Night Sky Contrast? - Carl Zeiss
Night Sky Contrast? - Carl Zeiss
Night Sky Contrast? - Carl Zeiss
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Innovation<br />
The Magazine from <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> – Special Edition<br />
7<br />
Video Projectors vs.<br />
<strong>Night</strong> <strong>Sky</strong> <strong>Contrast</strong>?<br />
Planetariums<br />
SPECIAL<br />
powerdome – Three Steps to Projection<br />
The New Wonder of Jena – Planetarium with ADLIP<br />
FullDome Festival in Jena
Preface<br />
Wilfried Lang<br />
Projection Solutions for<br />
the Demanding Customer<br />
Wilfried Lang<br />
Vice President<br />
Planetarium Division<br />
Background:<br />
The STARMASTER opticalmechanical<br />
projector is still<br />
demanded. Systems are in<br />
production for USA, Italy<br />
and Brazil.<br />
(Photo: CZ/sot).<br />
Dear planetarians,<br />
This year, the Adler Planetarium in<br />
Chicago hosts the IPS 2008. Participants<br />
from all over the world<br />
will meet for an exchange of ideas,<br />
and manufacturers of planetarium<br />
equipment will present their concepts,<br />
strategies and new products.<br />
We of <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> have consistently<br />
advanced our products<br />
along our strategic line. On the<br />
one hand, our best efforts are devoted<br />
to the upkeep and advancement<br />
of our classical star projectors,<br />
while on the other hand we<br />
offer new digital projection solutions<br />
– not just any solution but<br />
the best for each respective dome<br />
size, and that at reasonable prices.<br />
Granted, this is an exertion (with<br />
regard to both manpower and<br />
costs) not every manufacturer can<br />
afford or would undertake, but our<br />
efforts are justified by success: 27<br />
high-caliber planetarium project<br />
contracts landed (and some of<br />
them already implemented) within<br />
two years make up an unprecedented<br />
boom. 70% of these<br />
projects are combinations of a star<br />
projector with a digital full-dome<br />
projection system based on our<br />
powerdome platform. The integrated<br />
control of analog and digital<br />
planetarium projection was first<br />
demonstrated in our 8 m dome in<br />
Melbourne in 2006, where we<br />
showed how the star projector<br />
and the digital planetarium, i.e.<br />
SKYMASTER ZKP 4 and SPACEGATE<br />
Quinto, complement each other in<br />
an intelligent way. Meanwhile, integrated<br />
control also works with<br />
our STARMASTER and UNIVERS-<br />
ARIUM machines. More and more<br />
planetarians realize that no digital<br />
system can convey the emotional<br />
impact of the starry sky produced<br />
by our glass fiber projectors.<br />
Besides developing its innovative<br />
power, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> also cultivates<br />
its long-term customer relations.<br />
It is not the quick deal we<br />
are out for, but one that yields a<br />
long-term benefit for both parties.<br />
This calls for frankness and sincerity.<br />
We do not, for example, leave<br />
the customer in the dark about the<br />
operating costs of a digital fulldome<br />
system, which can be much<br />
higher than those of a classical star<br />
projector. We disclose the upsides<br />
and downsides of the various<br />
video projectors, and inform about<br />
realistic life expectancies of system’s<br />
components.<br />
We continually test digital<br />
video systems of different makes<br />
and based on different technologies.<br />
Our measurements prove<br />
that the brightness and contrast<br />
performances of none of the projectors<br />
tested come up to the<br />
specified data, and differ considerably<br />
between units of the same<br />
model. This impairs the quality of<br />
the full-dome image, of course. A<br />
great number of pixels specified<br />
for a single projector is no guarantee<br />
for high image definition,<br />
which is substantially influenced<br />
by color fringes, edge blur and<br />
distortions caused by cheap optics.<br />
This proved by ADLIP HD, our<br />
laser projection system, which<br />
delivers the most impressive fulldome<br />
image even on large domes,<br />
although its nominal specification<br />
is below those of other systems.<br />
This observation has been confirmed<br />
by comments and evaluations<br />
made by our customers.<br />
We regard the dialog with our<br />
customers as an important prerequisite<br />
for optimizing our products.<br />
In 2007 we established the powerdome®Workshop<br />
as a new communication<br />
platform, in which our<br />
customers can train hands-on,<br />
practice-oriented operation of the<br />
powerdome®Systems and gather<br />
first-hand experience with the image<br />
generator and its upsides and<br />
downsides; at the same time, this<br />
gives us their feedback about the<br />
convenience of system handling.<br />
We encourage our customers to<br />
have an influence on further developments.<br />
In addition, the<br />
powerdome®UserGroup we initiated<br />
provides a forum for our customers<br />
to communicate with each<br />
other and involve <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> in their<br />
discussions.<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> guarantees quality,<br />
reliability and sustainability for all<br />
its products. This is honored by<br />
the market, as evidenced by our<br />
full order books. Thanks to topflight<br />
sales figures, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> has<br />
created around thousand new<br />
jobs worldwide and was elected<br />
Germany’s Best Employer. We<br />
would be pleased to see your success<br />
following in the wake of ours.<br />
Yours sincerely,<br />
Wilfried Lang<br />
Front cover: <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
landed the order for the<br />
installation of a<br />
„powerdome®EDITION“<br />
full-dome for the Jeju City<br />
Planetarium in South Korea<br />
(Photografic: Jeju City).<br />
Publisher’s Imprint<br />
Publisher:<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> Jena GmbH<br />
Planetarium Division<br />
07740 Jena, Germany<br />
Phone: +49-3641-642406<br />
Fax.: +49-3641-643023<br />
E-mail: planetarium@zeiss.de<br />
Internet: http://www.zeiss.de<br />
For the Publisher:<br />
Wilfried Lang<br />
Editor in charge:<br />
Volkmar Schorcht<br />
Contributions are welcome.<br />
58-247/11-d<br />
© <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> Jena GmbH, 2008<br />
“Innovation Special Planetariums” is published in German and English language and numbered consecutively (first issue in 1998). Permission for the<br />
reproduction of individual articles and illustrations from “Innovation” – with due reference to the source – will gladly be granted after prior consultation<br />
2 Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008<br />
with the editor. Articles may also be found on our Internet pages. If readers have any inquiries about how the magazine can be obtained or if they wish<br />
to change their address, we would kindly ask them to contact the editor, preferably by e-mail. Authors: If no information is given to the contrary, the<br />
authors of the articles are employees of <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> and can be contacted via the editor.
New Developments<br />
Video Projectors vs.<br />
<strong>Night</strong> <strong>Sky</strong> <strong>Contrast</strong>?<br />
Ralf Hasse<br />
A black background is a factor<br />
of extremely critical importance<br />
to planetarium applications. The<br />
problem has existed ever since<br />
the projection planetarium was<br />
invented at <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>. The sky<br />
photoplates used in first projection<br />
experiments brightened up<br />
the dome background far too<br />
much. The solution found then<br />
was to represent stars by pinholes<br />
perforated into copper foil. Today,<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> fiber-optic projectors<br />
deliver the best contrast conceivable.<br />
For slide projection, partial<br />
covering and Kodalith sandwich<br />
masks helped. The culprits today<br />
are video projectors, which dispel<br />
the illusion of night with their<br />
background brightness. They just<br />
cannot provide the contrast<br />
needed for depicting a starry sky<br />
– with two exceptions: the technically<br />
obsolete, low-light-level<br />
CRT technology, and the high-end<br />
Laser Display Technology of the<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> powerdome®ADLIP system<br />
[1] for top-quality full-dome<br />
projection.<br />
Other approaches to high-contrast<br />
projection on the basis of<br />
technologies such as GLV and<br />
LCoS, though under development<br />
for many years, have failed to attain<br />
the target specifications or<br />
marketability.<br />
Competence<br />
In recent years <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> has developed<br />
comprehensive knowhow<br />
in technologies and optical<br />
systems for video display onto<br />
planetarium domes, and consistently<br />
pursues the goal of enabling<br />
night sky contrast by means of<br />
tried-and-approved chip technologies.<br />
The forthcoming powerdome®<br />
VELVET projector will, for the first<br />
time, harness the stable DLP ® technology<br />
of Texas Instruments<br />
(which has millions of applications<br />
worldwide) to present an absolutely<br />
black background with a<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> system. And when we<br />
say “black” we mean it. VELVET<br />
will accomplish this while retaining<br />
all the familiar advantages of<br />
this technology.<br />
Status<br />
The requirement of high contrast<br />
for a video projector makes sense.<br />
The greater the difference between<br />
maximum and minimum<br />
brightness, the more brilliant is the<br />
projection. According to manufacturers’<br />
specifications, projectors<br />
on the market today have contrast<br />
ratios of 15,000 : 1 and over.<br />
Should this not be enough?<br />
Looking for suitable projectors<br />
for our powerdome®EDITION solutions,<br />
we first verified the manufacturers’<br />
specifications. The result<br />
was disappointing: None of the<br />
projectors tested reached the specified<br />
contrast. Moreover, the projectors<br />
of one and the same model<br />
varied considerably in contrast. The<br />
measurements of residual light in a<br />
black “image”, then, are quite sobering.<br />
Even in projectors that<br />
promised high contrast, the residual<br />
background brightness is<br />
hardly lower. What is worse, the<br />
background is mottled rather than<br />
uniformly gray.<br />
The results of our measurements<br />
were not altogether surprising.<br />
Home cinema or, not to mention,<br />
business projectors need not meet<br />
the requirements of multichannel<br />
projection in a completely dark<br />
room. Variations between such<br />
projectors with regard to contrast,<br />
white level and color do not really<br />
matter.<br />
In full-dome projection, they<br />
do. Any deviation in image parameters<br />
between the projectors of a<br />
set deteriorates the overall fulldome<br />
image. The effect is known<br />
from panorama and all-sky slide<br />
projections. If the color temperature<br />
of a single projector lamp differs,<br />
or if the slides have been exposed<br />
differently or are faded, the<br />
partial images fail to match.<br />
What is to be done, then? A<br />
thorough investigation into the<br />
technologies for full-dome projection<br />
and the verification of manufacturers’<br />
data will soon reveal that<br />
there is no absolutely perfect solution.<br />
Even if investment and operating<br />
costs were no consideration,<br />
the upsides and downsides<br />
of the various technologies have<br />
to be weighed up. Nobody can<br />
help defining their own specific<br />
demands on full-dome projection.<br />
Demands<br />
What projection solutions do you<br />
expect to get from <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>? <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> has made itself a name because<br />
of its claim for excellence.<br />
Nobody can expect that <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
will be content with cheap components<br />
at the expense of quality<br />
and reliability. On the contrary,<br />
our customers are aware that<br />
product developments at <strong>Carl</strong><br />
Ralf Hasse<br />
Entwicklungsleiter<br />
Geschäftsfeld Planetarien<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008 3
New Developments<br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> are governed by perfection,<br />
precision and commitment. It is to<br />
be expected, then, that <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
sets itself demanding goals for its<br />
full-dome projection systems.<br />
Accordingly, what should such<br />
a system be like? It should feature<br />
high definition, sufficient brightness<br />
and brilliant color rendition.<br />
These three criteria encompass all<br />
other parameters: high resolution,<br />
a homogeneous image, high contrast,<br />
etc. In Innovation Planetarium<br />
Special No. 5, Deter and<br />
Schorcht [2] explained the reasons<br />
why contrast, of all parameters, is<br />
of paramount importance. If we<br />
add to this the fact that the night<br />
sky, the most significant element<br />
of a planetarium, rendered with a<br />
video projector is not nearly comparable<br />
with the brilliance of a fiber-optic<br />
sky, it becomes clear that<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> cannot aim at anything<br />
less than the perfect combination<br />
of optical-mechanical sky projection<br />
and video projection. Implementing<br />
this means assimilating<br />
the contrast or, strictly speaking,<br />
the background brightness of<br />
video projection to that of the star<br />
projection, resulting in video projection<br />
with night-sky contrast, i.e.<br />
with absolutely black background.<br />
Solution<br />
The VELVET video projector is a<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> in-house development.<br />
The contrast enhancement is<br />
based on the special optics design,<br />
which excludes scattered light and<br />
a gray background from the start.<br />
The measurable on/off contrast<br />
ratio exceeds 1,000,000 : 1.<br />
This value is implemented in the<br />
image and has been verified by<br />
means of certified measuring<br />
equipment.<br />
VELVET high-contrast projector for powerdome, a DLP video projector with truly black<br />
background<br />
Thus, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> offers the only<br />
DLP ® projector worldwide to feature<br />
a contrast ratio comparable<br />
to glass-fiber star projection. VEL-<br />
VET is conceived for use in the<br />
planetarium, whether as a single<br />
projector for standard videos or in<br />
a set for full-dome projection.<br />
VELVET delivers a high-definition,<br />
steady, brilliant image as<br />
known from common DLP ® projectors,<br />
but with a completely<br />
black background: the perfect illusion<br />
of boundless space as in<br />
