The Science and Cosmos Museum in Tenerife, has retired its old observatory – the first public one in the Canary Islands – to replace it with a newer version adapted to current technology. This unique Japanese-made piece in Europe had been transporting children and adults to the far reaches of the universe through its spectacular cosmos images for almost 30 years (from 1993 to 2019), and is now treasured in the museum as a legacy of the early days of science outreach in the Canary Islands.
The planetarium with a GOTO GE II central projector was the heart of the Science and Cosmos Museum from its opening – in 1993 – until the year before the onset of the covid pandemic in 2019. It is an exclusive piece that became unique in Europe. Not in vain, only 39 units were manufactured and dispersed throughout the rest of the planet.
During its 26 years in operation, it showcased the wonders of the cosmos and, in particular, the Canary Islands sky to over 700,000 people and conducted close to 35,000 projections, making it one of the “gems” that are already part of the history of the Science and Cosmos Museum.
“Currently, we have put this piece on display,” explains Rubén Naveros, a technician at the Science and Cosmos Museum. The instrument can be visited like a piece of art at the entrance of the revamped observatory. “We now have a more powerful astronomical simulator that allows us to create a more immersive reality that we invite you to explore,” Naveros insists.
One Hundred Years of Minimal Changes
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Although technology has advanced greatly in recent decades, planetarium projectors have changed little since their creation in 1923. The light generated by halogen lamps is projected through each of the thirty-two optics housed in the star globes.
These optics contain micro-perforated plates with the real positions of 2,000 stars from both celestial hemispheres which, when projected through lenses onto the dome, create a precise star map that is capable of inspiring both children and adults.
The dome where the image is projected provides an immersive experience / Provided
The apparent movement of the stars from any location on Earth, both in the present and thousands of years in the past or future, is achieved by rotating their axes using small motors.
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Complementing the recreation of our Solar System are projectors that replicate the movement of the Sun, the Moon, and the five visible planets. At its base, different slide projectors recreate local landscapes to enhance the experience of an astronomical observation night that will delight those who have the opportunity to visit the Science and Cosmos Museum and explore the universe from within.
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