What is a planetarium for children at school. What is a planetarium? Planetariums and their work

Planetariums include scientific and educational institutions that display the celestial sphere with planets, stars, satellites, comets, and meteorites; as well as lunar and solar eclipses, panoramas of Venus, Mars, the Moon and climate zones of the world. In these institutions, the demonstration is carried out using a special device called “Planetarium”.

Usually the sessions are supported by popular science lectures on astronomy, literary and artistic or fairy-tale educational (children's) programs. This section of our portal will contain up-to-date information about planetariums in the country and the world.

Planetariums and their work

A session in the planetarium is accompanied by grandiose astronomical special effects - both hemispheres of the celestial sphere are shown, lunar and solar eclipses, meteor showers, comets, etc. are demonstrated. The visitor can see all this miracle thanks to a unique dumbbell-like apparatus. The “planetarium” consists of two huge spheres connected in the middle by an openwork bridge. Each sphere contains 16 projection lights. Metal plates with hundreds of holes punched into them serve as transparencies. Their arrangement is similar to the position of the stars on a skyscraper. The largest hole in diameter does not exceed 1 mm, the smallest is thinner than a hair. After lighting the high-power lamps, the light falls through the punctures onto the dome of the planetarium, where it shows the starry sky in its entirety. Thanks to this miracle device, we can count about 6.5 thousand stars on the dome! The use of small stars further enlivens the sky and makes it more realistic.

One sphere of the apparatus demonstrates the stars of the Northern Hemisphere, the second - the Southern. Thus, we can see not only the starry sky of our usual area, but also visit any other place on the planet: the equator, the South or North Pole. The "dumbbell" handle contains built-in projectors of the Sun, Moon, and five planets visible to the naked eye - Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus and Mercury. The projection device can also demonstrate lunar and solar eclipses, the flight of artificial satellites, comets and meteors. The presence of additional projectors allows you to display the names of the main constellations. The Planetarium apparatus consists of about two hundred projection devices.

Thanks to its use, we can see celestial phenomena that cannot be seen in reality. For example, we can be shown the position of heavenly bodies in the past and future. The planetarium is an amazing time machine that can take you to any century. In the planetarium we manage to conquer time and space; this is a truly unique place where you can spend your leisure time interestingly and learn a lot about the world around us.

History and equipment of planetariums

The idea of ​​founding a planetarium first appeared in 1919 by the founder of the German Museum in Bavaria, O. Miller. Already in 1923, the first projection apparatus was built in Jena at the K. Zeiss plant. In October of the same year, the work of the projector was demonstrated at the German Museum. Two years later, the world's first planetarium was officially opened on the territory of the same museum. Also in 1925, a second starry sky projector was produced and left in Jena. Thanks to its ability to demonstrate the starry sky from any point of latitude, the device gained worldwide fame and recognition. The first planetarium appeared on the territory of the USSR in November 1929 (Moscow), on the American continent - in 1930 (Chicago, USA).

Currently, there are several thousand planetariums in the world. Almost half of them are represented by synthesized systems consisting of a mechanical-optical planetarium device and a digital projection system.

Most planetariums are going digital to replace a system of interconnected projectors. The use of digital projectors provides an opportunity to overcome some limitations. Manufacturers of these types of projectors claim that their creations require lower operating costs. The reliability of such systems is much better than that of traditional analogues. This is because digital projectors do not require multiple systems to be synchronized and use comparatively fewer moving components. Some planetariums successfully combine digital and traditional optical projectors on one sphere.

Advanced innovative technologies have reached digital planetariums. The image quality on the dome is comparable to the screen of a modern cinema, which is why the slang “full-dome cinema” is common among young people. The use of revolutionary software has made it possible to use up to 64 projectors, which can be controlled from one server. Image calibration is carried out automatically, and you can even use household projectors to improve image quality.

Domes in the planetarium

• Stationary domes. Made from metal structures with fastening of perforated sheets that form a sphere. The role of perforated sheets is for ventilation needs, and they are also needed to be able to place sound speakers outside the dome.
• Vacuum frame domes. Superchargers between the two shells of the dome (inner and outer) create a vacuum, due to which the inner part (screen) receives a perfectly flat spherical shape.
• Inflatable domes. The peculiarity of inflatable dome technology is that air enters the sealed structure of the dome, then, due to greater internal pressure, it takes the desired shape. Such a dome can withstand wind loads better than lightweight frame structures, so it can be effectively used outdoors for a short time.