glass-fiber star projection.<br />
Manufacture<br />
All optical components for VEL-<br />
VET will be manufactured at <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> in Jena, the group’s competence<br />
center for fabricating highprecision<br />
aspheric and free-form<br />
surfaces, where self-designed<br />
manufacturing and measuring<br />
processes and equipment are ingeniously<br />
combined with commercially<br />
available ones. For<br />
making free-form surfaces, stateof-the-art<br />
CNC grinding and polishing<br />
machines and local correction<br />
polishing techniques are<br />
available, which ensure the ultimate<br />
in form accuracy in a batch<br />
production process. These manufacturing<br />
capabilities are the decisive<br />
prerequisites for providing<br />
the projector optics with a freeform<br />
functional surface, the basis<br />
of contrast optimization.<br />
While VELVET is unique for its<br />
black background, its other characteristics<br />
are tailored to use in<br />
the planetarium as well.<br />
Illumination<br />
The illuminating system is separate<br />
from the image generator. The<br />
light source is arranged so that<br />
oblique installation positions in<br />
the domed auditorium are no<br />
problem. The lamp remains in its<br />
optimum position of use, which<br />
prolongs its service life. Lamp<br />
change is accomplished quickly<br />
and easily.<br />
The principle of a separate illumination<br />
unit allows scaling of the<br />
lamp’s output power. In future, the<br />
lamp can be replaced with one of<br />
higher power or a different type<br />
of light source.<br />
4<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008
New Developments<br />
powerdome®VELVET<br />
powerdome®VELVET – Technical Data<br />
Projector<br />
HDTV-DLP ® (single-chip)<br />
Dome diameter<br />
8–20 m (26–66 ft) standard configuration<br />
Brightness<br />
>6,000 lm, scalable<br />
<strong>Contrast</strong> (sequential) >1,000,000 : 1<br />
Lens ZEISS DIGIGON Vario 80<br />
Projector position Dome periphery<br />
Projection fields 6 (standard, variable configuration)<br />
Resolution<br />
3k to 4k video<br />
Edge blending<br />
electronic blending by powerdome®IG<br />
Color rendition 30 bit internal<br />
Power supply<br />
100-240 V, 50/60 Hz<br />
Power consumption approx. 3.5 kVA (w/o IG)<br />
Projector dimension 550 (w) x 550 (h) x 350 (d) mm<br />
Colors<br />
VELVET uses a six-segment color<br />
wheel and employs the latest<br />
BrillantColor technology by<br />
Texas Instruments. Utilizing the<br />
spectrum of the projection lamp,<br />
this technology expands the<br />
gamut of colors and improves<br />
color saturation. It permits mixing<br />
of other primary colors (as turquoise,<br />
magenta and yellow) in<br />
addition to red, green and blue.<br />
This reduces mutual color influences<br />
and excludes the color<br />
break up in fast scenes, experienced<br />
with conventional DLP ®<br />
technology.<br />
Resolution<br />
VELVET employs the HDTV chip<br />
technology made available by Texas<br />
Instruments. At present, the projector<br />
operates with 1080 picture<br />
lines, but it is ready to accommodate<br />
the next chip generation with<br />
1200 lines as soon as this becomes<br />
available commercially. Both the<br />
imager and all optical components<br />
of the projector are designed to<br />
work with this picture format.<br />
An arrangement of six VELVET projectors<br />
will achieve a resolution for<br />
3k to 4k video output, the highest<br />
in present-day practice. For even<br />
higher resolution, arrangements<br />
with more projectors can be implemented<br />
without detriment to background<br />
blackness or edge blending<br />
quality. Costs excepting, there are<br />
practically no restrictions any longer<br />
for scaling the projection system.<br />
Homogeneity<br />
The HDTV aspect ratio affords<br />
ample space for overlapping the<br />
image channels. Compared to the<br />
1400 x 1050 chip format, this improves<br />
the homogeneity of the fulldome<br />
image.<br />
Thanks to the outstanding black<br />
level of the background, blending<br />
masks otherwise needed to eliminate<br />
disturbing overlap zones between<br />
the partial images can be<br />
dispensed with. Thus, the powerdome®ImageGenerator<br />
itself controls<br />
the geometry and edge blending<br />
of the image fields. This ensures<br />
the best possible edge blending<br />
quality and the flexibility required<br />
for arranging the projectors.<br />
Lenses<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> only uses dedicated<br />
lenses for its planetarium products.<br />
The customer will not find<br />
any standard, mass-market lenses.<br />
Rather than a matter of snobbery,<br />
this is simply needed for excellent<br />
projection. TESSARs, COSMO-<br />
GONs and STELLAGONs are intended<br />
for perfect star projection,<br />
whereas outstanding digital images<br />
are projected with special<br />
lens developments, starting with<br />
the SCANLATAR for ADLIP systems<br />
up to the DIGIGON series (DIGI-<br />
GON 126, DIGIGON 178 and DIGI-<br />
GON 115).<br />
The latest lens of this series,<br />
DIGIGON 80 Vario, has been designed<br />
specially for VELVET. It<br />
goes without saying that it allows<br />
for the most exacting demands on<br />
contrast and imaging quality. The<br />
DIGIGON 80 Vario is equipped<br />
with zoom optics, focusing control<br />
and motor-driven iris diaphragm<br />
to provide flexibility for<br />
dome projection – the projection<br />
fields can be optimally adapted to<br />
the conditions of the particular<br />
dome. Consistently high quality is<br />
ensured by measurements and adjustments<br />
integrated in the manufacturing<br />
process.<br />
Thanks to its modular design,<br />
this high-end lens can also be used<br />
for HDTV projectors of the powerdome®EDITION<br />
series.<br />
The performance features of<br />
this lens are vital for pleasing and<br />
convincing full-dome images produced<br />
with <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> powerdome®Systems.<br />
They ensure that<br />
your audience gets captured by<br />
your contents and messages rather<br />
than being distracted by technical<br />
deficiencies.<br />
Further reading:<br />
[1] Deter, A: 2nd Generation<br />
of Laser Display Technology.<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums<br />
6 (2006), p. 26<br />
[2] Deter, Ch. and V.<br />
Schorcht: Brightness, Color,<br />
<strong>Contrast</strong> and Resolution –<br />
Criteria for High Quality<br />
Digital Imaging. Innovation<br />
Special Planetariums 5,<br />
(2004), p. 22.<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008 5
Products<br />
Volkmar Schorcht<br />
The Broadest Product<br />
Spectrum Ever<br />
UNIVERSARIUM<br />
Model IX<br />
STARMASTER ZMP<br />
SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
The projection planetarium has left<br />
its mark all over the globe since<br />
1923. After 1945, the large projection<br />
machines were joined by<br />
small and medium-sized ones suitable<br />
to bring astronomy to schools<br />
and universities. Around the turn<br />
of the millennium, digital projection<br />
systems have begun to expand<br />
the spectrum of dome projection<br />
techniques.<br />
Among all competitors, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
offers the most comprehensive and<br />
highest-quality range of systems for<br />
optical-mechanical and digital dome<br />
projection. As an outstanding feature,<br />
both types can be coupled and<br />
used jointly in astronomy shows, still<br />
the most important subject matter in<br />
a planetarium.<br />
Projection<br />
planetariums<br />
Since the launch of its latest design,<br />
the new SKYMASTER ® ZKP 4<br />
small-dome planetarium, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
now offers fiber-optic projection<br />
machines for any dome size between<br />
6 and 35 m in diameter. The<br />
technology of illuminating each<br />
individual star through a separate<br />
glass fiber provides the benefit of<br />
a sky projection of unmatched brilliance<br />
and brightness. Forget about<br />
dark adaptation times. The stars<br />
remain to be visible even during<br />
events requiring a certain level of<br />
ambient light.<br />
UNIVERSARIUM<br />
UNIVERSARIUM ® Model IX is the<br />
most powerful large-dome planetarium.<br />
The latest customers of<br />
this flagship model are the longstanding<br />
Beijing Planetarium and<br />
the new Science Center in Nagoya,<br />
Japan, with the world’s largest<br />
planetarium dome.<br />
STARMASTER<br />
With its fiber optics and controlled<br />
shutters, STARMASTER is the model<br />
of choice for medium-sized<br />
domes. The latest version, the STAR-<br />
MASTER StarBall, concentrates on<br />
the analog projection of the stars,<br />
while leaving the projection of the<br />
planets and all didactic features to<br />
the digital system controlled by<br />
powerdome. The star brightness<br />
delivered by STARMASTER SB can<br />
be recommended for domes up to<br />
24 m in diameter. The Charles<br />
Hayden Planetarium in Boston,<br />
USA, and the new facility in Santo<br />
Andrè, Brazil, have chosen the<br />
STARMASTER or STARMASTER SB,<br />
respectively, as their star projectors.<br />
SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
SKYMASTER ® ZKP 4 is distinguished<br />
by fiber optics, digital<br />
planet control and a user-oriented,<br />
highly flexible operating<br />
system. Within a mere two years,<br />
it has become the best-selling<br />
projection system for small planetariums<br />
in Europe, America and<br />
Asia.<br />
powerdome®<br />
Planetariums<br />
Under the brand name of powerdome<br />
® , <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> offers digital<br />
dome projection systems, with or<br />
without combination with an optical-mechanical<br />
planetarium projector.<br />
The powerdome systems<br />
incorporate in-house products as<br />
well as third-party projectors. They<br />
are all controlled by the common<br />
powerdome platform, the software<br />
and hardware system that<br />
makes the compilation of planetarium<br />
shows (ShowManager)<br />
just as easy as their playback<br />
(Player).<br />
powerdome®SP<br />
dome®SPACEGA<br />
CEGATE<br />
Powerdome®SPACEGATE employs<br />
the DLP ® technology to supply a<br />
pin-sharp image impression in<br />
domes sized up to 12 m. The projectors<br />
are arranged in the center<br />
of the domed auditorium, close to<br />
the planetarium projector to avoid<br />
partial obscuring by the latter. The<br />
system is available in two versions:<br />
SPACEGATE Duo, two-channel solution<br />
for smaller domes, and<br />
SPACEGATE Quinto with five projectors<br />
for larger domes or more<br />
ambitious installations. Most SKY-<br />
MASTER ZKP 4 users have opted for<br />
a combination of their projection<br />
machine with SPACEGATE.<br />
powerdome®4DOME<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> first launched the 4DOME<br />
projection back in 2005, using Sonys<br />
high-resolution SXRD-technology<br />
cine projectors. Users of powerdome®4DOME<br />
include the Kuwaiti<br />
National Planetarium and the Planetarium<br />
in Bogotá, Colombia.<br />
powerdome®ADLIP<br />
The second generation of powerdome®ADLIP<br />
delivers the supreme<br />
grade in digital full-dome projection.<br />
The proprietary Laser Display<br />
Technology fascinates by its excellent<br />
contrast and incomparably rich<br />
gamut of colors as well as its<br />
benchmark image definition.<br />
powerdome®VEL<br />
dome®VELVET<br />
VET<br />
Powerdome®VELVET fills a crucial<br />
gap in the range of projectors available.<br />
VELVET is the first DLP ® projector<br />
worldwide that offers a really<br />
black background with a contrast<br />
ratio greater than 1,000,000 : 1. This<br />
improvement adds perfection to the<br />
simultaneous projection of fiberoptic<br />
stars and digital objects also<br />
for medium-sized and small-dome<br />
planetariums. Powerdome®VELVET<br />
will become available in 2009.<br />
6 Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008
Products<br />
powerdome®SPACEGATE powerdome®4DOME powerdome®ADLIP definiti TWIN<br />
powerdome®EDITION<br />
By their specifications and their<br />
optics, commercial video projectors<br />
are not intended for projection<br />
onto a spherical dome surface<br />
and, thus, less than optimum for<br />
planetarium use. With regard to<br />
some parameters (e.g., brightness)<br />
and to price, though, they may<br />
have advantages that may be of<br />
prime importance for certain planetarium<br />
projects. <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> offers<br />
such custom solutions under the<br />
name of powerdome®EDITION.<br />
Examples of customized projector<br />
configurations are the planetarium<br />
of L‘Hemisfèric in Valencia<br />
(Spain) and the new planetariums<br />
in Jeju (Korea) and Cosenza (Italy).<br />
definiti TWIN<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> makes and supplies the<br />
twin projector with DIGIGON wideangle<br />
lenses for the definiti<br />
TWIN projection system of <strong>Sky</strong>-<br />
Skan Inc., which is used in mobile<br />
and stationary domes up to 8 m in<br />
diameter.<br />
Combo Systems<br />
With the exception of TWIN, all<br />
digital projection systems supplied<br />
by <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> can be directly<br />
coupled to the optical-mechanical<br />
planetarium projectors and<br />
jointly controlled via a classical<br />
control panel.<br />
Sensible combinations of analog<br />
star projection and digital fulldome<br />
video projection (powerdome)<br />
are listed in the table below.<br />
powerdome®VELVET<br />
Projection System<br />
Technology<br />
Dome dia.<br />
SKYMASTER ZKP 4 opt.-me. projection 6 m to 14 m<br />
STARMASTER opt.-me. projection 12 m to 20 m<br />
STARMASTER SB opt.-me. projection 12 m to 24 m<br />
UNIVERSARIUM M IX opt.-me. projection 18 m to 35 m<br />
Combo System<br />
powerdome®EDITION<br />
(Galaxy)<br />
definiti TWIN DLP ® 4.5 m to 8 m<br />
powerdome®SPACEGATE Duo DLP ® 6 m to 8 m SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
powerdome®SPACEGATE Quinto DLP ® 8 m to 12 m SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
powerdome®EDITION<br />
(DLP)<br />
powerdome®VELVET DLP ® 8 m to 14 m SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
powerdome®VELVET DLP ® 12 m to 20 m STARMASTER / SB<br />
powerdome®EDITION (HDTV) LCoS 8 m to 14 m SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
powerdome®EDITION (DLP) DLP ® 15 m to 24 m STARMASTER / SB<br />
powerdome®EDITION (Galaxy) DLP ® 18 m to 24 m UNIVERSARIUM M IX<br />
powerdome®4DOME SXRD 10 m to 14 m SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
powerdome®4DOME SXRD 15 m to 24 m STARMASTER / SB<br />
powerdome®4DOME SXRD 18 m to 24 m UNIVERSARIUM M IX<br />
powerdome®EDITION<br />
(HDTV)<br />
powerdome®ADLIP LDT 10 m to 14 m SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
powerdome®ADLIP LDT 15 m to 24 m STARMASTER / SB<br />
powerdome®ADLIP LDT 18 m to 24 m UNIVERSARIUM M IX<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008<br />
7
