Seminole State's planetarium grand reopening
The event is set for Nov. 3 and will include shows and hands-on activities for guests.
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Written by: Derek Demeter
The yearlong renovation and upgrades to the Emil Buehler Planetarium at Seminole State College of Florida are now complete, and the beloved College and community gem is set to officially reopen on Nov. 3. Students and guests will enjoy new acoustic panels, a repaint of the entire space, new seat covers, and the all-new Digistar full-dome projection system.
In addition to school programs and community events, the planetarium is now poised to be an immersive learning facility for Seminole State students. 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 standard classroom couldn’t deliver – a place where anything is possible.
the new Digistar system to provide a virtual
tour of the night sky.
The renovations and upgrades have transformed the planetarium into such a place – from an aging planetarium to a state-of-the-art immersive learning facility.
The Digistar system boosts cutting-edge technology that allows for a greater dynamic and immersive experience for students and visitors. The Digistar system 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. The dream of the immersive classroom is now a reality as the next-generation planetarium, to explore our cosmos and to GO beyond.
take students on virtual field trips to sites such as
Stonehenge via the planetarium dome.
While astronomy remains at the planetarium’s core, we can now teach almost any curriculum in the dome. We can show Seminole State students a fully immersive human body, explore global datasets from NOAA and NASA, and take them on virtual field trips anywhere in the world or beyond. We can also view the inner workings of a combustion engine or the atomic structure of any atom or molecule. The sky is the limit to what we can do.
The reopening celebration is scheduled for Nov. 3, from 6 to 10 p.m., and will feature free planetarium programs (reservations required), telescopes and other hands-on activities presented by Seminole State faculty and members of the Central Florida Astronomical Society.
For additional information about the grand reopening and a calendar of future shows and events, visit seminolestate.edu/planet.
Planetarium Reopening Note
Due to overwhelming demand, the free planetarium shows for the reopening are sold out. The reopening activities and telescopes are free and open to all. More shows will be added to the planetarium calendar for November and December.
The Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Planetarium at Seminole State College of Florida offers live, interactive and full-dome astronomy experiences designed to spark curiosity and inspire learners of all ages. Located on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus, the Buehler Planetarium has been a premier destination for science education and out-of-this-world entertainment in Central Florida for more than 25 years. For more information, visit seminolestate.edu/planet and follow the planetarium on Facebook and Instagram.