News about planetariums onKvant. Space

This section of our portal about space will be useful for absolutely everyone. Here you will find up-to-date information about upcoming sessions in the planetariums of your city. Do you love looking at the night sky? Take your time to visit the planetarium and have a lot of fun. In this category of the portal site you will find everything related to this special place of leisure. A person who attends a session in a planetarium at least once will fall in love with this institution for life. These scientific and educational buildings with a dome at the top immerse their visitors in the fascinating world of astronomy. It is interesting to look at the stars for both adults and children. Not even a real, but so realistic starry sky can cause a storm of positive emotions and delight.

We, as the owners of the website portal, will compile our own reviews of planetariums, compare their programs and post all the information on the pages of this section. Stay tuned!

Planetariums are just what a budding astronomer needs. It is here, on a huge screen projected onto the hemispherical dome of the ceiling, that you can see spectacular star shows and hear educational lectures about planets, stars and the Universe.

A wonderful machine of space and time is called a “planetarium” - a complex projection apparatus for demonstrating the starry sky, the Sun, the Moon, planets, and various astronomical phenomena. Planetariums are also called scientific and educational institutions in which the “planetarium” apparatus is used to give lectures on astronomy, cosmonautics, geography, etc. The “planetarium” apparatus looks like a giant dumbbell - two huge spheres connected by an openwork jumper. Each sphere contains projection lights. And transparencies are metal plates with hundreds of tiny holes located in the same way as stars in the sky. One sphere shows the stars of the northern hemisphere of the celestial sphere, the other - the southern. Thanks to this, in the Star Hall you can see the sky of any place on the planet, visit the equator, the North or South Pole. Projection devices can demonstrate solar and lunar eclipses, “tailed” luminaries - comets, “shooting stars” - meteors, and the flight of artificial Earth satellites. The “planetarium” apparatus is capable of compressing time and therefore can demonstrate celestial phenomena that are difficult, if not impossible, to observe in reality, for example, the positions of celestial bodies in the past or future.

The idea of ​​​​creating a planetarium belongs to the director of the Heidelberg Observatory, Professor Max Wolf. In 1913, he proposed to the founder of the German Museum in Munich, Dr. Oskar Müller, to make two devices that would show a view of the solar system. But soon the war began and the first planetarium apparatus was created only in 1924 at the Zeiss plant in Germany. In 1926, engineer W. Bauersfeld built a more advanced apparatus, the large universal “Zeiss Planetarium,” which could show the sky of different latitudes.

Now the "planetarium" is a complex automated tool. It allows you to depict the daily rotation of the sky at different geographic latitudes on a hemispherical dome-screen; annual change in the appearance of the sky; starry sky for an imaginary observer on the Moon, Mars, Venus. Special devices allow the viewer to create the full impression of participating in a space flight, an interplanetary flight, or a journey around the planet.

Special projectors are used to demonstrate the movements of the Sun, Moon and five planets visible to the naked eye. Special instruments project the celestial equator, ecliptic, celestial meridian and other points and lines of the celestial sphere onto the dome.

In the planetarium you can “accelerate” (for clarity) the daily and annual movement of the Sun and planets. Planetariums are equipped with projectors for auroras, comets, meteors, solar and lunar eclipses, variable stars, novae, artificial Earth satellites and other celestial bodies and phenomena.

In Russia, the first planetarium opened in Moscow on November 5, 1929. It was the 13th planetarium in the world and only the third outside Germany (after Vienna and Rome). Mayakovsky dedicated the poem “Proletarian, proletarian, come to the planetarium!” to the opening of the planetarium!

It’s hard to say how many planetariums there are in the world. But in the USA alone there are about 1000 of them, in small Japan - 400 planetariums, and in Russia - about 30.

Planetariums exist in many major cities around the world. But now we will limit ourselves to a brief overview of the planetariums in Russia and Ukraine.