Product Applications<br />
Volkmar Schorcht<br />
powerdome ® :<br />
Three Steps to Projection<br />
Top:<br />
Resources window with<br />
opened video register.<br />
Bottom:<br />
Preview window with fulldome<br />
video.<br />
It is in handling digital image and<br />
sound data that powerdome<br />
brings its special strengths to bear.<br />
Three steps suffice to present digital<br />
data on the dome: loading,<br />
positioning, adapting and pictures,<br />
videos and sound are where<br />
you want them to be. And all this<br />
without entering a single code. Let<br />
a few characteristic examples<br />
demonstrate how this is brought<br />
about.<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> digital powerdome®Systems<br />
offer solutions for full-dome<br />
projection that involve a variety of<br />
technologies. They cannot, nor are<br />
they meant to, replace an opticalmechanical<br />
planetarium projector.<br />
Although powerdome features the<br />
planetarium functions, no digital<br />
projection technology can compare<br />
with the brilliant sky projected with<br />
a fiber-optic projection machine.<br />
No video projector is capable to<br />
project individual pixels with a<br />
brightness of 1000 lux.<br />
Systems in unison<br />
Therefore, powerdome®Systems<br />
of every variety can be directly<br />
coupled with any of the recent optical-mechanical<br />
projectors made<br />
by <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, in which case digital<br />
projection consistently follows the<br />
astronomical parameters of optical-mechanical<br />
projection. This<br />
type of coupling goes beyond any<br />
hybrid solution in which two independent<br />
systems merely complement<br />
or replace each other. The<br />
integrated control concept renders<br />
an independent digital planetarium<br />
for classical presentations of<br />
the earth’s night-time sky superfluous.<br />
Rather, the digital planetarium<br />
functions of powerdome<br />
expand the presentation capabilities<br />
of the optical-mechanical projector,<br />
which can bring to bear its<br />
undisputed advantages at the<br />
same time. For user to employ one<br />
or the other of the two projection<br />
systems makes no difference: the<br />
integrated control ensures that<br />
both systems always work in unison.<br />
Whoever wants to use powerdome<br />
for presentations without<br />
an optical-mechanical projector<br />
can use the control panel and<br />
control program of the latter, with<br />
all its astronomical functions, to<br />
control the video projection system<br />
instead of the classical projector.<br />
The advantage of this solution<br />
is obvious: The video system<br />
is operated by the principle<br />
of the classical planetarium. Live<br />
operation through rotary controls<br />
and pushbuttons is just as simple<br />
as automatic or semi-automatic<br />
reproduction. Manual operations<br />
can be saved, edited and reproduced.<br />
It is no surprise, then, that the<br />
current version of the <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
powerdome software is primarily<br />
focused on the easy handling of<br />
digital data to present.<br />
Full-dome video<br />
The simplest case of application is<br />
the playback of a full-dome video.<br />
Only two files are required: the<br />
video file for projection, and the<br />
sound.<br />
ShowManager, the Windows ® -<br />
based user interface of powerdome,<br />
allows users to manage,<br />
schedule and adapt all data for a<br />
dome presentation. A Resources<br />
window is used for data import.<br />
As the show elements are categorized,<br />
the user will not get lost even<br />
in case of complex shows comprising<br />
many files. The video file is<br />
loaded to the video resource window,<br />
and the sound file to the audio<br />
one. Right next to the Resources<br />
window, ShowManager<br />
offers a Preview window. Videos<br />
and still images can be played<br />
back and displayed, respectively,<br />
and audio sources listened to. No<br />
change to another program is required,<br />
should a file name fail to<br />
reveal whether this is the desired<br />
resource.<br />
The third window arranged in<br />
a row with the other two is the<br />
Properties window, in which all<br />
relevant parameters of a file are<br />
displayed automatically and can<br />
be modified as appropriate for the<br />
file type. Parameters for full-dome<br />
videos include running time, resolution,<br />
gamma, and mapping. Run-<br />
8 Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008
Product Applications<br />
ning time and resolution are defined<br />
by the video, i.e. fixed,<br />
whereas the other two parameters<br />
can be adapted. The gamma parameter<br />
allows you to adjust the<br />
brightness of the video, while<br />
dome mapping is a prerequisite for<br />
full-dome videos; other settings<br />
can be made for plane (classical)<br />
videos or panorama presentations.<br />
In most cases, though, no changes<br />
need to be made to the properties<br />
of the source data files.<br />
Once video and audio files have<br />
been loaded to the powerdome®<br />
ShowManager, the second step is<br />
positioning them. For full-dome<br />
video, positioning merely means<br />
fixing the start time with the<br />
powerdome Timeline Editor, in<br />
which you can create chapters and<br />
levels with several tracks. For the<br />
application described, one chapter<br />
and one level with two tracks (for<br />
video and audio) are sufficient.<br />
Use the mouse to drag the files<br />
from the Resources window and<br />
drop them on the respective track.<br />
Powerdome automatically creates<br />
a show element characterizing the<br />
respective resource and its running<br />
time. The show elements can<br />
be shifted to the start of the<br />
timeline or to any other start times<br />
with the mouse. For precise positioning,<br />
the start times can be entered<br />
digitally in the Properties<br />
window. Once positioning is completed,<br />
the full-dome video is<br />
ready to be shown.<br />
Before that, however, it is possible<br />
to adapt (animate) the show<br />
elements with certain parameters<br />
if necessary or desired. For example,<br />
you can fade in the video<br />
or shorten the sound. Such processes<br />
are done conveniently in<br />
the powerdome Animation Editor,<br />
which provides all parameters<br />
that are variable for the resource<br />
selected (video, still image,<br />
sound, projector control, dome<br />
lighting, etc.). For fade-in, use<br />
the “Opacity” parameter. Setting<br />
it to “0” at the start of the video<br />
makes the video transparent, i.e.<br />
invisible. The opacity setting “1”<br />
in another key frame at the 2 sec<br />
time position causes the video to<br />
be faded in from 0 to 100 percent<br />
within two seconds. By the same<br />
principle, the user can set positions,<br />
motions, changes of size<br />
and color, or other parameters.<br />
Here again, no codes have to be<br />
programmed; powerdome saves<br />
the data from the graphic Animation<br />
Editor in the show file. This<br />
results in another advantage for<br />
the user: In powerdome, all control<br />
cues of a show are contained<br />
in a single show file. If parameters<br />
of a kind are to be varied for all<br />
relevant show elements, an text<br />
editor can accomplish this within<br />
seconds by means of the Findand-Replace<br />
function.<br />
With the animations completed,<br />
save the show file. The full-dome<br />
video is now ready for playback.<br />
Top:<br />
In the Properties window,<br />
powerdome displays various<br />
parameters of selected show<br />
elements.<br />
Bottom:<br />
Arrangement of the video<br />
and audio files of a fulldome<br />
video on the timeline,<br />
with player symbols for<br />
control.<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008<br />
9
Product Applications<br />
Classical shows run<br />
on powerdome<br />
Typical diagram of the<br />
projection systems of a<br />
classical planetarium<br />
consisting of panorama, allsky,<br />
video and multi-image<br />
slide projectors. For each<br />
projection system, a separate<br />
track is created in<br />
powerdome.<br />
(Source: <strong>Zeiss</strong> Planetarium,<br />
Bochum/Germany)<br />
One of the frequently asked questions<br />
is whether a full-dome video<br />
upgrade spells doom for older,<br />
“classical” planetarium shows, or<br />
whether they can be run on powerdome<br />
as well.<br />
The plain answer is, they can.<br />
Powerdome is compatible with<br />
your “old” shows or with classical<br />
planetarium shows procured<br />
from other suppliers, provided that<br />
all contents are available in digital<br />
form. This means that slides have<br />
to be scanned, videos transformed<br />
into digital formats, and music and<br />
narration converted into an audio<br />
file readable by the computer. In<br />
very many cases, the slide images<br />
were exposed on film from originally<br />
digital source data, which<br />
should be available. Likewise, videos<br />
are computer-readable files, as<br />
a rule. Planetarium shows produced<br />
today are almost always<br />
supplied in digital form on DVDs.<br />
With the powerdome®Show-<br />
Manager you can bring your classical<br />
shows into the digital age<br />
without much effort.<br />
Usually, every classical planetarium<br />
has a diagram of its projection<br />
systems, which shows the<br />
type of projections (slides, panorama,<br />
all-sky, etc.) and their image<br />
positions on the dome. Planetarium<br />
show productions offered<br />
for sale also assume more or less<br />
standardized projection facilities.<br />
You reproduce these projection<br />
systems in powerdome.<br />
First, create two levels: a dome<br />
level for all-sky and full-dome videos<br />
and a planar level for plane<br />
slides and videos. Create a number<br />
of tracks that correspond to<br />
your classical projection systems,<br />
e.g., two for the panorama A and<br />
B with edge blending. Assign different<br />
“object distances” for these<br />
levels by varying the respective “Z<br />
parameters”. This arranges allskies<br />
in the background, slides in<br />
front, and panoramas in between.<br />
In case of simultaneous projection,<br />
slides will then partially occlude<br />
the panorama, which in turn<br />
will occlude the all-sky. For this<br />
occlusion, the picture subjects<br />
need to be keyed, as a rule, and to<br />
be saved with a transparent background<br />
(alpha channel).<br />
Unlike slide projectors, powerdome<br />
does not limit the positions<br />
and sizes of slides. Nevertheless,<br />
it makes sense first to retain the<br />
original slide positions in powerdome<br />
and modify them later, if<br />
necessary. Assign each slide projector<br />
the respective position coordinates<br />
and image size on the<br />
dome in terms of powerdome coordinates.<br />
For this, powerdome<br />
uses no other parameters than the<br />
horizontal coordinates of azimuth<br />
and height (longitude/latitude)<br />
and the data for image width and<br />
image height in degrees. Create a<br />
separate track for each slide projector,<br />
and powerdome lets you always<br />
keep sight of everything.<br />
Once you have loaded all files<br />
needed to the Resources window,<br />
drag the elements to the desired<br />
start time position on the track assigned<br />
for them. Set the duration<br />
of the each element, and animate<br />
fade-ins and fade-outs as desired.<br />
With powerdome you can direct<br />
movements all across the dome.<br />
The essential steps of transferring<br />
an analog show to powerdome<br />
have now been completed.<br />
Saving the show loads all show<br />
elements to the main memory of<br />
powerdome, from which they are<br />
read out to the projectors in real<br />
time. No further operator interference<br />
is necessary.<br />
Show chapters<br />
“This Month’s <strong>Sky</strong>”, “The Stars<br />
Tonight”, “Stars Live” or the like<br />
are the titles of shows presenting<br />
the current aspect of the local sky<br />
in a planetarium. Powerdome<br />
turns such demonstrations into<br />
multimedia highlights, too. The<br />
starry sky is the domain of the<br />
optical-mechanical projector. By<br />
means of powerdome you emphasize<br />
particular objects in the sky,<br />
show computer animations that<br />
illustrate the physics behind the<br />
phenomena, or add recent sky<br />
photographs from the Internet. A<br />
potential scenario might look like<br />
this:<br />
Divide your live presentation<br />
into several chapters, in which,<br />
proceeding from the current day’s<br />
night sky, you present typical celestial<br />
bodies and illustrate events<br />
of topical interest. Create these<br />
chapters in powerdome. A first<br />
chapter, for example, may identify<br />
the positions of conspicuous<br />
10 Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008
Product Applications<br />
Recent extensions of powerdome<br />
functionality:<br />
• Projection from an externally<br />
connected laptop, e.g., for<br />
Powerpoint and the like presentations<br />
• Control of external equipment<br />
such as video projectors<br />
or illumination from<br />
powerdome or from within<br />
a show<br />
• Coupling of powerdome and<br />
Uniview, integration of Uniview<br />
sequences as show elements<br />
in powerdome<br />
Top:<br />
„Lilli’s Journey to the Moon” – a children’s<br />
show of the Bochum Planetarium:<br />
The show elements for slides, videos,<br />
panoramas, etc., are arranged on different<br />
tracks of a level in powerdome according to<br />
the sequence of their occurrence (section).<br />
Bottom:<br />
Example of a show in powerdome consisting<br />
of many chapters (registers above the<br />
timeline). In the chapter selected, individual<br />
images are selected analogously to a<br />
Powerpoint presentation (bookmarks) and<br />
presented step by step (triggers).<br />
constellations and narrate about<br />
the origins of their names. A second<br />
chapter may deal with a selected<br />
object in a constellation,<br />
locate it in the sky, and zoom in<br />
on it with an animation. A video<br />
sequence in planar or full-dome<br />
format visualizes the object. The<br />
third chapter could deal with a<br />
planet that is well visible currently.<br />
Use the optical-mechanical<br />
projector to locate the position<br />
of the planet at the night sky.<br />
Make powerdome perform an animation<br />
showing the planet’s surface<br />
structure or simulates its view<br />
as seen from an approaching<br />
space probe. Landing on the<br />
planet is not a problem either –<br />
just add a suitable panorama. In<br />
the final chapter you may use<br />
Uniview to take your audience to<br />
the edge of our Galaxy. With a<br />
flight out of our solar system and<br />
to beyond the celestial sphere<br />
catalogued by the Hipparcos mission<br />
you can demonstrate how<br />
tiny the segment of the universe<br />
is we are able to see from our<br />
planet.<br />
The above descriptions will<br />
have made clear the principle. After<br />
every chapter, powerdome<br />
can stop automatically. Now you<br />
