Seminole State's planetarium: 'A place where anything is possible'

For years I have envisioned the planetarium to be the ultimate immersive classroom experience. A place where students and the public alike could learn about almost anything in a way a normal classroom couldn’t deliver. A place where anything is possible. In June 2022, the Emil Buehler Planetarium at Seminole State College of Florida closed its doors to begin what would be a near yearlong series of renovations and upgrades that would transform the planetarium into such a place. Let me take you on that journey, from an aging planetarium to a state-of-the-art immersive learning facility. 

Out with the Old, in with the New

For the past several decades, the planetarium's show piece was our Minolta Star Projector. This device, which projected a realistic night sky onto the planetarium's dome, was beginning to show its age. Rather than trying to repair the outdated technology, we decided to replace it entirely with a new full-dome projection system. To fulfill our goal of becoming the ultimate immersive classroom, we chose the company COSM, which supplies a system called Digistar developed by Evans and Sutherland. Upon seeing a demo of the system, we knew it had the potential to make my dream conceivable. 

The new Digistar system is one of the most exciting updates to the planetarium. This cutting-edge technology allows for a much more dynamic and immersive experience for visitors. Unlike the old Minolta Star Projector, Digistar can project a wide range of content, including a stunning virtual night sky, immersive 360 video and photos, simulations of the human body and other non-astronomy subject matter. This is what I wanted; this was the immersive classroom! 

Delayed but Undeterred

In 2020 we received word that the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust, the planetarium's namesake, would provide most of the grant funds needed to purchase the new system. The College's Executive Team then decided to help provide the remaining funds needed for the purchase. In late 2021, we were able to begin the purchasing process, but there were major hiccups.

Due to delays in chip shortages and other electronics, the installation of the new projection system would occur in January 2023. Until them, we pressed forward with other renovations. The overall aesthetic of the planetarium was refreshed, including new acoustic panels, seat covers, and wall paint with a new color scheme that matches Seminole State's brand colors. The Minolta Star Projector also had to be removed, and we hired a friend of mine who serviced our projector for nearly 25 years to help disassemble it and remove it from the planetarium. It was a very daunting process but with patience and determination, we did it. Everything was now ready for the installation of the new system.

Preview Nights Provide a Sneak Peek

 The week of Jan. 16, the Digistar system was installed. Training occurred in February, and our first preview night of the new system was held on March 31. These preview nights allow the public to get a sense of what’s to come with our new system. 

Time is needed to develop new shows, design the curriculum for school field trips, and more to get the planetarium fully operational. Our grand reopening of the planetarium series of events is slated for the fall. The dream of the immersive classroom will be fulfilled and fully operational, and I am excited to invite you to this next generation planetarium, to explore our cosmos and to GO beyond.