Morehead State University’s Star Theater has been ranked among the top 30 college planetariums by the website, Great Value Colleges.
In composing the ranking, the site considered four factors:
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Is the facility a planetarium or an observatory? A planetarium is a simulation of the night sky, while an observatory uses telescopes to look at the actual sky at that moment. The Star Theater is both.
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The types of telescopes and equipment used at the facility. The Star Theater projects full 180º x 360º real-time blended video and graphics on a 40-foot dome screen using six digital projectors and state-of-the-art surround sound.
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Discoveries: The rankings also took into account the research being done at each facility. MSU’s Space Science Center is on the cutting edge of aerospace technology with extensive research and development of nanosatellite technology, satellite tracking and telemetry, spacecraft systems testing and more.
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Visitor experience: The rankings considered whether or not facilities were open to the public and what types of shows are available. The Star Theater hosts public shows every Saturday with educational and entertainment programming for all audiences. Area schools can schedule field trips to the theater, and there are several educational programs educators can choose from to suit any age group. The theater also hosts special events for astronomical events such as solar eclipses, International Observe the Moon Night and others.
View the complete list of top college planetariums at www.greatvaluecolleges.net/best-college-planetariums-and-observatories-in-the-united-states.
To learn more about MSU’s Star Theater, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/startheater, email startheater@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-9593.