can continue operating the show<br />
manually via the control panel,<br />
respond to visitors’ questions, or<br />
immediately change to the next<br />
or any other chapter. You can set<br />
triggers and bookmarks within a<br />
chapter. These are useful if you<br />
want to stop or begin a show at a<br />
particular point (pauses) or jump<br />
to preset show segments.<br />
Entry to the world of digital<br />
full-dome projection is really easy<br />
with powerdome. You can base<br />
your production on familiar process<br />
steps, need not learn a script<br />
language and can integrate the<br />
optical sky.<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008<br />
11
Basics<br />
Volkmar Schorcht<br />
The Basics of Fulldome<br />
For quite some time,<br />
full-dome has been the<br />
number one topic in<br />
the planetarium world.<br />
Digital full-dome projection<br />
is entering more<br />
and more planetariums<br />
and has a decisive influence<br />
on their future.<br />
Whoever has not<br />
gone into the matter<br />
yet will find a concise<br />
introduction to this<br />
medium below.<br />
The full-dome<br />
medium<br />
From the classical planetarium<br />
with its optical-mechanical projection,<br />
full-dome differs by three essential<br />
characteristics:<br />
• Per se, no restriction to astronomical<br />
contents.<br />
• Digital technologies employed<br />
for the entire process – from<br />
production to projection.<br />
• Potential of standardization and<br />
networking.<br />
For planetarium visitors, the<br />
change is visible by a higher degree<br />
of being involved – the closed<br />
image projection surrounds them<br />
on all sides. They experience a<br />
spherical screen live with the dynamics<br />
and the diversity of subjects<br />
known from modern media,<br />
but with audiovisual impressions<br />
to be found only in a full-dome<br />
theater.<br />
Full-dome is a new medium. It<br />
is based on existing media such as<br />
planetarium, virtual reality and<br />
movie, but raises them to a new<br />
level. The insistence on astronomical<br />
contents in most full-dome theaters<br />
results from their origins as<br />
planetariums and somehow contradicts<br />
their potential of full-dome<br />
presentation. Present endeavors to<br />
establish a special full-dome community<br />
(IMERSA = Immersive Media,<br />
Entertainment, Research, Science<br />
& Arts) is only a consequence<br />
of this development.<br />
More than half of the domes<br />
with full-dome projection facilities<br />
are mobile and small planetariums<br />
that essentially use the digital planetarium<br />
component without playing<br />
full-dome videos. The others,<br />
with a few exceptions, also have a<br />
primarily astronomical orientation,<br />
but offer full-dome shows with<br />
completely different subjects in<br />
addition to the typical planetarium<br />
shows. There is no telling yet<br />
whether and how much there will<br />
Fig. 1: Complete dome projection<br />
be a separation some day of dome<br />
theaters with specific planetarium<br />
functions and full-dome theaters<br />
without any planetarium context.<br />
Full-dome<br />
technology<br />
Full-dome requires the projection<br />
of a video image onto a spherical<br />
dome. There are three kinds:<br />
• Complete projection – the image<br />
extends over 360 degrees<br />
in azimuth and down to the<br />
dome horizon, approx. 180 degrees<br />
(Fig. 1);<br />
• Truncated projection – the<br />
“rear” part of the projection is<br />
truncated. The format is restricted<br />
to systems having fisheye<br />
projection lenses (see below),<br />
and is based on a compromise<br />
between full-dome projection<br />
and efficient utilization of<br />
the number of pixels on a rectangular<br />
imager (Fig. 2);<br />
• Panorama projection – using a<br />
segment of about 220° in azimuth<br />
and 120° in height. The<br />
format is applied only for multichannel<br />
projections. It is a costsaving<br />
compromise that is rarely<br />
ever used.<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> always configures its<br />
powerdome®Systems for projection<br />
onto the complete dome.<br />
For full-dome video projection,<br />
three different techniques are employed:<br />
Fig. 2: Truncated dome projection<br />
Fig. 3: The five partial images of a<br />
SPACEGATE projection differentiated<br />
(image assembly).<br />
• Multichannel projection – several<br />
partial images are assembled<br />
to form a complete picture. The<br />
projectors may be placed at the<br />
periphery or in the middle of the<br />
dome (next to the planetarium<br />
projector). The multichannel solution<br />
provides a maximum of<br />
flexibility and the best possible<br />
quality (Fig. 3).<br />
• Fish-eye projection – a projector<br />
arranged in the middle projects<br />
a full-dome image by means of a<br />
fish-eye lens. Because of the limited<br />
resolution and image quality,<br />
this is only recommendable<br />
for small and mobile domes.<br />
• Single channel projection via a<br />
convex mirror at the dome periphery.<br />
Inexpensive method of<br />
lesser quality.<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> powerdome®Systems<br />
are based on multichannel projec-<br />
12 Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008
Basics<br />
powerdome®SPACEGATE Quinto –<br />
five projectors<br />
DLP (720p), 3096 x 3096 dome master<br />
approx. 1400 lm, >1500 : 1 contrast<br />
powerdome®ADLIP –<br />
eight projectors<br />
LDT (UXGA), 4096x4096 dome master<br />
approx. 8000 lm, >15,000 : 1 contrast<br />
powerdome®4DOME – two projectors<br />
SXRD (LCoS) - 4x HDTV<br />
4096x4096 dome master<br />
approx. 14,000 lm, >1800 : 1 contrast<br />
Fig. 4: Three examples of<br />
full-dome configuration with<br />
different numbers of projectors<br />
and corresponding<br />
image partition.<br />
tion. They permit high-quality solutions<br />
for all projects. Partial images<br />
are assembled by blending<br />
their edges. Blended edges are a<br />
critical factor for image quality.<br />
Therefore, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> has taken<br />
many technical measures to successfully<br />
suppress edge visibility.<br />
The number of projectors comprising<br />
a full-dome system depends<br />
on several factors:<br />
• The desired resolution and<br />
brightness<br />
• Placement of the projectors, depending<br />
on the theater layout<br />
and available space<br />
• Consideration of obstructions<br />
by the planetarium projector<br />
• Aspect ratio of the imager<br />
• Availability of projection lenses<br />
The above illustrations are examples<br />
showing the image channels<br />
for three different projector<br />
systems (Fig. 4).<br />
Full-dome contents<br />
The equipment is but a means to<br />
an end. What is decisive for the visitor<br />
is what the projection equipment<br />
shows, what story is narrated<br />
or how the various media interact<br />
in a live presentation. The fulldome<br />
technology permits two approaches<br />
to content presentation:<br />
1. Presentation of pre-produced or<br />
pre-rendered contents<br />
2. Live presentation by means of<br />
data visualized in real-time.<br />
The powerdome®Systems allow<br />
both versions to be combined.<br />
With pre-produced contents it<br />
is sufficient to start a show, which<br />
then runs off without further interaction.<br />
Such shows may consist<br />
of full-dome videos, scenes,<br />
or complete shows assembled<br />
from individual show elements.<br />
Live presentations require suitable<br />
software for real-time visualization,<br />
such as Uniview. Uniview<br />
comprises the objects of the solar<br />
system and the Milky Way, and<br />
comprehensive data of the extragalactic<br />
space, and allows<br />
seamless navigation within these<br />
spaces. Interaction can be done<br />
via remote control; Internet data<br />
can be integrated live.<br />
It is obvious that pre-produced<br />
contents remain the same from run<br />
to run. A live presentation, even of<br />
the same subject, allows variation<br />
at any time, a fact that is appreciated<br />
by planetarium audiences.<br />
The full-dome format<br />
Fig. 5: Dome master (single frame).<br />
There are no standards for fulldome<br />
projection. Nevertheless,<br />
producers largely stick to uniform<br />
formats.<br />
The dome image has the form<br />
of a hemisphere. Therefore, the<br />
input image format (dome master)<br />
is circular (Fig. 5). In order that it<br />
does not appear compressed on<br />
the dome, like radiuses must correspond<br />
to like height angles. The<br />
bottom edge of the image is projected<br />
in front (“south” for planetariums<br />
on the northern hemisphere).<br />
The bigger the dome, the more<br />
pixels shall the input image have.<br />
For powerdome®Systems, dome<br />
masters with up to 4096x4096 pixel<br />
resolution are suitable. Whereas the<br />
NTSC format with 29.97 frames per<br />
second (fps) was dominating for<br />
some time, 30 fps have become<br />
common meanwhile.<br />
The dome masters are generated<br />
and saved in loss-free formats,<br />
either as Targa files (tga), or (more<br />
and more) in the PNG format,<br />
which is more efficient with regard<br />
to storage.<br />
As an audio format, 5.1 Surround<br />
is gaining ground. Some<br />
theaters use stereo or 7.1 sound<br />
systems, though.<br />
The frame part not used for<br />
image projection can be used<br />
for information.<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008<br />
13
Basics<br />
Full-dome production<br />
performing<br />
powerdome®IG powerdome®IG<br />
video and sound<br />
music/sound/narration<br />
encoding<br />
live control<br />
control<br />
dome master<br />
rendering<br />
communication<br />
musik/sound/narration<br />
scaling<br />
To produce a full-dome video primarily<br />
means to create 3D animations<br />
and to render them for the<br />
dome format. Alternatively or in<br />
addition, videos taken with a camera<br />
can be used, and so can 2D<br />
video, photo and graphic imagery.<br />
Rendered sequences from Uniview<br />
can also be integrated.<br />
Depending on the quality intended,<br />
a full-dome production<br />
may consume much time and<br />
money. Budgets for shows consisting<br />
completely of high-grade 3D<br />
animations must be assumed to be<br />
higher by one or two orders of<br />
magnitude than those for classical<br />
planetarium shows.<br />
For this reason, full-dome productions<br />
are often licensed. Some<br />
companies such as INTERMEDIA<br />
and Mirage3D specialize in fulldome<br />
productions.<br />
Many planetariums prove,<br />
though, that producing ones own<br />
full-dome shows need not be<br />
dispended with, provided that<br />
technical and staff resources have<br />
been planned for.<br />
On the other hand, Uniview<br />
makes entry into full-dome projection<br />
very easy. This real-time application<br />
does not require pre-production<br />
and is easy to operate.<br />
Uniview can be regarded as a planetarium<br />
projector that is brought<br />
to life by the voice and enthusiasm<br />
of the operator/narrator.<br />
Fig. 6: The essential operations<br />
up to full-dome<br />
projection. Left: Pre-produced<br />
contents. Right: Realtime<br />
control with Uniview<br />
and powerdome.<br />
editing & compositing<br />
processing<br />
Uniview sequences<br />
photographs/graphics<br />
live video<br />
3D animation<br />
digital data<br />
navigation<br />
data bases<br />
Uniview<br />
prepared sequences<br />
pre-settings<br />
digital/opt.-me. planetarium<br />
powerdome<br />
The full-dome<br />
market<br />
Thanks to the digital technology,<br />
full-dome productions are easily<br />
marketable. With shows freely<br />
available on the market, a fulldome<br />
theater can flexibly extend<br />
its spectrum of shows. Last but<br />
not least, budget pooling between<br />
theaters and institutions for the<br />
purpose of joint full-dome show<br />
production is on the advance. <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> offers its powerdome customers<br />
a number of full-dome shows<br />
for sale.<br />
14 Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008
Applications<br />
Uniview Goes Online<br />
Jan Warnstam<br />
Staffan Klashed<br />
In the last five years, Uniview has evolved and<br />
emerged as the leading visualization tool for<br />
datasets of vastly different scales, from our home<br />
planet to galaxies and quasars, distant in both<br />
time and space. Meanwhile, a parallel evolution<br />
has occured as the Internet has matured from the<br />
early days of static World Wide Web pages to<br />
today’s complex structures of web-based services<br />
and enormous global social networks. To the<br />
Internet user of today, content and knowledge is<br />
always available online somewhere.<br />
We believe that it is time for the digital dome<br />
industry to take this leap into the online world and<br />
we aim to do this by providing the tools to tap into<br />
online sources of both knowledge and content.<br />
Octopus<br />
What do we mean by knowledge in this context?<br />
Knowledge is people, the scientists, and the science<br />
communicators that tell the story about the data and<br />
turn it into information. We know that to tell a story,<br />
nothing beats human contact, and by letting the expert<br />
communicate directly to the audience a unique<br />
level of authenticity is achieved. Even better, the presentation<br />
turns into a dialogue where the audience<br />
has the option of giving comments and asking questions;<br />
thus adapted, the presentation will better suit<br />
their own needs and interests.<br />
In short: by putting real scientific data into the<br />
hands of dome users, and providing tools to bring<br />
forth the significant stories behind that data, we can<br />
create a unique and significant experience for digital<br />
domes. We do this via Uniview Octopus, a new<br />
networking technology that brings live stories from<br />
scientific data creators into the dome. Through Octopus,<br />
scientists and science communicators from<br />
around the world can connect and bring their data<br />
onto that very dome and help audiences around the<br />
world understand the impact of the data presented.<br />
Furthermore, the Uniview Octopus technology<br />
allows multiple scientists to connect to the same<br />
dome, to do joint presentations to public audiences<br />
or even decision-supporting debates and discussions<br />
with policy and decision makers. We believe that<br />
the role of the dome as a scientific outreach tool is<br />
important, and that this networking technology is a<br />
key step in increasing the sense of realness and closeness<br />
to scientific data for dome audiences.<br />
Octopus, together with the general interactivity<br />
of Uniview, adds true interactivity to the digital<br />
dome, bringing the experience to life and making<br />
every session unique.<br />
Geoscope<br />
Now that we have the knowledge, what about<br />
the content? In Geoscope, we set our focus on<br />
the most explored objecs in space; the Earth, the<br />
Moon and Mars, and all the amazing data about<br />