Planetariums of Russia

The first planetarium in Russia was Moscow, built in 1929. Among other planetariums that appeared only in 1948 was Tomsk. Not all Russian planetariums have specially constructed buildings (such as St. Petersburg, Perm, Volgograd, Saratov). Some are located in adapted premises (for example, Bryansky, Vladimirsky, Kirovsky); The Tomsk Planetarium operates without any premises. Unfortunately, several planetariums closed for various reasons (Tambov, Taganrog, Kurgan, Kazan, Makhachkala, Pyatigorsk).

Moscow Planetarium (www.planetarium.ru) - a center for the popularization of natural science knowledge; was opened on November 5, 1929. The main activity is conducting public lectures and scientific and artistic programs on astronomy and cosmonautics, the formation of a scientific worldview based on a generalization of the achievements of modern natural science. At the observatory of the Moscow Planetarium, through a telescope you can observe spots on the Sun, Moon, planets and other celestial objects.

Tomsk Regional Planetarium (www.astro.tomsk.ru/planeta) is one of the oldest in Russia; in November 2003 it turned 55 years old. All these years, active work has been carried out in children's institutions in the city of Tomsk. Entertaining programs on astronomy, cosmonautics, natural science, interesting holidays, scientific conferences are a constant success with children and their teachers. The planetarium staff constantly monitors new achievements in the research of the Universe, instills in children an interest in the world around them, and contributes to the formation of a scientific worldview. Unfortunately, the planetarium has not had its own premises for 15 years.

The St. Petersburg Planetarium (www.planetarium.pl.ru), opened in 1959, is located in the historical center of the city - Alexander Park on the Petrogradskaya side. In the Star Hall of the planetarium there is the main apparatus - the “planetarium”. It reproduces with great accuracy on the dome the most important astronomical phenomena that can be observed with the naked eye: the starry sky of the Earth, the daily movement of the firmament, the annual movement of the Sun and planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn), the monthly movement of the Moon with changing phases, 17 nebulae and star clusters, the Milky Way, variable stars (Algol in Perseus, Mira Ceti, Delta Cephei). Many special instruments are used in training sessions for schoolchildren and students to demonstrate the equator, ecliptic, poles, meridian, navigation triangle, declination circles, counting years, changes in the altitude of the celestial pole, and precession. The Star Hall hosts popular science, subscription lectures, programs, scientific, artistic and musical compositions, meetings with scientists, astronauts, and New Year's performances. The observatory of the planetarium houses the largest refractor telescope in the city with a diameter of 180 mm, through which you can observe various celestial objects: the Sun, planets, comets, the Moon, double stars, galaxies, nebulae. At the St. Petersburg Planetarium there is a Center for Natural Science Education (TSENO). It brings together children interested in astronomy, physics, astronautics, mathematics and other natural sciences. Teachers working with children use various forms of teaching, which makes it possible to study in a circle from primary school age. Classes take place in the classroom of the planetarium. The children take part in excursions and observations at the telescope at the Pulkovo Observatory. The planetarium houses the only Foucault pendulum in northwestern Russia, the length of which is 8 meters.

Planetariums of Ukraine

In Ukraine, there are planetariums in many large cities: Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk (www.siesta.dn.ua/planetarium.htm), Kharkov, Kherson, Vinnitsa, Cherkassy.

Kyiv Planetarium (www.znannya.org.ua/planetarium/r-index.htm). One of the best and largest planetariums in the CIS, founded in 1952 by the world famous astronomer Sergei Konstantinovich Vsekhsvyatsky. This is a multimedia center that allows you to experience the breathtaking speed of flight among the stars, visit other planets and other worlds, simulate the launch of a spaceship and feel like a real brave explorer of the Universe. The star hall of the planetarium has a dome with a diameter of 23.5 meters and can accommodate 320 spectators. A kaleidoscope of planetarium encounters under the stars includes arts programs and educational lectures to support the school's astronomy, geography and natural history curriculum. The capabilities of the planetarium make it possible to explain the laws of nature with great clarity and to experience what neither the classroom, nor books, nor television can provide.

