 |
The Europlanetarium Genk is a people's observatory and planetarium in Genk, Belgium.
| |
The Europlanetarium Genk is a people's observatory and planetarium in Genk, Belgium.
Lode Vanhoutte from Genk started the Young Researchers for Genk following the moon landing in 1969. They did popular scientific work, many subjects were treated but astronomy turned out to be the most interesting one and they found a home base with the Association For Astronomy (AFA). The observatories of Grimbergen and Hove were already operating for many years at that time. The AFA and especially Armand Pien (former television weatherman) suggested expanding to a full people's observatory in every Flemish province. Some people thought to place the third Flemish people's observatory in Genk. At first there would come a small ground floor observatory, but the plans got bigger and bigger constantly.
The promotion of the people's observatory started in 1977. The idea of a small observatory was then converted into a more large-scale plan with a professional style. A course of General Astronomy for novices started in 1979 while a small group of members occupied themselves with the business side of the foundation of the observatory.
Meanwhile, the revamped plans of the observatory contained a dome building and an exhibition space. The actual dome and telescope room would be 5 m (16,40 feet) above the ground floor. This room is in contrast with the ‘classic observatories’ square with a ring beam in the ceiling that supports the dome. It was decided to build the dome locally in order to keep the prices down and to maintain a good relationship with the municipality.
The finishing year would be 1983. The active members of the observatory finished beside the self built dome also a large part of the interior design. The eventual opening was in 1984.
The geological garden Georama was officially occupied on 9 July 1988, with this a special valuable link was added to the chain of attractive elements that makes this colourful municipality to the attraction of Limburg par excellence. Georama is truly a unique and informative scheme. A scientific image of 570 million years geological history is reproduced here in an utmost pleasant style and this in such a way that it can captivate and appeal to both the specialist, the student or the passer-by.
The idea to adjoin a planetarium to the existing people's observatory occurred in view of the precarious economical problems of the mine area and the need to expand a sustainable tourist infrastructure for Genk. The extension of a planetarium in Genk offered after all the possibility to attract visitors form the entire Euregion and to give the recreation area Kattevennen the appearance it intended and deserved. The exceeded tourist character of the planetarium project for the region is part of the conversion of the eastern mine area.
The extension of a planetarium near an existing and well elaborated people's observatory is a logical extension since a planetarium can show the star-spangled sky as well by day as at night under ideal (cloudless) circumstances. Movements of various celestial bodies can be accelerated in order to make astronomical concepts clear.
There were three partners for the construction: the EEC (50%), the Flemish General Commissioner's office for Tourism (40%) and the local authority of Genk (10%). The EEC had given permission for this project in 1987. Two files were prepared, for the planetarium instrument and the construction. Architect Jos Hanssen made a preliminary design and later a final design for the amount of €450 000.
However all plans could not go through because the cost amount eventually turned out to €600 000. The upper storey was not placed and considered as an option for the future. The secretariat room, the auditorium and the extra toilets were also not in the plans anymore. Everything should have been ready at the end of 1990 so that the most modern planetarium of the Benelux could open its doors. At the end of 1989 at least 20% of the subsidized amount had to be spent for the planetarium project. The construction of the planetarium started and it was decided to purchase the medium-sized planetarium SPACEMASTER from East-Germany and a dome with a diameter of 12,5 meter (41,01 feet).
The construction and the install of the instrument clearly needed more time than expected so 1990 would not be the year of opening, but 1991 would be. The placement of the instrument came to fruition in January 1991. The finishing costs were estimated at €125 000 because of the continually rising construction costs.
During the summer holidays of 1991 the planetarium started with test shows for various groups, there still were not any seats placed. The 90 seats were finally placed in December 1991 and the sound equipment was completed. Meanwhile, much work was put into the finishing outside, clinkers and plants were placed in order to make the planetarium accessible and attractive. Host Armand Pien, together with about 200 guests, could finally declare the planetarium open!
Until May 1992 there were continuously live shows because the full installation was not still available. Seven monitors provided a planetarium show with various themes. After the delivery of the installation it was the intention to extend the automated projections, but with the possibility of providing live shows at any time. Schools especially appreciated this because they had cosmology in their syllabus and came to the planetarium with specific questions and assignments.
In 1993 a serious extension of both the audio-visual possibilities and the planetarium itself started with the extension of an auditorium and office space. The Planet path that connects the Europlanetarium with the adjoining Heempark was realized.
The Laser was officially opened in 1998 together with the new planetarium show ‘Mars, back to the red planet’. As expected the visitors were impressed by the possibilities of such a laser. The installation of this laser lasted about five months.
The People's observatory of Limburg is also an institutional member of the International Planetary Society.
From 2007 Kattevennen will be an entrance to ‘Hoge Kempen’, the biggest nature reserve of Flanders. The Europlanetarium will be the centre in this. There will be a new multifunctional building with a new reception centre, a new catering service, an additional exhibition space and a magnificent polyvalent reception infrastructure. The building will literally be a gate, because it will be built across the existing road and cyclists and walkers can just go underneath it.
A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation.
