one of the UK’s highest resolution planetariums, the attraction boasts an innovative inflatable planetarium – the Dinky Dome – that is taken by its expert in-house astronomers to engage school communities in the remoter parts of the country.
Astronomer Dr Alastair Bruce, head of Dynamic Earth’s planetarium, said: “A planetarium is a magical space that takes you on a journey to other worlds that exist far beyond our fragile planet Earth. You can travel through time or simply gaze up in awe at the rich tapestry of stars above our heads.
“For many people, these views are all-too-often obscured by clouds or city light-pollution and it’s the planetarium that opens eyes to the wonders of the night, our own Milky Way. Of course, Scotland is very fortunate to have some amazing dark skies but there will always be a special place in our hearts for the humble planetarium.”
To mark the special anniversary, Dynamic Earth will host five daily live shows from tomorrow until Thursday. These are, You are Here: A breath-taking journey to the edge of our solar system and back (11am); What’s Up?: Gaze up at the current night sky and catch up on astro-news (12 noon); Under Pressure: Take a deep dive into the global ocean and explore hidden ecosystems (1pm); Don’t Panic: Explore causes for optimism about our future (2pm); and What a Wonderful Webb: Learn the story of Webb and marvel at the images captured (3pm). www.dynamicearth.org.uk