RUM Planetarium facts for kids
The RUM Planetarium is a special place in Puerto Rico. It was the very first planetarium built there! You can find it on the fourth floor of the Physics building at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. It's a fantastic spot to learn about space and stars.
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Exploring the RUM Planetarium and Observatory
The Physics department at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) takes care of the Planetarium and its Astronomical Observatory. Both of these amazing facilities opened their doors in 1973. They have been helping people learn about the universe ever since!
What is a Planetarium?
The Planetarium is like a special movie theater. It has a big, round screen that looks like half a ball. This screen shows you what the night sky looks like. You can see almost 4,000 stars projected onto it! It's so cool because it can show you the sky as if you were anywhere in the world, at any time of year.
The Planetarium has seats for 64 people. These seats even lean back so you can get a better view of the dome above you. A special projector in the middle of the room creates the star show. It's all controlled by a computer!
Learning at the Planetarium
Besides being used by university students, the Planetarium is a great resource for schools. Public and private schools across Puerto Rico use it. It helps students learn about physics, astronomy, Earth sciences, and space sciences. It makes learning about the universe fun and exciting!
The Astronomical Observatory
The Physics Department also has an Observatory. This is where they have a powerful telescope. The main mirror of this telescope is 16 inches (about 406 millimeters) wide. This telescope is also controlled by a computer. It can even send live video of what it sees in space using a special camera!
Visiting the Planetarium and Observatory
The Planetarium and Observatory often host "open house" events. These usually happen once or twice a month in the evening. During these events, people from the university and the western part of Puerto Rico (called Porta del Sol) can visit. It's a great chance to explore both the Planetarium and the Observatory and see the wonders of space up close!
See also
- Arecibo Observatory
- List of astronomical observatories
- List of planetariums