Genk is a town and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality only comprises the town of Genk itself. It is one of the most important industrial towns in Flanders, located on the Albert Canal, between Antwerp and Liège.
The Adler Planetarium is a public museum dedicated to the study of astronomy and astrophysics. It was founded in 1930 by Chicago business leader Max Adler. It is located on the northeast tip of Northerly Island at the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois. The Adler was the first planetarium in the United States and is part of Chicago's Museum Campus, which includes the John G. Shedd Aquarium and The Field Museum. The Adler's mission is to inspire exploration and understanding of the universe.
Stardome Observatory is a public astronomical observatory situated in Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill Domain in New Zealand's largest city, Auckland.
The Haleakalā Observatory, also known as the Haleakalā High Altitude Observatory Site, is Hawaii's first astronomical research observatory. It is located on the island of Maui and is owned by the Institute for Astronomy of the University of Hawai'i, which operates some of the facilities on the site and leases portions to other organizations. Tenants include the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network (LCOGTN). At over 3,050 meters (10,010 ft) in altitude, the summit of Haleakalā is above one third of the Earths's troposphere and has excellent astronomical seeing conditions.
UNA Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by the University of North Alabama. It is located in Florence, Alabama (USA). It has 2 telescopes, a Celestron 0.35 m Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope. The UNA Planetarium is a 65-seat planetarium with a Spitz A3P projector and East Cost Control Systems controller.
Armagh Planetarium is a planetarium located in Armagh, Northern Ireland close to the city centre and neighbouring Armagh Observatory in approximately fourteen acres of landscaped grounds known as the Armagh Astropark.
The Yale University Observatory, also known as the Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium, is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by Yale University, and maintained for student use. It is located in Farnham Memorial Gardens near the corner of Edwards and Prospect Streets, New Haven, Connecticut.
The McLaughlin Planetarium is a former working planetarium whose building occupies a space immediately to the south of the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, at 100 Queen's Park. Founded by a grant from philanthropist Colonel R. Samuel McLaughlin, the facility was opened to the public on October 26, 1968. It had, for its time, a state-of-the-art electro-mechanical Zeiss planetarium projector that was used to project regular themed shows about the stars, planets, and cosmology for visitors. By the 1980s the planetarium's sound-system and domed ceiling were used to display dazzling music-themed laser-light shows. The lower levels of the planetarium contained a gallery called the "Astrocentre" that featured space-related exhibits, related artifacts on the history of astronomy and was also home of the world's first commercial Stellarium
The Royal Observatory of Belgium, has been situated in the Uccle municipality of Brussels (Belgium) since 1890. It was first established in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode in 1826 by William I under the impulse of Adolphe Quetelet. It was home to a 100 cm (39 in) diameter aperture Zeiss reflector in the first half of the 20th century, one of the largest telescopes in the world at the time. It owns a variety of other astronomical instruments, such as astrographs, as well as a range of seismograph equipment.
Chabot Space and Science Center, located in Oakland, California, is a center for science learning featuring interactive exhibits, planetariums, a large screen theater, hands-on activities and three powerful telescopes.
Darling's Observatory, built from 1916–17, was a private observatory built by Mr. J. H. Darling in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. The site of the observatory was on West 3rd St. between 9th and 10th avenues in Duluth, MN, and sat about 325 feet above Lake Superior. Plans for the building were drawn by Richard E. Schmidt of Garden & Martin of Chicago. The blueprints for the steel dome were prepared by Mr. Darling himself after inspecting domes from various other observatories. The wooden building had a stucco exterior finish.
The Archenhold Observatory, named in honor of Friedrich Simon Archenhold, is an observatory in Berlin-Treptow. It houses the Großer Refraktor, which is the longest pointable telescope in the world. It is also called the Himmelskanone.
The Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association (EAAA) is an amateur astronomy club in Northwest Florida.
The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science is a science museum, planetarium, and aquarium located in Miami, Florida, US. Originally located in Coconut Grove, the museum relocated to Museum Park in the downtown area adjacent to the Perez Art Museum Miami in 2017.
The Mills Observatory in Dundee, Scotland, is the first purpose-built public astronomical observatory in the UK. Built in 1935, the observatory is classically styled in sandstone and has a distinctive 7 m dome, which houses a Victorian refracting telescope, a small planetarium, and display areas. The dome is one of two made from papier-mâché to survive in the UK, the other being at the Godlee Observatory.
The Dearborn Observatory is an astronomical observatory located on the Evanston campus of Northwestern University. The observatory was originally constructed in 1888, through an agreement between the university and the Chicago Astronomical Society. In the summer of 1939, Dearborn Observatory had to be moved to make way for the construction of the Technological Institute.
The RUM Planetarium is the first planetarium in Puerto Rico. It is located in the fourth floor of the Physics building of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
The Linden Observatory Complex is a heritage-listed former observatory and manufacture of optical precision implements and now residence, museum, observatory, education facility and meeting venue located at 91 – 111 Glossop Road, Linden, City of Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed and built by Ken Beames from 1938 to 1948. It is also known as K Beames Engineering Co. The property is owned by the Linden Observatory Trust. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 5 March 2010.
