Planetarium will offer the first public showing of new system

YOUNGSTOWN -- The public will be offered its first look at the new full-dome projection system in the Ward Beecher Planetarium in Ward Beecher Hall at Youngstown State University this week.
"Oasis in Space," the first public show using the $206,000 projection system, will debut at 8 p.m. Friday. It will be shown again at 1, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday. Additional showings will be scheduled through March.
The projection system was funded with a $750,000 grant from the Ward Beecher and the Florence Simon Beecher foundations which is financing the planetarium's fist major renovation.
Other work completed so far includes the replacement of the planetarium's 150 seats and carpeting last summer.
The new Spitz SciDome Projection System was installed in the fall, allowing the showing of video on the full dome of the planetarium.
"It will be a tremendous addition to our shows," said Warren Young, retired YSU professor of astronomy and former long-time director of the planetarium.
The final phase of the improvements is set for June when a new $489,000 star projector will be installed.
The planetarium, featuring a 40-foot diameter dome, opened in 1967 and has had nearly 1 million visitors.
It offers hundreds of free shows and school field trips annually and more than 1,000 YSU students take introductory astronomy classes there each year. There is no charge for planetarium shows and seating is limited. Reservations aren't accepted and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.