Kharkov Planetarium (www.planetarium.com.ua). The main direction of activity is carrying out educational, methodological, cultural and educational work. The Star Hall is a special astronomical center with a wide variety of possibilities and a natural reproduction of the starry sky. The Kharkov Planetarium uses interesting techniques and means of teaching astronomy. About 100 lighting effects of the RFP Spacemaster are used in different programs. The highest point of the planetarium is the dome of the Meniscas telescope from Carl Zeiss Jena. The Meniscus-mirror Cassegrain telescope type 150/2250 was installed in 1975. The diameter of the mirror is 150 mm, the focal length of the system is 2250 mm, with the length of the entire pipe structure less than 1 m. A synchronous motor is used for guiding. The five-socket eyepiece revolver allows you to quickly change magnification from 56x to 375x. The planetarium traditionally devotes a lot of time to working with amateur astronomers. The amateur telescope building club produced instruments of various systems and tested the quality of astronomical optics. The priority form of work in the Star Hall is holding lectures. The planetarium uses a synthesized approach to the popularization of knowledge. The scientific, artistic, philosophical, mythological, and musical perception of the universe is united into a single whole.

Virtual and Web planetariums

Let's say you want to see a solar or lunar eclipse, but you don't know when it will happen, or you want to know the position of the stars at the time of your birth, or during the construction of the pyramids of Egypt. Of course, you can buy the relevant literature, but it becomes outdated very quickly, you can ask knowledgeable people, but the information sometimes turns out to be inaccurate, you can connect to the Internet, but spend a lot of time searching. Or you can simply use the appropriate (astronomical) programs, or rather, one of their varieties - virtual planetariums.

As you know, paper star maps have a number of disadvantages: display occurs only at a certain scale and there is no possibility of changing scales (when publishing maps with a larger scale, the number of map sheets also increases), such a map can only include stars and deep space objects (galaxies) , nebulae, star clusters), whose coordinates change very little over time. And for planets, asteroids and comets, these values ​​change very quickly, so it is impossible to make changes to the maps, since this operation has to be done either manually or reprinting the entire map.

To eliminate all these shortcomings, so-called virtual planetariums (Software Planetariums) were created. In this case, planetariums are ordinary Windows applications that can display a star map at any time (from several thousand years BC to several thousand years AD) anywhere on the globe. They are also capable of displaying not only “static objects” - stars, but also planets and their satellites, comets, and asteroids. Also, many of them display not only the view of the starry sky from the Earth, but also the view of the Solar System “from the outside” - relative to the observer “external” to it.

Do you know what a planetarium is? Perhaps yes, but most likely not all, so read the article carefully. A planetarium is a project that is used to project images of stars, planets, the sun and other celestial bodies. At the same time, the brightness and position are maintained, and He can reproduce the picture of the sky observed from anywhere on the Earth, both in the past and in the future. This is a mini time machine. This device is necessary for astronomers to conduct research, but it is also very loved by ordinary people who are interested in the mysteries of the Universe. When talking about what a planetarium is, people often mean the room itself with a hemispherical dome where this device is installed and operates, or the entire building.

History of creation

It dates back to the ancient world; the first instruments for studying the stellar galaxy date back to approximately the 6th century BC. People then did not yet know what a planetarium was, but they were already trying to create a model of the Universe and track the laws operating in it. For example, the philosopher Anaximander, who lived before Socrates, invented a celestial globe, where images of celestial bodies were applied to its surface. Later, this device was improved more than once by various scientists, but they were united by one drawback - they represented the sky viewed from the outside.

German scientists under the leadership tried to correct it in 1650. They proposed a model of a huge Gottorp globe, inside which several people could simultaneously observe the location of celestial bodies. In parallel, there was an equally rapid development of instruments that calculated their movement. Finally, in 1855, the scientific world learned what a planetarium was. O. Miller proposed using the inner surface of the sphere to project images of celestial bodies onto it. The size, brightness and position of the stars were similar to what could be seen without the use of optics (which did not yet exist) in the sky. The picture was presented in dynamics, that is, it demonstrated daily movement.

Modern realities

A lot has changed today. We have access to powerful telescopes and satellites that can constantly broadcast images of the starry sky in the immediate vicinity. It is this data that is recorded and then broadcast to the dome. This creates a powerful illusion of being in the open air. In addition, modern technologies make it possible to complement the experience with music and voiceover recordings, as well as special effects. This is how planetariums turned into real theaters that not only teach, but also give the opportunity to experience an extraordinary adventure.

