Star gazing Ward Beecher Planetarium upgrades with new star projector

NEW STAR PROJECTOR THAT will improve the educational and entertainment capabilities of the Ward Beecher Planetarium at Youngstown State University is being installed this month.
The $489,000 projector replaces the planetarium's original projector, which was installed in 1967.
"The technology has changed tremendously in 40 years," said Patrick Durrell, assistant professor of physics and astronomy and planetarium supervisor. "When we went to a demo of this new projector, we were in awe."
The new projector is capable of moving constellation outlines, realistic planets, sharp stars, binary star systems and digital special effects for the sun, moon and planets.
The projector is the second phase of a $750,000 upgrading of the planetarium, funded through a grant from the Ward Beecher and the Florence Simon Beecher foundations.
Previous work
Last summer, the planetarium's 150 seats were replaced, new carpeting was installed and the 40-foot diameter planetarium dome was cleaned. In addition, a $200,000 SciDome Projection System was installed, which allows the showing of video on the full dome of the planetarium. Previously, the planetarium could show video only on parts of the dome.
The final phase of the improvements will be completed in 2007 and includes the installation of a new $59,000 digital video projection system, featuring three high-definition video projectors.
The planetarium, opened in 1967 through a gift from the Ward Beecher Foundation, presents hundreds of free public shows and school field trips annually. More than 1,000 YSU students take introductory astronomy classes there each year.