Bryan-Gooding Planetarium facts for kids
The Bryan-Gooding Planetarium is a special theater inside the Museum of Science and History (MOSH) in Jacksonville, Florida. It opened in 1988. This planetarium has a huge dome screen, about 60 feet wide, where they project amazing images of space. It also has a powerful sound system. About 60,000 people visit each year to watch shows about stars and planets.
The planetarium was built thanks to a gift from Alexander Brest. It was first known as the Alexander Brest Planetarium. The original star projector was made by a German company called Carl Zeiss AG. This projector could show 8,900 stars. Michael Reynolds was the first director. He created the first programs, including talks and workshops for teachers.
Exciting New Equipment
In June 2010, the planetarium got a big upgrade. The Henry and Lucy Gooding Endowment and the Bryan family gave MOSH nearly half a million dollars. This money helped clean and repaint the dome and seats. The most important improvement was a new digital projection system. It was called the Konica Minolta Super MediaGlobe II. This new system replaced the old projector, which was 22 years old.
The new projector shows incredibly clear images. It has four times more pixels than the best HDTV. This means the pictures are super sharp! It also makes dark areas look truly black, keeping all the details. The system can even show 3D digital space simulations. It uses a special database from Japan.
The old projector could show 8,900 stars. But the MediaGlobe II can project 118,000 stars! It can also show weather, like rain, snow, lightning, and even the aurora. These upgrades have made the planetarium shows much more exciting. More people now come to see the new shows with this advanced equipment.
A New Name for the Planetarium
The planetarium closed for two months for these big changes. It was closed from August 23, 2010, to October 23, 2010. When the improvements were finished, the facility got a new name. It became The Bryan-Gooding Planetarium in the Alexander Brest Science Theatre.
Cosmic Concerts and Music
Besides the educational shows, the planetarium also offers "Cosmic Concerts." These happen on the first Friday night of each month. These shows mix music, often rock, pop, or classical, with a colorful laser light show. Videos are projected onto the dome. You can see special effects and amazing images of galaxies and nebulas.
The museum also sells diffraction glasses. These glasses can make the light show look even cooler! The sound for these concerts is played digitally through the planetarium's powerful 18,000-watt sound system. In early 2010, the old laser system needed too much water to stay cool. So, the Cosmic Concerts stopped for a while. They started again after a new laser projection system and colorful LED lights were installed later that summer.