Planetarium in Moscow

Russia is rightfully proud of him. It is the oldest in our country and is known all over the world due to its colossal size. His work has always been highly valued by scientists. It makes a great contribution to the training of specialists and provides the opportunity to conduct a variety of research.

The planetarium in Moscow deserves close attention not only among people associated with science. Ordinary visitors come here much more often, because nowhere else can you see the stars so close. Today, a whole series of entertaining and educational excursions has been created that will be of interest to both adults and children. The Great Star Hall, the Urania Hall, and the interactive “Lunarium” operate here. In addition, there are two observatory towers, a 4D cinema and a Small Star Hall. This is enough to enjoy the mysterious twinkling of distant stars and gain new knowledge about our galaxy.

Urania Museum

This museum will be more interesting for adults. Essentially, these are chronicles of the development of astronomy. Devices that previously lit up the artificial sky within these walls are located under the ceiling and along the walls. It will be interesting to look at the first devices that were used to make movies about space. You will be able to see the constellation globe and the model of Venus. On the walls hang photographs of the Moon, nebulae, and constellations. There is also a stand of space stones where you can see a variety of meteorites.

Great Star Hall

It is both a cinema and an extraordinary museum. When you go inside, you see a huge dome (diameter 25 meters) and many seats. In the center is the apparatus itself, the real pride of local astronomers, the latest generation projector. It is thanks to him that you will be able to fly to unknown worlds. Next, visitors are asked to move their chairs to a horizontal position, and the stars begin to light up under the dome. The program consists of two parts, the first introduces the starry sky, the main constellations, nebulae, and comets. The second is an exciting journey into another world, one of the full-dome films: “Cosmic Impact”, “Black Holes”, “The Amazing Telescope”, “Journey to the Stars”. The image under the dome is complemented by special effects and sound.

Observatory of the Moscow Planetarium

Usually one gets here after visiting the Great Star Hall. To do this, you will have to go down to the second level of the museum and go straight to the Sky Park. This is also a kind of museum, the exhibits of which belong to the following sections: classical and ancient astronomy. On the site you can see Stonehenge, a stunningly sized globe of the earth and several models of an almost forgotten sundial.

Next, your path will lead to one of the two towers. These are the large and small observatories of the Moscow Planetarium. They are located on the territory of the astronomy site, among a replica of Stonehenge, pyramids and a sundial. These are two-story, single-dome buildings. On the second floor, in a spacious building, there is a 300 mm telescope. It is a viewing tube on a thick leg. For its operation, the dome opens slightly in the desired direction. The design allows it to open to any desired degree, so it is very convenient to conduct observations. Be sure to come here if you decide to visit the planetarium. The observatory leaves the most vivid impressions.

The last hall is “Lunarium”

More precisely, these are two halls. They clearly demonstrate what a planetarium is for children. There are instruments here that are familiar to us from physics lessons; they help us visually see various natural phenomena. Everything can be touched, twisted, rocked. For example, you can pump out air from a flask, create a vacuum and see a ball fly in it. There are several guides working here who explain the operation of instruments and phenomena, and also talk about the features of our Solar System. There are devices here that demonstrate plasma or travel. And the main attraction is a simulator on which you can practice the skills of connecting a ship with a space station. In the lower hall you will find a huge number of interesting devices.

Studying the starry sky at home

For this purpose, today there are various devices called “home planetarium”. They come in different sizes, power and functional loads. But they have the same principle - it’s a projector that transmits an image of the starry sky to the ceiling. The simplest models are more like night lights, but an additional feature is the projection of a star image. The more expensive the model, the more images it can reproduce. Imagine how wonderful it is to lie down in the evening with your child and imagine that you are going on a journey, for example. You won’t need books with fairy tales for a long time, because you can compose your own every time, and a home planetarium will help you.