these that is being collected and shared among<br />
online communities. Geoscope supports two technologies<br />
to make this happen – WMS and KML.<br />
WMS, Web Map Services, is a way of downloading<br />
map textures of dynamic resolution,<br />
meaning that as the camera gets closer to the surface<br />
the resolution of the image increases accordingly.<br />
By doing this in a clever way – downloading<br />
and rendering only what is necessary at the<br />
moment – we can handle datasets vastly larger<br />
than what is normally possible – for instance the<br />
Landsat 7 satellite image catalogue which has a<br />
resolution of 15 meters per pixel over the whole<br />
planet.<br />
KML, Keyhole Markup Language,<br />
is an XML-based data format<br />
for vector and raster data;<br />
points, lines, text, images and<br />
placemarks that are all georeferenced,<br />
i.e. referenced to a position<br />
on the Earth. KML is best known<br />
from the Google Earth application,<br />
but it is an open format and, as of<br />
version 2.2, part of the Open Geospatial<br />
Consortium (OGC) implementation<br />
standard. Because of<br />
the connection to Google Earth,<br />
and several other online Earth<br />
browsers, the community for creating<br />
content in KML is very large<br />
and widespread, from amateur enthusiasts<br />
to researchers and GIS<br />
professionals.<br />
The result? Up-to-date exciting<br />
information on your dome, about<br />
planets that touch everybody’s<br />
life. Whether it is climate change<br />
on Greenland, the geography of<br />
the Alps, economy in Asia or the<br />
latest imagery from Mars, there is<br />
a story to be told for every dataset.<br />
And in the end, it is all about stories.<br />
Jan Warnstam<br />
SCISS AB, Sweden<br />
The Alps with elevation data.<br />
The Mediterranean with bathymetry data.<br />
The Great Lakes with object marker.<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008<br />
15
The new Wonder of Jena:<br />
Planetarium with ADLIP<br />
Susann Jacobi<br />
Public Relations Officer<br />
Ernst Abbe Foundation<br />
For more than eight decades, the<br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> Planetarium has been appreciated<br />
by families as a destination<br />
for day trips, and as an expert<br />
source of news on astronomy and<br />
space travel by hobby astronomers<br />
and friends of the stars. Since October<br />
2006, the listed building has<br />
boasted a special attraction: Within<br />
two weeks, an ADLIP Full-Dome<br />
Projection System based on six<br />
powerful lasers was successfully<br />
installed, an enormous challenge<br />
for the entire team, but first of all<br />
for the engineers of the <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
and Jenoptik corporations.<br />
The conversion concluded a<br />
technology era that began with six<br />
panorama slide projectors and<br />
lasted nearly 30 years. The commissioning<br />
of laser full-dome projection<br />
made all old slide and effect<br />
projectors obsolete. Today, the six<br />
high-power lasers completely govern<br />
the 800 m² dome surface. The<br />
digital age has finally taken possession<br />
of the time-honored building,<br />
offering its audiences a thrilling<br />
symbiosis of history and future.<br />
With this technology leap, the<br />
house has reached another milestone<br />
in its history. Thanks to the<br />
combination of full-dome digital<br />
laser projection and an opticalmechanical<br />
star projector, the Jena<br />
Planetarium is unique in the world.<br />
The UNIVERSARIUM Model VIII<br />
projection machine of 1996 was<br />
upgraded with new control hardware<br />
and operating software. The<br />
expanded range of functions corresponds<br />
to that of a Model IX. The<br />
upgrade not only enhanced the<br />
systems reliability but also added<br />
new presentation capabilities.<br />
Already at the reopening gala<br />
in October 2006, visitors could<br />
choose between two astronomical<br />
shows and a childrens show.<br />
“Exploring the Universe – Probing<br />
the Heavens with Galileo” and<br />
“The ABC of the Stars” are fulldome<br />
shows produced by STERN-<br />
EVENT GmbH, the company operating<br />
the Planetarium, implemented<br />
by INTERMEDIA GmbH in<br />
Klagenfurt, and running with<br />
great success since. The shows are<br />
available for sale from <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>.<br />
16 Innovation Special Spezial Planetariums Planetarien 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008
User Report<br />
February 2007 saw the world premiere<br />
of the latest production of<br />
Mirage3D, “Dawn of the Space<br />
Age”. Meanwhile, the number of<br />
full-dome shows has increased to<br />
nine, including “Infinity plus<br />
One”, the worlds first family musical<br />
in full-dome format, commissioned<br />
by the <strong>Zeiss</strong> Planetarium<br />
and starring Reinhard<br />
Lakomy. The Planetarium produced<br />
its own entertaining shows<br />
and, again collaborating with<br />
INTERMEDIA, the full-dome version<br />
of the successful music show<br />
“Queen Heaven”.<br />
A regular feature is “Stars<br />
Live” – live presentations of the<br />
current aspect and events of the<br />
night sky, with UNIVERSARIUM<br />
and ADLIP combining their specific<br />
advantages.<br />
The first FullDome Festival in<br />
March 2007 was a special highlight.<br />
On the initiative of the<br />
Bauhaus University in Weimar,<br />
students of several universities<br />
had taken up the challenge of<br />
the new medium and presented<br />
their full-dome animations and<br />
short films to the public. A first<br />
sequel to the festival in April<br />
2008 demonstrated an amazing<br />
quality leap in full-dome productions.<br />
Many special events add to<br />
the success of Jenas <strong>Zeiss</strong> Planetarium,<br />
not only from the economic<br />
angle. Companies like to<br />
use the exotic atmosphere under<br />
the starlit dome as an exceptional<br />
setting for conferences<br />
and entertainments. The planetarium<br />
seats can be replaced<br />
with tables and chairs for dinner<br />
parties, sufficiently illuminated<br />
by the bright star and laser projections<br />
on the dome; meals and<br />
drinks are provided by the inhouse<br />
“Bauersfeld” restaurant.<br />
A year after the ADLIP installation<br />
– on the first anniversary of<br />
the innovative projection system,<br />
as it were – the Jena <strong>Zeiss</strong> Planetarium<br />
received a federal award:<br />
The initiative “365 Places in the<br />
Country of Ideas” under the patronage<br />
of the German President<br />
Horst Köhler honors institutions<br />
anywhere in Germany for their<br />
innovative spirit and commitment.<br />
Upgrading to a full-dome theater<br />
has been a thorough success.<br />
The roughly 3000 shows and<br />
other events since the Planetarium<br />
was reopened have been<br />
attended by a total of 250,000<br />
people. In the summer of 2008<br />
we expect the 8.5millionth visitor<br />
since the Planetarium’s inauguration<br />
in 1926.<br />
In the listed building erected<br />
in 1924-25, state-of-the-art<br />
equipment provides scientific<br />
education and entertainment.<br />
New programs in the <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
Planetarium in full-dome<br />
format: “Infinity and One”<br />
(family musical, scene with<br />
Einstein), “The ABC of the<br />
Stars“ (childrens show),<br />
“Queen Heaven” and “Pink<br />
Floyd Reloaded” (music<br />
shows).<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008<br />
17
FullDome Festival<br />
Volkmar Schorcht<br />
FullDome Festival in Jena<br />
The successful premiere of a<br />
FullDome Festival at Jena’s <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
Planetarium in 2007 encouraged<br />
a second edition this year. The<br />
2008 FullDome Festival was held<br />
on April 25th and 26th, comprising<br />
a workshop of all participants<br />
under the <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> factory dome<br />
and a public presentation at the<br />
Jena <strong>Zeiss</strong> Planetarium.<br />
The Jena FullDome Festival is<br />
unique in Europe. In connection<br />
with the installation of a full-dome<br />
laser projection system at Jena’s<br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> Planetarium, students of media<br />
science at the Bauhaus University<br />
of Weimar, supervised by Micky<br />
Remann, developed a project entitled<br />
“Astronomy & Media Spaces”.<br />
The project experiments with new<br />
contents suitable for the new capabilities<br />
of full-dome projection.<br />
Students at the Offenbach Academy<br />
of Art and Design had already<br />
been among the active participants<br />
of the 1st FullDome Festival, contributing<br />
short films. Further contributions<br />
came from the Kiel University<br />
of Applied Sciences, where<br />
Eduard Thomas directs the Media-<br />
Dome and has supervised fulldome<br />
projects for several years, and<br />
from the Muthesius Academy of<br />
Fine Arts in Kiel.<br />
The FullDome medium is still in its<br />
infancy, but it is growing at a fast<br />
rate, as shown by the imaginative<br />
works sent in for the 2nd FullDome<br />
Festival. The event was focused on<br />
artistic experiments, short films<br />
produced by students, and professional<br />
applications in the fields of<br />
edutainment, museum education,<br />
interactive worlds, music videos<br />
and games, exemplifying a broad<br />
spectrum of prospects that open<br />
up to the growing global FullDome<br />
community and the public. <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> sees a great creative, entertaining<br />
and educational potential<br />
in full-dome projection.<br />
For the first time, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> Jena<br />
GmbH sponsored the FullDome<br />
Award. The award honored outstanding<br />
festival contributions in<br />
three categories: the Creative<br />
Award for the best idea, the Performance<br />
Award for the best performance,<br />
and the Audience Award.<br />
18<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008
FullDome Festival<br />
The Creative and Performance<br />
Awards were decided upon by a<br />
professional jury comprising lecturers,<br />
experts in aesthetics, and the<br />
hosts, whereas the festival visitors<br />
chose the winner of the Audience<br />
Award. The FullDome Award is intended<br />
to acknowledge works by<br />
students that make visible the<br />
chances of the new medium in<br />
imaginative and exemplary ways.<br />
By sponsoring the awards, <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> wants to motivate students<br />
for continued occupation with the<br />
medium of full-dome projection.<br />
On the first day of the festival,<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> placed its factory dome<br />
at the students and other participants<br />
disposal for a workshop in<br />
which the students presented their<br />
productions and exchanged experience.<br />
The Creative Award was granted<br />
to Thomas Fritzsche and his festival<br />
trailer “The Diver”. This production<br />
creates the illusion that the<br />
festival site (the planetarium) is<br />
filled with water, with a diver starting<br />
the system and the festival. The<br />
jurors liked the idea because its<br />
originality and exciting image direction<br />
are bound to attract people<br />
to the new full-dome medium.<br />
The winners of the Performance<br />
Award, Nico Uthe and Bastian<br />
Böhm, study at the Muthesius<br />
Academy of Fine Arts in Kiel. With<br />
their visualization of „SciaFobia”<br />
(fear of shadows), they turned the<br />
dome into a stage on which twodimensional<br />
figures and objects<br />
and their shadows acted in a virtual<br />
three-dimensional world, in<br />
the style of classical wild chases<br />
and with quotations from film<br />
scores. This production displayed<br />
great practical and dramaturgical<br />
skills from the idea to the finished<br />
product.<br />
Having seen all twenty festival contributions,<br />
the audience in the<br />
filled-to-capacity <strong>Zeiss</strong> Planetarium<br />
chose as its favorite a pleasurable<br />
ballet staged by Thorsten Greiner<br />
of the Offenbach Academy of Art<br />
and Design. The prizewinner used<br />
his own programming to transform<br />
the subject in a completely abstract<br />
way under the apt title of “50%<br />
Illusion”. Using the dome in a truly<br />
innovative way, he made it evident<br />
how much our ways of thinking<br />
and understanding follow set patterns.<br />
The third FullDome Festival<br />
is scheduled to take<br />
place in April 2009. Its<br />
topic will be “Bauhaus and<br />
the Stars”, as a reminiscence<br />
of 90 years of the<br />
Weimar Bauhaus. Interested<br />
parties may directly<br />
contact the <strong>Zeiss</strong> Planetarium<br />
in Jena.<br />
Background:<br />
A scene from SciaFobia by<br />
Nico Uthe and Bastian<br />
Böhm, winners of the<br />
Performance Award<br />
Photo: Courtesy W. Don<br />
Eck, <strong>Zeiss</strong> Planetarium,<br />
Jena<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008 19
Projection Technologies<br />
Ann Wagner<br />
Ann Wagner<br />
Project Manager<br />
Planetarium Division<br />
Projection Technologies<br />
Compared in Saint Louis<br />
When the Mc Donnell Planetarium<br />
in Saint Louis was reopened in<br />
2001 after comprehensive renovation,<br />
its new concept surprised visitors<br />
and planetarium experts alike.<br />
A UNIVERSARIUM Model IX was<br />
put in service under the large 24 m<br />
dome that capped an auditorium<br />
without seats and not bounded<br />
by walls. Thanks to the fiber-optic<br />
system of the ZEISS projector,<br />
though, the projections are not<br />
impaired by the ambient light. (See<br />
Innovation Planetariums Special<br />
No. 4, 2002).<br />
UNIVERSARIUM<br />
Upgrade<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> regularly carries out<br />
maintenance of the Saint Louis<br />
planetarium projector – the best<br />
precaution to ensure proper operation<br />
for decades. This does not<br />
mean that system electronics and<br />
software are left untouched by<br />
technical advancement. In 2006/<br />
07, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> created an upgrade<br />
with new hardware components,<br />
which allows direct coupling with<br />
a <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> digital full-dome video<br />
system, adds new presentation<br />
capabilities by the system software<br />
and enhances system reliability.<br />
The upgrade will be installed in<br />
the course of 2008.<br />
Presentation<br />
of Technologies<br />
Contemplating the installation of<br />
a full-dome video projection system,<br />
the management of the Saint<br />
Louis Science Center approached<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> with the request to<br />
present different projection technologies<br />
on site for comparison.<br />
The large dome of 24 m diameter<br />
and the ambient light reaching<br />
the auditorium from the surrounding<br />
exhibition space poses<br />
a special challenge to digital fulldome<br />
