Warsaw. Planetarium of the Copernicus Science Center open after a break. “We can fly towards the black hole”

After a nine months break, the Planetarium of the Copernicus Science Center (Central Committee) in Warsaw was re -opened on Friday. The facility is equipped with equipment worth approximately PLN 4 million. Now realistic space simulations are waiting for viewers, giving a 3D effect without special glasses.

During the break, among others Projectors displaying the image on the spherical screen, sound system and French Sky Explorer software used in shows. As the deputy head of the planetarium, Mateusz Wyszyński said, the equipment cost about PLN 4 million. The funds came from a subsidy of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

– Our new computers have in their resources the whole, very nicely wrapped universe. We can visit it by watching images thrown by projectors to the dome. We can fly towards a black hole, planets outside the sun or look between Saturn's rings. We can see not only stars and planets, but also in three -dimensional nebulae consisting of gases and dust. And new projectors, much brighter and much better contrast, allow you to admire all this in an unusual, previously unreachable image quality – said the head of the Planetarium CNK Dr. Weronika Śliwa.

She added that now in the planetarium you can generate extremely realistic cosmic simulations, and viewers can see stars and planets in 3D shows without having to put on special glasses.

“Unbelievable” world

Mateusz Wyszyński noted that modern software for creating shows uses the latest astronomical knowledge: he downloads materials from NASA, other space agencies and observatories around the world and updates the database on a regular basis.

In turn, the presenter of the CNK planetarium Jacek Mikulski said that new equipment gives him a lot of possibilities in creating projection. – We use a lot of multimedia techniques. Our system is a graphics engine in which I can play with different scenarios, design flights over various objects. All this to make an impression on the viewers and transfer them into space – he explained.

The facility organizes shows for viewers of all ages: preschoolers, primary school students, adolescents and adults. The offer includes Movies, live shows, “Lessons under the Stars”, concerts and meetings with scientists.

– The planetarium gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in (…) an incredible world. From the perspective of the cosmos, we can see the earth and go on interstellar travel, which, according to the laws of physics known to us, would not be possible, but here they are possible – said Copernicus Chief of the Science Center Robert Firmhofer during the opening of the renewed planetarium.

The Planetarium Heaven of Copernicus, which is part of the Copernicus Science Center, has been operating since 19 June 2011. Six digital projectors, a star projector and laser devices display a picture on a dome with a spherical screen with a diameter of 16 m. The projection room houses 139 viewers.