OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The Science Museum of Oklahoma’s planetarium will temporarily close after its final show scheduled for April 21 as plans for the new state-of-the-art Love’s Planetarium are made.
Planetarium of Love uses some of the best technology currently available around the world. There is only one other planetarium with similar features, and that is in Shanghai, China.
The Oklahoma Science Museum’s planetarium has been a cornerstone of the building since it opened in 1958, captivating visitors with its spectacular exhibits and educational and live programming.
The closure, which will take place this month, will mark a conversion to a complete hybrid system that includes a combination of optical and digital projectors, high-brightness LEDs, and fiber optic equipment.
Stunning detail and high-resolution images of the Milky Way, 8 million detailed stars, 88 constellations, the sun, moon and other plants feature new technology including individually adjusted seats for the best viewing experience Displayed using:
“Our museum roots are in the planetarium,” said John E. Kirkpatrick President and CEO Shelly Marshall. “We intend to continue and grow the remarkable vision of our founder, Admiral John Elson Kirkpatrick, and improve the planetarium that our visitors will enjoy for over 60 years.”
“We are extremely grateful for the support and enthusiasm we have received from our community for the planetarium updates. We are excited to continue working with the cosmos, with new levels of technology and real-time interactive educational opportunities from across the universe. We are excited to have Labs as our partner as we continue to spark interest in exploration and science.”
As the final planetarium show takes place at its current location on April 21, the Science Museum of Oklahoma will offer a series of laser light shows during the transition period. A special laser light show will be held at the planetarium to commemorate his legacy every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from May 9th until June 15th.
With multiple showtimes each night, laser art sets feature popular music from Pink Floyd, Taylor Swift, the Grateful Dead, Elton John, Queen, the Beatles, and more.
Planetarium of Love is scheduled to open in early fall.
For more information about the planetarium or Science Museum of Oklahoma, visit: www.smo.org.