On behalf of CU, The Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, and Fiske Planetarium, we would like to announce an exciting and revolutionary project coming to the University and the Boulder Community.

Fiske Planetarium was built in 1975.  That same year, Bill Gates founded Microsoft, the Viking 1 mission to Mars was launched, and VHS tapes were introduced.  A lot has changed since 1975, but the technology that runs our theater has remained the same. 

All of that is about to change!  Starting this winter, Fiske will begin a transformation into one of the most sophisticated planetariums and multimedia centers in the country. When the new immersive theater system is complete, Fiske’s dome will show the universe with unrivaled level of detail and inspiring beauty.  A new star projector will show as stunning a sky as you could see high in the Rocky Mountains.  Video projectors will fill the dome with 360 degrees of surround video and sound.  Subjects will include astronomy, travel videos, art, music creations, and more.  We plan to open Fiske to the community on Saturdays and Sundays. “Big screen” video will be in Boulder, not just Denver anymore.

Fiske will be working with many of the talented faculty, staff, and students from many departments here at the university to visualize and share their work in extraordinary new ways.

Fiske will close in December of this year to begin removal of old equipment and to begin preparation for the new construction and installation.  We hope to begin installtion of the new equipment in Spring of 2013.  With the goal of having our grand opening FALL 2013.

Once the project is underway, we intend to keep a blog post with updates and images of the progress and steps of the remodel.

For updates on the project, please follow us on Facebook.  We are very excited to bring the future to you. Stay tuned.