UofL planetarium reopens June 29 with enhanced projection

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium at the University of Louisville will reopen June 29 after a month long closure to upgrade its projection system.

The upgrade means audiences will get a 360-degree visual experience when watching shows under the planetarium’s 55-foot dome. The previous projection system used only part of the dome for some of its shows.

Gheens Science Hall and Planetarium Director Thomas Tretter said the $215,000 projection system renovation has been on a university “wish list” for years and, now that it is installed, administrators can purchase newer, digitally produced shows.

“We’re pretty pumped up about this new system,” Tretter said. “It really enhances the overall show experience because audiences are so fully immersed in the visual they can ‘feel’ what it might be like to fly through space or travel through the human heart. It’s pretty mind-boggling.”

Shows offered at the reopening event will be “Perfect Little Planet,” which is targeted to children 8 and younger, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and “Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity,” targeted to all ages, at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Costs per show are $8 for adults; $6 for children, seniors and UofL affiliates; and free for planetarium members. Discounts apply for the purchase of multiple show tickets. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

For general information call 502-852-6664 or see http://louisville.edu/planetarium

For more information about the new projection system, contact Tretter at 502-852-0595 or tom.tretter@louisville.edu