CosmoCaixa launches new planetarium with 3D technology

The CosmoCaixa of Barcelona has inaugurated a new planetarium that incorporates 3D technology. The American company Sky-Skan has been commissioned for a unique installation in Spain and the second in Europe. Thanks to her, Three-dimensional images are projected throughout the dome, In such a way that the viewer is surrounded by stars and planets thanks to images and reproductions captured thanks to observation..

The new 3-D planetarium of Cosmocaixa, the second of its kind in Europe, Offers an amazing sensory experience, a digital projection on the full dome of this planetarium adapted to 3-D technology, that immerses the viewer-cosmonaut in a space where he will almost touch the stars, constellations or pulsars, stretching out your hand. To enjoy the trip, Each viewer must wear the stereoscopic glasses, Your passport to any point in the observable sky and also in the atomic nanocosm.

The head of the scientific area of La Caixa social work, Ignaci Lopez, explained to Efe that this planetarium is a great astronomical simulator, able to get closer to more than 110.000 Star, reflecting its brilliance and exact location, show satellites or Earth mapping, the Moon or Mars, with a unique definition, or teach how eclipses are formed, among other wonders.

“All this gives us the feeling of being able to travel through time and space in a real and agile way.; It's like space tourism anywhere in the deep universe, and even get out of it”, Lopez explained about the “Scientific license” that the promoters of the project have taken to make a little of gods and show the universe from the outside, as an expanding sphere.

For its part, the coordinator of the project of the Social Work of La Caixa, Jordi Aloy, pointed out that “It is an astronomical simulator that allows you to work as a planetarium to use and go beyond and enjoy the universe from a perspective never seen before.”. According to Aloy, Innovative immersive 3D high-definition digital projection system pushes the boundaries of astronomy, since “not only will you see the sky from Earth”.

For 3-D conversion, the planetarium of Cosmocaixa, which is adapted for people with sensory disabilities (with self-description, sign language using PDAs or a hearing aid app), has been closed for six months in order to install an immersive high-definition system (the Definity3D 4 k of the American company Sky-Skan, One of the most prestigious firms in the sector) as well as a Dolby Home Cinema sound 5.1. Programs are presented in four languages, Catalan, Spanish, English and French.

of the 17 to the 24 December the entrance to the new planetarium, that has a capacity to 136 Squares, will be free. In addition to the classic programs, aimed at the school public, and another of audiovisuals of astronomical and astrophysical dissemination, There will be a third of scientific films dedicated to family audiences, that this Christmas will be released with the film 3-D “Natural selection” where spectators can sneak into Charles Darwin's house and accompany him on his journey aboard the Beagle.

After this approach to the figure of the English naturalist (with a production that has received several scientific and artistic awards) will be screened from Easter, The film “We are astronomers!” which explains how these researchers work.

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