The University of Colorado’s Fiske Planetarium seeks to become an all-sky theater in which audience will be fully surrounded by a 65 foot diameter picture, filled with dazzling images and beautiful sound. It is like IMAX, except you are surrounded by the giant screen.

(Chicago's Adler Planetarium)

Here is a small sample of what a theater like this can show:

-  We can fly people through space, through the solar system from planet to planet, past the stars and galaxies, to the edge of the known universe.

-  Using images from the Mars rovers, we can “drive audiences across Mars.” You see Mars all around you.  It is as if you are there!

-  Using simulations such as those created by CU’s Professor Andrew Hamilton for the TV program NOVA, we can transport you to a Black Hole.

-  The theater will be open to Boulder-area residents, just like the IMAX theater in Denver is available to Denver residents.

THERE IS MUCH MORE:   A video theater can show the earth and its weather.  It can show the molecules of proteins or DNA, or take you under the ocean, so it can be used to teach many different subjects.

Like the Omnimax theater in places such as the Boston Museum of Science, it can show nature films about animals and travel films about the Grand Canyon and other spectacular places.  We envision Fiske Theater open to the entire Boulder community.

THE IMPACT WILL BE LOCAL AND NATIONAL

Fiske is the leading planetarium among American universities.  It has formed a consortium of 7 universities that have major planetariums (including Notre Dame and Michigan State).  All have agreed to show what is produced at the University of Colorado.  More universities have asked to join, guaranteeing that what we produce will have a national impact.

CU and our donors will be recognized nationally for their leadership and vision.

As of 2010, 

-  Over 30,000 school children and 4,000 college students use Fiske Planetarium in person each year.

-  Fiske was selected by NASA missions such as “Deep Impact to a Comet,” The Hubble Space Telescope, and Earth and Sun-observing programs to produce planetarium shows distributed throughout the US as well as internationally.

-  Donations and grants have allowed Fiske to turn its lobby into a hands-on science museum.

Fiske was the winner of a national competition  to host NOAA’s incredible new “Science on a Sphere” that presents time-lapse views of the earth, its weather and storms, as well as views of the Moon, Mars, and other astronomical objects. Fiske exhibits the sphere with a bilingual docent program, training students for science teaching careers and giving visitors a richer experience. Fiske staff also visit schools with a portable “Starlab” planetarium.

Many of you have seen the stunning “Science on a Sphere” in Fiske’s lobby. 

Imagine this technology 65 feet across, filling the entire theater dome! 

That is what the 21^st Century Theater will be like.

If you are looking to make a contribution or would like to learn more about this upgrade for Fiske Planetarium please contact Barb Perin at the University of Colorado Foundation (barb.perin@cufund.org) or (303) 541-1447