What is the name of the instrument used in planetariums to project the
stars on the ceiling? I’ve seen it called “star projector” but for some reason I think it has some fancy-schmancy Latin name too. Anybody know?
You won’t believe this but it’s called a…planetarium. I know; I’m shocked, too.
What do I believe in? Not much that isn’t explained by logic and scientific experiment. And, you better believe, I want to see the logic and the laboratory equipment.
–P.J. O’Rourke–
Believe it or not, they’re just called “Planetarium Projectors.” Disappointing, ain’t it. Well, if it’s any consolation, I can get you a good deal on a 1985 Spitz Nova III at this site .
I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for you meddling kids!
Hey, only $15K for an entire galaxy. What a deal. I think I’ll go play God now.
I believe they are called Zeiss projectors.
Zeiss is a brand name, from the Carl Zeiss Company.
I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for you meddling kids!
Manny, I almost double posted with you again. I gotta learn to not do that.
Youse guys only gave half the dope. The Carl Zeiss Company was formerly the Zeiss/Ikon Company. I have sitting here on the desk a “Baby Box” Camera, vintage.oh…1920’s. Stamped into the leather face is the name “Zeiss/Ikon”.
To this day, Zeiss Superspeed lenses are the choice of many fine Directors of Photography. The lenses are used most notably in Arriflex ( Germany ) and Moviecam ( Austria ) camera bodies.
While Zeiss may make the lenses, and may indeed make some of the machines, I would be shocked to find that they are the only ones. Is there a web site for an International Planetarium Society, or somesuch???
Cartooniverse
" If you want to kiss the sky, you’d better learn how to kneel. "
International Planetarium Society: www.ips-planetarium.org
Another very handy web site for planetariums is www.lochness.com, which has a list of just about every planetarium web site out there.
drewbert
(Morehead Planetarium, www.morehead.unc.edu))
Oh, and because I can, these are the major planetarium projector manufacturers out there:
Carl Zeiss
Zeiss Jena (the company formed from the East German Zeiss facilities after Germany was split up. Now reabsorbed into Carl Zeiss)
Minolta
Evans and Sutherland
Goto
Spitz
May be forgetting somebody. Also there are a couple of brands of portable inflatable planetariums out there too.
drewbert, showing off