A real planetarium in your city

Not everyone is lucky enough to live in a city where there is such a wonderful facility. That's why the mobile planetarium was created. This wonderful invention will enliven boring astronomy lessons, making them visual and colorful. It is an inflatable dome that can be easily installed in the assembly hall. Inside it, children sit on mats and the magic begins. On the inner surface you will see a projection of celestial bodies. Films are shown using visual and audio effects. The information is presented in an accessible form; there are tapes adapted for children from 3 to 18 years old. Such activities are very different from a regular school lesson or reading textbook material. This is an opportunity to experience space flight live.

A planetarium is a scientific and educational entertainment institution - a dome theater, in which images of the starry sky and space objects are shown on a hemispherical screen (dome) using optical-mechanical projectors and digital technologies, and programs about the Earth and the Universe are created and conducted.

You sit down in a chair, the lights go out and the window to the Universe opens...

For an hour you enjoy the miracle of the grandeur and beauty of space...

Music, computer graphics of cosmic phenomena, colorful slides, panoramas of the Moon and planets create the effect of presence in the Universe, turning the planetarium programs into a fascinating spectacle, memorable for both children and adults. Everyone discovers their own planetarium: for the youngest viewers the planetarium program is a fairy tale and a miracle, for the older ones it is a well-illustrated conversation or show under the starry sky, but it is always professionally verified knowledge that opens a window to the Universe.

In terms of technical equipment, the Ufa Planetarium is one of the best in Russia. In the very center of the star hall there is a modern starry sky projector – ZKP-3 “Skymaster”, manufactured by Carl Zeiss (Germany). With its help, on the dome of the planetarium you can see so many stars and such bright ones that only astronauts see them.

• The diameter of the planetarium dome is 8 m
• 8300 stars up to 6.5 magnitude from anywhere on Earth
• Outlines of the most famous constellations, including the zodiac constellations
• Milky Way
• Lines of the celestial sphere
• Annual movement of the Sun and planets
• Moon movement and phases
• Flight of meteors, etc.

Since 2014, a multi-projector digital system has been installed in the star hall of the planetarium, which allows showing full-dome show programs using 3D computer animation. The planetarium has gone beyond the classical model and now, in addition to traditional programs, full-dome programs (films) are shown, when a three-dimensional, dynamic picture unfolds over the entire surface of the dome. There are no more screen boundaries - viewers see the film above and around them, and you become a participant in the events. This creates an amazingly immersive experience that can be compared to 3D without glasses, but with a completely immersive effect.

For the first time in our city, films are shown in a new format, different from anything you have seen so far. You can find out more detailed information about full-dome equipment

A planetarium is a place where you will have the opportunity to learn a lot of interesting and useful things about the stars, space, and also see them with your own eyes.

One of the most widely known and oldest in the whole world are the halls of the Moscow Planetarium. You can rightfully be proud of them.

The Moscow Planetarium not only conducts various research, but also creates conditions for the training of highly qualified specialists, whose works and works occupy one of the first places on a global scale.

An integral attribute of large planetariums is the ceiling, the so-called dome. It is made in the form of a hemisphere, and it is this that creates the impression that you are in the very center of the starry sky.

In a more simplified version, a planetarium can be considered as institutions located on the basis of schools and higher educational institutions. They are mainly engaged in showing films and giving lectures.

Not only children, but also adults want to visit the planetarium. After all, when you get there, you will gain a lot of new knowledge and discover the mysterious world of stars and planets. The atmosphere in planetariums gives the impression of something magical and mysterious.

Capabilities of planetariums. Digital planetarium

Scientific and technical support and the direct dimensions of planetariums make it possible to:

• show scientific and documentary films;
• arrange attractions;
• give lectures on new research in the field of astronautics;
• observe the stars through special devices.

Due to the constant development of various scientific technologies, digital planetariums have recently gained great popularity. Using the latest technology and the ability to create a very extensive panoramic image, they are attracting more and more people to visit this unique building.

At the present stage, the planetarium is used not only as an object for educational purposes. Various special effects and features, a wide program of entertainment make it possible to visit it for people who are not at a professional level interested in space and have a desire to take a close look even at the Moon or Mars.

The entertaining and educational program of planetariums is becoming more and more attractive to new visitors. If possible, be sure to visit the planetarium, and the impression it will make on you will be simply amazing.

Moscow Planetarium in video: