Mueller Planetarium brings full dome show of space history
Alina Selyukh
Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: News
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For Jack Dunn, "It's nirvana."
Mueller Planetarium at the Nebraska State Museum is purchasing a full-dome show "Dawn of the Space Age" and will start running it Nov. 11.
Dunn has been the coordinator for the planetarium for years.
He remembered using the 31.5-foot-wide dome for merely showing the night sky with a star projector and slides.
He remembered getting support from the Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum, and replacing the obsolete equipment with the spherical mirror system, which uses the dome as a giant screen to immerse the audience right into a show's digital world.
Since June, Mueller has run two shows: a cartoon, "Secret of the Cardboard Rocket" and a 3-D natural history show, "The Origins of Life."
Now a new one, "Dawn of the Space Age," will be added into the planetarium's repertoire. It will temporarily replace "Origins," Dunn said.
"It is very timely," Dunn said, referring to the anniversaries of founding of NASA, the space walk and Yuri Gagarin's first space flight. "I finally get a chance to portray what I grew up with (for younger generations) to show the excitement."
The show, produced by Mirage 3D of the Netherlands, begins with the launch of Sputnik and explores the development of space history.
"One thing (Robin Sip, show director) told me he hoped to do with his program," Dunn said, "was to inspire people for the future."
As for the future of the show at the planetarium, its purchase will be paid for by gate revenue, corporate and private support, said Mark Harris, the museum associate director.
The Mueller Planetarium is currently in negotiations for price and payment process with Mirage 3D and Sip. However, the collaboration is a pleasure, Dunn said.
"Jack is somebody who has given the most extensive feedback on our first movie, 'Origins of Life,'" Sip said in an e-mail. "He has given a lot of encouragement to us to continue making these full-dome video movies, so I'm very glad he is playing 'Dawn of the Space Age' in Nebraska."
Because the full-dome medium is so new, people are still trying to figure out what content looks good in it, Dunn said.
It took almost two years for Sip and a group of animators, financed with Sip's own money, to create a highly-detailed digital version of rocket launches, space travel and other features of space history.
Dunn said the creation of the show was a labor Sip felt passionate about, and the "charming touches" Sip added makes it interesting for families.
"Now we are able to present fantastic science-related movie productions that fill our entire 360 degree dome," Harris said. "That, coupled with our surround sound, makes it a truly unique and enjoyable experience."
alinaselyukh@dailynebraskan.com
Mueller Planetarium at the Nebraska State Museum is purchasing a full-dome show "Dawn of the Space Age" and will start running it Nov. 11.
Dunn has been the coordinator for the planetarium for years.
He remembered using the 31.5-foot-wide dome for merely showing the night sky with a star projector and slides.
He remembered getting support from the Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum, and replacing the obsolete equipment with the spherical mirror system, which uses the dome as a giant screen to immerse the audience right into a show's digital world.
Since June, Mueller has run two shows: a cartoon, "Secret of the Cardboard Rocket" and a 3-D natural history show, "The Origins of Life."
Now a new one, "Dawn of the Space Age," will be added into the planetarium's repertoire. It will temporarily replace "Origins," Dunn said.
"It is very timely," Dunn said, referring to the anniversaries of founding of NASA, the space walk and Yuri Gagarin's first space flight. "I finally get a chance to portray what I grew up with (for younger generations) to show the excitement."
The show, produced by Mirage 3D of the Netherlands, begins with the launch of Sputnik and explores the development of space history.
"One thing (Robin Sip, show director) told me he hoped to do with his program," Dunn said, "was to inspire people for the future."
As for the future of the show at the planetarium, its purchase will be paid for by gate revenue, corporate and private support, said Mark Harris, the museum associate director.
The Mueller Planetarium is currently in negotiations for price and payment process with Mirage 3D and Sip. However, the collaboration is a pleasure, Dunn said.
"Jack is somebody who has given the most extensive feedback on our first movie, 'Origins of Life,'" Sip said in an e-mail. "He has given a lot of encouragement to us to continue making these full-dome video movies, so I'm very glad he is playing 'Dawn of the Space Age' in Nebraska."
Because the full-dome medium is so new, people are still trying to figure out what content looks good in it, Dunn said.
It took almost two years for Sip and a group of animators, financed with Sip's own money, to create a highly-detailed digital version of rocket launches, space travel and other features of space history.
Dunn said the creation of the show was a labor Sip felt passionate about, and the "charming touches" Sip added makes it interesting for families.
"Now we are able to present fantastic science-related movie productions that fill our entire 360 degree dome," Harris said. "That, coupled with our surround sound, makes it a truly unique and enjoyable experience."
alinaselyukh@dailynebraskan.com
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