projection. Having accomplished<br />
full-dome installations in<br />
Jena and Valencia, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> does<br />
have experience with extra-large<br />
domes; nevertheless, the situation<br />
in the Mc Donnell Planetarium<br />
was a tricky one.<br />
Optimum conditions for a temporary<br />
installation and friendly<br />
relations with the management<br />
and staff of the Mc Donnell Planetarium<br />
made it easy for <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
to comply with the request. The<br />
demonstration was staged in February<br />
2008. More than 50 planetarians<br />
from different places in<br />
USA seized the opportunity to<br />
see, compare and assess the three<br />
major projection technologies of-<br />
Left:<br />
Scene from “Kaluoka‘Hina –<br />
the Enchanted Reef”,<br />
projected with a Galaxy<br />
projector – maximum<br />
brightness.<br />
Right:<br />
The same scene projected<br />
with ADLIP (Laser Display)<br />
– more intensive colors, best<br />
contrast.<br />
20 Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008
Projection Technologies<br />
fered by <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> with their advantages<br />
and drawbacks: DLP,<br />
SXRD and Laser Display.<br />
For the perfect organization of<br />
the event, our thanks are due to<br />
Seiler Instruments & Mfg. Company,<br />
the agent for <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> planetariums<br />
on the American market.<br />
The systems<br />
With assistance from Barco,<br />
Sony und Jenoptik/RDE, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
installed three systems, each of<br />
which covered about half the dome<br />
with projected video imagery. With<br />
powerdome as the image generator,<br />
a 30-minute sequence had<br />
been prepared, which represented<br />
the full spectrum of full-dome applications,<br />
from the digital night<br />
sky to gloriously colorful computer<br />
animations.<br />
ADLIP, the Laser Display Technology,<br />
was particularly impressing by<br />
its pitch-dark background and extremely<br />
high color saturation. The<br />
DLP technology with projectors of<br />
the Galaxy 12HB+ series was considered<br />
the brightest by far. The<br />
participants found that the image<br />
definition perceived was about<br />
equal with all systems. A specific<br />
advantage of Sony’s SXRD technology<br />
is its high resolution. The two-<br />
projector system needs a single<br />
edge-blending zone only. Altogether,<br />
all three video systems<br />
stood the test under the large,<br />
weakly illuminated dome.<br />
Assessment<br />
Assessing the technologies, the<br />
participants set different priorities.<br />
For some, the deciding factor is the<br />
brightness of the projection system,<br />
whereas others go by high contrast<br />
and saturated colors.<br />
The temporary installation also<br />
demonstrated that powerdome allows<br />
different projection technologies<br />
to be used without any problems<br />
and widely differing requirements<br />
to be met. For the image data<br />
in the powerdome®ImageGenerator<br />
it makes no difference which<br />
projection system is employed.<br />
Once the parameters for the projector<br />
configuration have been<br />
changed, the same image data can<br />
be played back on another projection<br />
system. There is no need for<br />
repeated slicing or other conversion<br />
of the video stream. Powerdome<br />
is the ideal platform for all<br />
the solutions demonstrated.<br />
Comments from the <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
demonstration:<br />
• “Only the laser offered sufficient<br />
contrast.”<br />
• “This demonstration favored<br />
the ADLIP. The ADLIP had the<br />
best background blackness<br />
and channel blending.”<br />
• “ADLIP, although lower brightness,<br />
didn’t look less bright.<br />
Color saturation added a lot of<br />
life to the presentation. Could<br />
not see blend region of projectors.”<br />
• “Sony most immersive feel of<br />
the 3. I felt a part of the scene.”<br />
• “I liked the sharpness of the<br />
Sony. I like the idea of integrating<br />
the Universarium with<br />
fulldome because I felt fulldome<br />
starfield was not great<br />
at representing the real sky,<br />
where fulldome does an excellent<br />
job representing planets<br />
and allowing traveling in<br />
space.”<br />
• “Sony – amazing with two<br />
projectors.”<br />
• “BARCO was very bright but<br />
the black level wasn’t very<br />
good.”<br />
Left:<br />
Scene showing Galileo from<br />
“Exploring the Universe”,<br />
projected with ADLIP (Laser<br />
Display) – maximum<br />
contrast and intensive colors,<br />
no edge blending visible.<br />
Right:<br />
The same scene projected<br />
with a Sony SRX projector –<br />
high definition and brilliance.<br />
Photo credits:<br />
CZ/has.<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008<br />
21
User Report<br />
First powerdome®<br />
Planetarium in U.S.A.<br />
Sheldon Schafer<br />
Director<br />
Lakeview Planetarium<br />
Lakeview Museum, Peoria<br />
Lakeview Museum’s planetarium<br />
is an astronomical resource serving<br />
all of Central Illinois, staffed<br />
with professionals qualified in<br />
astronomy education and interpretation.<br />
Public programs bring the<br />
wonders of the universe and current<br />
astronomical discoveries to<br />
the residents of Central Illinois utilizing<br />
the latest projection technologies<br />
available.<br />
Plans for the new museum<br />
complex include a planetarium<br />
with a larger dome.<br />
Computer graphic:<br />
Peoria Lakeview-Museum<br />
The Lakeview Museum<br />
Planetarium was the first<br />
component of Lakeview Museum in<br />
Peoria, a city with about 100,000 inhabitants<br />
located in Illinois approx.<br />
200 kilometers southwest of Chicago.<br />
It was opened in 1963, two<br />
years before the Museum was constructed.<br />
A Goto M-1 star projector<br />
was installed in the 10 meter plaster<br />
dome. The initial construction was<br />
funded by a donation from Murray<br />
Baker, with additional assistance<br />
from members of the Peoria Astronomical<br />
Society. Principals among<br />
these were R.P. Van Zandt and Dr.<br />
Ernest Landen.<br />
In 1977 the seating was rearranged<br />
to face one direction, and a<br />
Spitz Model 512 Star Projector was<br />
installed. A computer controlled<br />
special effects system was also installed<br />
built by volunteers from the<br />
Caterpillar Computer Club.<br />
In 1989, through a grant from<br />
the Bielfeldt Foundation, a video<br />
projection system was installed. The<br />
system included three video projectors<br />
and a <strong>Sky</strong>-Skan Spice Control<br />
System.<br />
The planetarium serves about<br />
30,000 visitors per year, including<br />
20,000 students from area schools<br />
and colleges. Nearly 1,000,000 visitors<br />
have been to the planetarium<br />
since it opened in 1963.<br />
New: powerdome<br />
On January 26, 2008 the planetarium<br />
in the Lakeview Museum<br />
in Peoria, USA, reopened its doors<br />
to the public after six weeks of<br />
conversion work equipped with a<br />
powerdome®System from <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong>.<br />
The powerdome®System has<br />
not only exceeded our staff’s expectations,<br />
but also those of our<br />
public audience. Their reaction<br />
has been overwhelmingly positive.<br />
Teachers have been similarly<br />
impressed, and can’t wait for their<br />
students to experience the new<br />
system. We are delighted about a<br />
starlit sky ten times brighter than<br />
before and the unequalled precision<br />
of the astronomical presentations.<br />
The projections are much<br />
more crisp and the colors much<br />
more brilliant. The observation of<br />
individual stars’ magnitudes and<br />
the determination of their luminosity<br />
classes can only be done<br />
with a precision optical starfield.<br />
These observations prompt students<br />
in class to discuss stellar<br />
evolution, which is then illustrated<br />
by a full-dome show. Only the<br />
ZEISS powerdome®System has the<br />
versatility to do it all.<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> installed the SKYMAS-<br />
TER ZKP 4 planetarium projector<br />
and SPACEGATE Quinto in January<br />
2008. The combination of<br />
opto-mechanical and digital projection<br />
offers a wide range of new,<br />
hitherto inconceivable possibilities,<br />
which add diversity to the<br />
program. We expect growing audiences,<br />
and families in particular.<br />
This assumption was confirmed by<br />
the throngs of visitors during the<br />
initial days.<br />
Outlook<br />
Plans are under way now for the<br />
erection of a new, larger and more<br />
attractive museum in the city center,<br />
with a bigger planetarium<br />
dome. The powerdome®Planetarium<br />
is a foretaste of the intended<br />
modernization. The planetarium<br />
equipment will be moved into a<br />
new dome as soon as the foundations<br />
for the new museum are<br />
ready.<br />
22 Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008
User Report<br />
Judenburg‘s Star Tower:<br />
a Successful Concept<br />
Judenburg’s city tower was constructed<br />
in the years 1449 – 1509.<br />
In the fall of 2006, a planetarium<br />
equipped with SKYMASTER ZKP 4,<br />
powerdome®SPACEGATE and 65<br />
seats was built into the late medieval<br />
structure. To get to the star<br />
theater situated at a height of<br />
46 m above the tower entrance,<br />
visitors use a glass-walled panorama<br />
elevator running in a glass<br />
well up to a level of 38 m, from<br />
where they walk up 20 steps to<br />
the lookout gallery with the cash<br />
desk and a cafeteria.<br />
The planetarium with its 8.5 m<br />
dome was provided with the most<br />
advanced equipment available for<br />
planetariums of this size: a SKY-<br />
MASTER ZKP 4 and the powerdome®SPACEGATE<br />
Quinto fulldome<br />
video system, both from <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong>. Together with the Dolby surround<br />
system, the illumination and<br />
the open auditorium, from which<br />
parts of the ancient masonry are<br />
visible, provide an overall impression<br />
that is without equal in the<br />
planetarium world.<br />
Shows in the Star Tower comprise<br />
two parts: the demonstration<br />
of the current night sky, and<br />
a full-dome video film.<br />
At present, not less than eleven<br />
different full-dome shows are offered,<br />
with themes from astronomy,<br />
biology, history and astronautics.<br />
In addition there are programs<br />
for children and adolescents, and<br />
music shows.<br />
In all out thematic shows we attach<br />
great importance to live<br />
moderation. The operator-cumnarrator<br />
explains the current aspect<br />
of the starry sky by means of<br />
the ZKP 4 and tells, in an entertaining<br />
manner, whatever is<br />
worth knowing about the nakedeye<br />
celestial objects.<br />
For special guests and professional<br />
audiences we run special<br />
shows on astronomical subjects<br />
and specialist lectures making<br />
use of Powerpoint presentation.<br />
Other events include live concerts,<br />
mainly by instrumental soloists.<br />
We also rent the star theater<br />
out for family parties, business<br />
luncheons and the like. To<br />
all such occasions, the starry sky<br />
lends an enchanting touch.<br />
Since recently, our visitors can<br />
use the interactive astronomy<br />
program “Uniview” and an X-Box<br />
controller to travel through the<br />
solar system in real time, to visit<br />
the planets and their moons, to<br />
fly round our Galaxy, and to get<br />
to the boundaries of the observable<br />
universe. The tremendously<br />
impressive visualization and the<br />
flexibility of presentation make<br />
this an exceptional experience,<br />
which our visitors will remember<br />
for a long time and which is liable<br />
to make them come again.<br />
After more than 18 months of<br />
operation and a total attendance<br />
figure of almost 70,000, it is justified<br />
to consider our concept a<br />
great success. This is no reason,<br />
though, for us to rest on our laurels.<br />
We intend to expand our activities<br />
to sites outside the Star<br />
Tower. In 2008 we plan to lay out<br />
planet paths that extend from the<br />
tower radially and lead into<br />
Judenburg’s surroundings. An<br />
observatory on the Brandkogel<br />
mountain at a height of 1760 m<br />
is at the planning stage, same as<br />
a star hotel in the town. For these<br />
and other projects, sponsors, the<br />
local government and the town<br />
councilors have willingly promised<br />
their support – another sign<br />
that we have taken the right path.<br />
The Star Tower, Judenburg’s tallest<br />
structure (76 m) is an attractive<br />
feature of the town not only<br />
by its mere conspicuousness, but<br />
also by its activities. Judenburg<br />
will probably develop into a<br />
widely known meeting place for<br />
(prospective) astronomy fans.<br />
Hannes Fally<br />
Manager and Technical<br />
Director, Planetarium<br />
Judenburg Star Tower<br />
Auditorium and foyer of<br />
modern design.<br />
Judenburg’s landmark: the Star Tower with the planetarium.<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008<br />
23
New Star Theaters<br />
Norway‘s Most Advanced<br />
Planetarium<br />
Ann Wagner<br />
Project Manager<br />
Planetarium Division<br />
Sandnes in the south of Norway<br />
lies a mere 15 km from Stavanger,<br />
the fourth-largest Norwegian<br />
city. In the course of<br />
time, the two places have almost<br />
merged. Therefore, a new regional<br />
education center named<br />
the “Science Factory” established<br />
in Sandnes forms part of<br />
Stavangers activities as European<br />
Capital of Culture 2008.<br />
Intended to introduce children<br />
and adolescents to science and<br />
technology, the facility was<br />
opened on May 22nd, 2008. Its<br />
core is a planetarium equipped<br />
by <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>.<br />
Umoe Planetariet<br />
Vitenfabrikken<br />
Storgata 26<br />
4307 Sandnes<br />
Norway<br />
Director:<br />
Mrs. Gro Persson<br />
Dome dia.: 8 m<br />
Seats: 60<br />
ZEISS SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
powerdome®SPACEGATE<br />
Opening: May 22, 2008<br />
Tenders for designing the building<br />
of nearly 6,000 m² floor space<br />
had been invited from all over Europe;<br />
the contract was awarded<br />
to Askim og Lantto Architects AS.<br />
The planetarium, the chief attraction,<br />
presents itself as a<br />
sphere hovering in a glass palace,<br />
the architectural highlight and<br />
visitors’ center of the Science<br />
Factory, which accommodates exhibitions,<br />
auditoriums, a library,<br />
workshops, a restaurant and a<br />
museum shop. The sphere has<br />
seats for 60 viewers. <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
landed the order for supplying the<br />
entire technical equipment, featuring<br />
a SKYMASTER ZKP 4 planetarium<br />
projector, coupled with<br />
a powerdome®SPACEGATE fulldome<br />
digital projection system.<br />
It is the third European installation<br />
of this most advanced planetarium<br />
solution for small planetarium<br />
domes. The first two installations<br />
are in Judenburg (Austria),<br />
and Lichtenstein nr. Chemnitz<br />
(Germany).<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> also supplied the projection<br />
dome, the LED dome illumination,<br />
the sound system, a<br />
number of full-dome shows, and<br />
Uniview as an astronomical realtime<br />
software program.<br />
The successful show “Exploring<br />
the Universe – Probing the<br />
Heavens with Galileo” created in<br />
Jena, which combines opticalmechanical<br />
and digital projections<br />
in an intelligent way, will<br />
have its foreign-language debut<br />
in Sandnes. The planetarium’s<br />
program also includes the two<br />
Mirage3D shows “Origins of Life”<br />
and “Dawn of the Space Age” in<br />
Norwegian versions.<br />
The planetarium staff were<br />
thoroughly trained by specialists<br />
of <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>. The training covered<br />
operation and maintenance of the<br />
equipment and was also attended<br />
by members of the Stavanger Astronomical<br />
Society.<br />
24 Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008
Workshop<br />
First powerdome®<br />
Workshop in Jena<br />
Antje Wulff<br />
The first powerdome®System was<br />
delivered by <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> almost two<br />
years ago. Since then, the number<br />
of users of this system has grown<br />
steadily and worldwide – a good<br />
reason for us to enter into an intensive<br />
exchange of experience<br />
with users and testers of powerdome.<br />
In November 2007, <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> invited them to Jena for a<br />
powerdome®Workshop.<br />
The <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> powerdome®System<br />
comprises an image generator<br />
and a platform for combining digital<br />
and analog dome projection.<br />
The emphasis of the workshops<br />
was on training planetarium staff<br />
to compile simple shows themselves.<br />
The workshop started at Jenas<br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> Planetarium. The 22 participants<br />
saw two in-house productions,<br />
“Exploring the Universe –<br />
Probing the Heavens with Galileo”<br />
and the family musical “Infinity plus<br />
One”, followed by “Dawn of the<br />
Space Age”, a show by Mirage3D.<br />
Planetarium director Jürgen Hellwig<br />
and his assistant Tobias Wiethoff<br />
gave insights into the conversions<br />
involved in upgrading the planetarium<br />
with powerdome®ADLIP,<br />
and into the production of shows<br />
using this tool.<br />
The second day started with detailed<br />
introductions to powerdome<br />
and Uniview, the SCISS planetarium<br />
software for presenting the<br />
universe in 3D. Under the test dome<br />
on the <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> premises, twelve<br />
completely equipped workstations<br />
were available to the participants.<br />
Full-dome producers and experienced<br />
powerdome users reported<br />
about their experiences and gave<br />
useful tips on the production of<br />
full-dome picture content.<br />
On the third day, the participants<br />
practiced what they had learned<br />
the day before, and implemented<br />
their own ideas using powerdome.<br />
They could immediately visualize<br />
the sequences they created on the<br />
factory dome. Discussions with the<br />
powerdome users gave <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
suggestions for further improvements<br />
and extensions.<br />
After work, the workshop participants<br />
relaxed in a bowling contest,<br />
clad in uniform powerdome<br />
jerseys.<br />
We would like to thank all participants<br />
for their keen interest and<br />
many suggestions. The success of<br />
the event and the great demand for<br />
it have prompted us to repeat it,<br />
and so we are looking forward to<br />
the next powerdome®Workshop.<br />
Bowling in the “powerdome<br />
team”: Antje Wulff (CZ),<br />
Johan Öhlund (SCISS) and<br />
Wilfried Lang (CZ).<br />
Bochum’s classical show for<br />
children, “Lilli’s ”Lilli’s Journey to<br />
the Moon”, converted for<br />
digital projection with<br />
powerdome.<br />
Background: Under the<br />
powerdome factory dome,<br />
twelve completely equipped<br />
computer workstations were<br />
available to the workshop<br />
participants.<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008<br />
25
New Projects<br />
Three New<br />
Star Theaters in Brazil<br />
Luiz Sampaio<br />
Director<br />
Omnis Lux –<br />
Astronomia & Projetos<br />
Culturais, Brazil<br />
Ever since the first <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> planetarium<br />
was installed in Brazil 50<br />
years ago, the number of ZEISS planetariums<br />
there has constantly increased.<br />
In addition to the wellknown<br />
large-dome star theaters in<br />
Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, a<br />
great many medium- and smalldome<br />
facilities have come into being<br />
that are equipped with <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> projection equipment. Since<br />
1984, Omnis Lux has been the exclusive<br />
and highly successful <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> agent for planetariums in Brazil.<br />
The year 2008 is marked by the<br />
introduction of digital projection<br />
technology. Omnis Lux has landed<br />
several big, demanding projects<br />
centered around the coupling of<br />
optical-mechanical and digital projection:<br />
• The first Brazilian planetarium to<br />
have digital full-dome projection<br />
is under construction in Belo<br />
Horizonte. Equipped with SKY-<br />
MASTER ZKP 4 and powerdome®SPACEGATE,<br />
it is scheduled<br />
to be opened in the second<br />
half of 2008.<br />
• Another system comprising SKY-<br />
MASTER ZKP 4 and powerdome®<br />
SPACEGATE has been sold to Feira<br />
de Santana, the second-largest<br />
city in the State of Bahia. Here,<br />
too, the planetarium is intended<br />
to become operative in 2008.<br />
• A large planetarium is being<br />
built in Santo André near São<br />
Paulo. The 18 m dome will accommodate<br />
the latest planetarium<br />
technology from <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong>: A STARMASTER StarBall<br />
and a powerdome®4DOME system<br />
will combine to deliver fantastic<br />
projections.<br />
With these three new projects, <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> remains the leading planetarium<br />
supplier on the Brazilian<br />
market and proves its strong position<br />
in the digital realm.<br />
The Planetarium in Belo Horizonte will be part of the “Science Square” in the city<br />
center, a joint project of the Brazilian federal government, the Federal University and<br />
the company TIM Brasil.<br />
The Planetarium in Feira de Santana will be the heart of the<br />
new cultural park, the city’s prime cultural center.<br />
The architect’s design shows the Planetarium of Santo André at<br />
the heart of the SABINA Education Center, a science park that<br />
will also be devoted to art and technology.<br />
26 Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008
New Projects<br />
Unbroken Trust in<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> Technology<br />
Our order books are well filled.<br />
The majority of orders are for<br />
combinations of an optical-mechanical<br />
projection machine<br />
with a digital powerdome®System.<br />
We see this as a sign that<br />
our customers have embraced<br />
our concept of combining classical<br />
projection of the star-studded<br />
sky with digital full-dome<br />
projection.<br />
Orders for our new SKY-<br />
MASTER ZKP 4 small-dome planetarium<br />
are absolutely outstanding:<br />
We have booked almost<br />
twice the number of orders expected.<br />
Certainly, the integration<br />
of fiber-optic systems, digital<br />
control of the planet projectors<br />
and direct coupling with our<br />
powerdome®Planetarium are<br />
the decisive reasons for the extremely<br />
great interest in the<br />
ZKP 4.<br />
The demand for large-dome<br />
systems is undiminished, too, as<br />
evidenced by the projects in<br />
Beijing, Nagoya, Boston and<br />
Santo André. The city of Nagoya<br />
is erecting the worlds biggest<br />
planetarium and has ordered a<br />
UNIVERSARIUM Model IX for it.<br />
The first single starball will be<br />
delivered to Santo André: A<br />
STARMASTER SB creates the bright<br />
starry sky, whereas all didactic<br />
projections are generated by the<br />
powerdome®Planetarium.<br />
Grown trust in our competence<br />
in digital full-dome projection<br />
finds expression also in<br />
projects exclusively comprising<br />
full-dome technology, as in Jeju,<br />
South Korea (see front cover).<br />
We can offer customers for our<br />
powerdome®Systems a great<br />
number of full-dome shows. We<br />
have all the capacities needed for<br />
their marketing, source data processing<br />
and providing ready-toplay<br />
video and audio files.<br />
Bogota, USA Colombia<br />
Boston, USA<br />
Bucheon, Korea<br />
Fort Worth, USA<br />
Gaziantep, Turkey<br />
Kearney, USA<br />
Beijing, China<br />
Almaty Planetarium<br />
Almaty, Kazachstan<br />
SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
10 m dome<br />
Beijing Planetarium<br />
Beijing, China<br />
UNIVERSARIUM Model IX<br />
23 m dome<br />
Belo Horizonte Planetarium<br />
Belo Horizonte, Brazil<br />
SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
powerdome®SPACEGATE Duo<br />
9 m dome<br />
Planetario de Bogotá<br />
Bogotá, Colombia<br />
powerdome®4DOME<br />
23 m dome<br />
Charles Hayden Planetarium<br />
Museum of Science<br />
Boston, MA, USA<br />
STARMASTER ZMP<br />
18 m dome<br />
Bucheon City Library<br />
Bucheon, South Korea<br />
SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
powerdome®SPACEGATE Quinto<br />
10 m dome<br />
Planetario della Citta<br />
Cosenza, Italy<br />
STARMASTER ZMP<br />
powerdome®EDITION<br />
15 m dome<br />
Planetarium Feira de Santana<br />
Feira de Santana, Brazil<br />
SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
powerdome®SPACEGATE Quinto<br />
13 m dome<br />
Noble Planetarium<br />
Museum of Science & History<br />
Fort Worth, TX, USA<br />
SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
powerdome®SPACEGATE Quinto<br />
11 m dome<br />
Planetarium in the Science Park<br />
Gaziantep, Turkey<br />
SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
powerdome®SPACEGATE Quinto<br />
10.8 m dome<br />
Jeju City Planetarium<br />
Jeju, South Korea<br />
powerdome®EDITION<br />
18 m dome<br />
Museum of Cosmonautics<br />
“K. E. Tziolk<br />
ziolkovsky”<br />
ovsky”<br />
Kaluga, Russia<br />
SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
powerdome®SPACEGATE Quinto<br />
10 m dome<br />
Univ. of Nebraska Planetarium<br />
Kearney, NE, USA<br />
SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
9.1 m dome<br />
Bays Mountain Planetarium<br />
Kingsport, TN, USA<br />
SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
powerdome®SPACEGATE Quinto<br />
12.2 m dome<br />
Nagoya City Science Museum<br />
Nagoya, Japan<br />
UNIVERSARIUM Model IX<br />
35 m dome<br />
SABINA Planetarium<br />
Santo André, Brazil<br />
STARMASTER SB<br />
powerdome®4DOME<br />
18 m dome<br />
Novins Planetarium<br />
Ocean County College<br />
Toms River, NJ, USA<br />
SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
12.2 m dome<br />
Planetarium<br />
Mt. San Antonio College<br />
Walnut, CA, USA<br />
SKYMASTER ZKP 4<br />
11.5 m dome<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008<br />
27
Applications<br />
A Selection of Shows for<br />
powerdome®Planetariums<br />
“The ABC of the Stars“ is a<br />
basic program for children<br />
and families. It can well be<br />
combined with optical-mechanical<br />
projection of the<br />
sky.<br />
Tim, while watching the<br />
stars together with his<br />
brother Mark and Mark’s<br />
friend Tina, sees a shooting<br />
star and has the wish to fly to<br />
the Moon. Suddenly the children<br />
are beamed to aboard<br />
the spaceship “Observer”.<br />
Once they have overcome<br />
their initial fright, they travel<br />
across the solar system and<br />
visit the planets. They experience<br />
how different the planets<br />
are by nature, land on<br />
Mars and traverse Saturn’s<br />
rings. Then they come perilously<br />
close to the Sun and are<br />
in danger of burning out, but<br />
the space ship manages to escape<br />
and brings the children<br />
to the Moon at last.<br />
Age group: 6 years and over<br />
Running time: 35 min<br />
Languages: German, English<br />
Production: INTERMEDIA<br />
Klagenfurt commissioned by<br />
STERNEVENT GmbH 2006<br />
“Exploring the Universe” offers<br />
fundamental astronomical<br />
knowledge within a suspense<br />
story. Galileo’s ghost<br />
accompanies us on an excursion<br />
into the depths of space.<br />
His personal life story was<br />
closely intertwined with the<br />
painful realization that our<br />
home planet had lost its position<br />
as center of the universe.<br />
Galileos observations<br />
initiated further research,<br />
which finally led to the Copernican<br />
perspective on the<br />
universe, and to Keplers laws.<br />
In addition to historic discoveries,<br />
the show also presents<br />
the current state of<br />
knowledge on the structure<br />
of our solar system and the<br />
universe. The exciting combination<br />
of classical planetarium<br />
and digital video<br />
projection adds much to the<br />
effect of the show.<br />
Age group: all, families<br />
Running time: 40 min<br />
Languages: German, English,<br />
Norwegian, Korean<br />
Production: INTERMEDIA<br />
Klagenfurt commissioned by<br />
STERNEVENT GmbH 2006<br />
“Origins of Life” is about the<br />
fundamental questions of biology<br />
– origin of life, and the<br />
search for extraterrestrial life.<br />
The show informs about the<br />
chemical principles of the<br />
universe, the origin of which<br />
is hidden in the Big Bang,<br />
and illustrates the development<br />
of stars and planetary<br />
systems. It looks into the beginnings<br />
of life on Earth,<br />
touches upon the extinction<br />
of dinosaurs, and deals with<br />
the search for life forms on<br />
other planets.<br />
“Origins of Life” is a fantastic<br />
journey through time<br />
and pays respect of the living<br />
beings inhabiting the<br />
Earth. Presenting many discoveries<br />
made in the recent<br />
past, the show promotes our<br />
awareness of the exciting<br />
goings-on in present-day scientific<br />
research.<br />
Age group: all, families<br />
Running time: 23 min<br />
Languages: Arabic, German,<br />
English, French, Japanese,<br />
Korean, Dutch, Norwegian,<br />
Spanish<br />
Production: Mirage3D 2005<br />
“Dawn of the Space Age” is a<br />
reminiscence of 50 years of<br />
space travel. 2007 was the<br />
50th anniversary of the launching<br />
of Sputnik 1, the first artificial<br />
satellite that orbited the<br />
Earth.<br />
Experience the exciting beginnings<br />
of space travel, from<br />
the start of Sputnik 1 to the<br />
landings on the Moon, and<br />
from the assembly of the International<br />
Space Station to the<br />
first private spaceflights. Trace<br />
the initial competition of political<br />
systems for supremacy in<br />
space, and the peaceful collaboration<br />
between nations<br />
today. Join in the vivid, historically<br />
accurate reconstruction<br />
of mankinds first steps into the<br />
cosmos. Learn about the men<br />
and women who braved the<br />
risks of space travel. Witness<br />
their courage, their passion and<br />
their perseverance in “Dawn of<br />
the Space Age”.<br />
Age group: all, families<br />
Running time: 41 min<br />
Languages: German, English,<br />
French, Korean, Dutch, Norwegian<br />
Production: Mirage3D 2007<br />
28 Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008
Applications<br />
Once upon a time, a sea journey<br />
was one of the most hazardous<br />
adventures. Seafarers<br />
cautiously followed the coastlines,<br />
as they might easily lose<br />
their bearings on the open sea.<br />
Fear accompanied them wherever<br />
they sailed – the fear of<br />
plunging over the edge of the<br />
world. Courageous men like<br />
Columbus and Magellan dared<br />
to sail far out across the ocean<br />
and thus proved that the Earth<br />
is not a disk, but a sphere.<br />
Join the voyage to the limit<br />
in expedition to the edge of the<br />
world!<br />
Age group: school students,<br />
families<br />
Running time: 28 min<br />
Languages: German, English,<br />
French, Italian, Korean<br />
Production: Lucerne Museum of<br />
Transport 2005<br />
An endangered reef, a mystery<br />
about the Moon, two fish, and<br />
the adventure of their life.<br />
“Kaluoka’Hina – The Enchanted<br />
Reef” offers a gripping story, is<br />
full of humor, and teaches us in<br />
a playful way to protect our environment.<br />
Kaluoka’Hina, a gloriously colorful<br />
tropical reef, is under a<br />
spell: It is undiscoverable by men.<br />
Kaluoka’Hina’s colorful inhabitants<br />
have thus always lived in<br />
peace, until the volcano erupts,<br />
and the spell is broken. Now it’s<br />
up to Shorty and Jake to restore<br />
the magic of Kaluoka’Hina. Their<br />
only lead: the ancient legend that<br />
tells of touching the moon.<br />
Age group: children, families<br />
Running time: 32 min<br />
Languages: German, English,<br />
Korean, Spanish<br />
Production: Softmachine 2004<br />
Three things are essential for a<br />
fantastic trip through the solar<br />
system: a cardboard rocket, a<br />
helpful astronomy textbook, and<br />
a measure of imagination.<br />
The rocket is quickly built from<br />
some cardboard box. Load the<br />
cargo balloons filled with fresh<br />
air, a board computer made from<br />
a shoebox, the astronomy book<br />
from the library – don the helmets<br />
and here we go! The adventurous<br />
journey takes the young astronauts<br />
past the Sun, to the terrestrial<br />
planets and the giant gas balls<br />
with their nice rings. The trip is<br />
not without risks, but the astronomy<br />
book helps them survive<br />
all dangerous situations.<br />
Age group: children, families<br />
Running time: 41 min<br />
Languages: English<br />
Production: Clark Planetarium<br />
2003<br />
People have looked to the stars<br />
with questioning and dreaming<br />
minds. All of them, and everyone<br />
who has ever looked heavenward,<br />
have also found questions<br />
in the cosmos. Perhaps the<br />
most common question pondered<br />
over thousands of years<br />
is, “Are we alone?” Does life exist<br />
anywhere else in the universe?<br />
The Search for Life takes visitors<br />
on a once-in-a-lifetime journey<br />
from the depths of Earth’s<br />
oceans to the outer regions of<br />
the universe and depicts how<br />
scientists are searching, as never<br />
before, for signs of life beyond<br />
our world.<br />
Age group: all, families<br />
Running time: 25 min<br />
Languages: Engl., German, a.o.<br />
Production: American Museum<br />
of Natural History 2002<br />
A number of full-dome productions<br />
have been made by Loch<br />
Ness Productions. Some of them<br />
deal with new topics, while others<br />
are remakes of successful<br />
classical shows. The shows are<br />
distinguished by their excellent<br />
price/performance ratio.<br />
• MarsQuest: The Red Planet<br />
from a cultural and scientific<br />
perspective. 2007, 40 min.<br />
• <strong>Sky</strong>Quest: An instructive exploration<br />
of the night sky.<br />
2006, 25 min.<br />
• Hubble Vision 2: The universe<br />
observed with the eye of the<br />
Space Telescope.<br />
2004, 30 min.<br />
• Oceans in Space: The search<br />
for life in the universe.<br />
2006, 30 min.<br />
• Larry Cat in Space: Picture<br />
story of a tomcat who flies to<br />
the Moon. 2006, 30 min.<br />
• Seasonal Stargazing: 2x four<br />
shows introducing to the sky<br />
after sunset.<br />
2007, 14 min. each.<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008<br />
29
News<br />
News from the Planetarium<br />
Division<br />
New Faces in<br />
Customer Service<br />
In February 2008, Robert<br />
Miethe (30) joined the Planetarium<br />
Division as a service<br />
engineer. His primary job is installation<br />
and maintenance of<br />
the planetarium systems. Presently<br />
specializing in the<br />
powerdome®Systems and SKY-<br />
MASTER ZKP 4, his activities will<br />
gradually extend to the divisions<br />
entire product range.<br />
Mr. Miethe, from North<br />
Rhine-Westphalia in Germany,<br />
studied electrical engineering<br />
and computer science at the<br />
Osnabrück University of Applied<br />
Sciences, and electronics<br />
at the Copenhagen University<br />
of technology (Denmark). He<br />
speaks English and Danish fluently.<br />
Before he joined <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> he was employed as a service<br />
engineer with a Danish<br />
company selling electronic devices.<br />
In his leisure time he is a<br />
passionate cyclist and biker.<br />
In the interest of our customers,<br />
we wish Mr. Miethe<br />
every success and satisfaction<br />
in his new job.<br />
Mario Rauh (46) will already be<br />
known to many of our customers.<br />
He has been working with<br />
the Planetarium Division as a<br />
service technician since September<br />
2006. His job is the installation<br />
and maintenance of<br />
our planetarium projectors,<br />
whether optical-mechanical or<br />
digital.<br />
Mario Rauh is not a novice<br />
in the planetarium field. He has<br />
been familiar with <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
star projectors as well as with<br />
planetarium operation. His vocational<br />
training as an electrician<br />
and mechanic at <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
in Jena was followed by 13<br />
years of employment with <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong>, during which he had to<br />
do primarily with the SPACE-<br />
MASTER and COSMORAMA<br />
planetarium projectors. Subsequently<br />
he was a technician at<br />
Jena’s <strong>Zeiss</strong> Planetarium for 14<br />
years.<br />
He likes to go on cycling<br />
tours in the countryside and is<br />
a passionate angler.<br />
We wish Mr. Rauh much<br />
pleasure and creative power in<br />
his responsible job.<br />
Planetarium<br />
Newsletter<br />
Since the end of 2007 the <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> Planetarium Division has<br />
been sending quarterly newsletters<br />
by E-Mail to subscribers.<br />
The Newsletter reports on<br />
news from the Division, including<br />
new developments,<br />
projects and installations, and<br />
other topical news from the<br />
world of planetariums. The<br />
newsletter contains concise<br />
texts in English and telling illustrations,<br />
to be informative<br />
without being tedious.<br />
In case you do not receive<br />
the Newsletter yet, you can<br />
subscribe to it on the <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong><br />
planetarium homepage:<br />
• www.zeiss.de/planetariums,<br />
Link: “Subscribe to the<br />
Planetarium Newsletter”<br />
(English wibe sites) or<br />
• www.zeiss.de/planetarien,<br />
Link: ”Newsletter<br />
abonnieren”.<br />
The new product overview on DVD<br />
can be ordered from the Planetarium<br />
Division.<br />
Product Overview<br />
on DVD<br />
A new DVD-ROM in English<br />
and German presents the <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> spectrum of opticalmechanical<br />
and digital dome<br />
projection systems.<br />
The menu-driven catalog is<br />
organized by dome sizes, allowing<br />
the prospective customer<br />
to quickly select the<br />
projection system(s) eligible<br />
for the intended planetarium<br />
size. The overview also includes<br />
related products such<br />
as Uniview, the astronomical<br />
software for real-time presentation,<br />
and a number of shows<br />
available from <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> for<br />
sale. Textual information is<br />
supplemented by many diagrams,<br />
photos, computer animations<br />
and videos to make<br />
technical details and the differences<br />
between the systems<br />
understandable to lay people.<br />
Texts are reduced to a minimum,<br />
to allow managers, sponsors<br />
and other decision makers<br />
to get an overall view<br />
quickly.<br />
Moreover, the DVD presents<br />
some selected planetarium<br />
projects from all parts of the<br />
world, briefly describes important<br />
innovative <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> technologies,<br />
and gives the contact<br />
data of responsible <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> staff.<br />
You can order the DVD from<br />
our foreign sales agents or direct<br />
from our sales department<br />
in Jena:<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> Jena GmbH<br />
Planetarium Division<br />
+49-3641-642406<br />
planetarium@zeiss.de<br />
30 Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008
News<br />
powerdome®<br />
UserGroup online<br />
The number of users of digital<br />
powerdome®Systems from<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> is growing fast. To<br />
be sure, powerdome is not an<br />
image generator designed<br />
once and for all. The software<br />
with its functionality and its<br />
user interface, as well as the<br />
contents and hardware solutions<br />
are continuously being<br />
advanced. New contents are<br />
not only generated by <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong>; users also readily make<br />
selected productions of their<br />
own available to other powerdome<br />
users free of charge –<br />
from simple images to fulldome<br />
video sequences. As the<br />
community of powerdome users<br />
increases, the exchange of<br />
information and experience<br />
becomes more meaningful and<br />
useful.<br />
To support such exchange,<br />
including that of contents, <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> makes its Extranet accessible<br />
to all powerdome users.<br />
The powerdome®UserGroup<br />
established itself at the first<br />
powerdome®Workshop in<br />
November 2007 in Jena. Its<br />
members are not only users of<br />
powerdome®Systems, but<br />
producers of powerdome applications,<br />
and, of course, <strong>Carl</strong><br />
<strong>Zeiss</strong> specialists.<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> offers to render advice<br />
and support to the User<br />
Group on request, while not<br />
intending to control its development.<br />
The Extranet is meant<br />
as a platform that can be used<br />
by all users and whose contents<br />
are largely developed by<br />
themselves.<br />
Offers to the members of the<br />
UserGroup include, among<br />
others:<br />
• powerdome®Library<br />
with still image, video and<br />
sound databases. The Library<br />
is a platform of exchange<br />
among members.<br />
Users can freely download<br />
contents and make their own<br />
contents available to other<br />
users.<br />
• powerdome®Resources<br />
makes available user-relevant<br />
documents. These include<br />
technical descriptions,<br />
operating instructions, a<br />
glossary, etc., all in PDF format.<br />
• powerdome®Forum<br />
This is a forum of discussing<br />
all questions about powerdome<br />
or related to it, and<br />
finding answers jointly.<br />
• powerdome®UserList<br />
offers a list of powerdome<br />
users for direct contacts<br />
and questions.<br />
Nagoya Erects<br />
Biggest<br />
Planetarium<br />
Since 1962, the Science Center<br />
in Nagoya (Japan) has had<br />
a <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> Model IV planetarium.<br />
After 45 years of<br />
successful educational work,<br />
plans for a grand new building<br />
of the science center are<br />
taking shape in Nagoya.<br />
Again, the planetarium will<br />
be at the heart of the complex,<br />
and with a new dimension<br />
at that: A projection<br />
dome 35 m in diameter will<br />
vault the world’s biggest<br />
planetarium with more than<br />
400 seats.<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> landed the order<br />
for supplying a Model IX planetarium<br />
projector. By virtue of<br />
its excellent technologies,<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> prevailed over Japanese<br />
competitors. The press<br />
talked about the “top model<br />
from Germany”.<br />
The impressive quality of<br />
the UNIVERSARIUM’s realistic<br />
starry sky was a decisive<br />
factor for Nagoya. The enormous<br />
dome size selected results<br />
from the fact that the<br />
similarity of the artificial sky<br />
to the natural one increases<br />
with dome size. For the same<br />
reason, Nagoya opted on a<br />
projector that projects the<br />
very number of stars visible<br />
to the human eye in the natural<br />
sky.<br />
The Planetarium in Nagoya<br />
has attracted about 250,000<br />
visitors annually. When the<br />
new building is ready, annual<br />
attendances are expected<br />
to reach a million.<br />
Intended for the education<br />
of young people, the modernized<br />
science center will<br />
feature large exhibition areas<br />
and interactive exhibits, with<br />
the new planetarium being<br />
in the focus of interest. The<br />
vast complex is scheduled for<br />
completion in 2011.<br />
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> will specially<br />
configure the planetarium<br />
projector for the Nagoya installation.<br />
It will be one of an<br />
international family of large<br />
UNIVERSARIUM projectors in<br />
use in planetariums in New<br />
York, Los Angeles, Rio de<br />
Janeiro, Hamburg, Vienna,<br />
Jakarta, Beijing, Jena and<br />
other places.<br />
Project sketches of the architecture and<br />
the auditorium of the new science<br />
center in Nagoya. A 35 m dome will<br />
make it the world’s biggest planetarium.<br />
(Graphics: Nagoya Science Centre and<br />
Konica-Minolta Ltd.)<br />
Innovation Special Planetariums 7, <strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong>, 2008<br />
31
<strong>Carl</strong> <strong>Zeiss</strong> Jena GmbH<br />
Planetarium Division<br />
www.zeiss.de/planetariums<br />
We make it visible.