The University of Wisconsin at River Falls planetarium is a GeoDome Evolver, initially installed in 2012, with an OmniFocus 200 series projection system.
The planetarium is part of the Minnesota Regional Planetarium Network, science educators who collaborate to share costs and program development in a mix of fixed and portable GeoDome systems. All the systems are driven by our WorldViewer CMS and run on Elumenati IGs (image generating computers). With WorldViewer’s Open Playground Astronomy extension, network members drive OpenSpace, WorldWide Telescope, and Stellarium, all through a single user interface. Some sites have upgraded their OpenPlayground to also feature NASA’s Eyes platforms. Additionally, some sites continue to incorporate live shows using Uniview, but are increasingly using OpenSpace for Digital Universe exploration as they phase out Uniview following SCISS’s dissolution. With WorldViewer’s WorldComposer content authoring platform, educators create stories for their domes with content from NOAA and NASA, 360° video and much more.
Along with founding partner Minnesota Planetarium Society (now at the Bell Museum), these sites include:
- GeoDome Evolvers at Mankato East High School, Como Elementary, Minnesota State University – Moorhead, University of Minnesota – Duluth, University of North Dakota – Grand Forks, and Mayo High School
- GeoDome Theaters at the Bell Museum (Exploradome), University of North Dakota – Grand Forks and the Journey Museum
- GeoDome Portal at Jackson Middle School Observatory
- GeoDome Panorama at The Bell Museum
With the acquisition of a GeoDome Evolver, including a 30270 projection system and Uniview, the UWRF physics department is excited to work with the UW-Madison Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center to bring new ways for students and community members to explore the universe. Their goal is to develop new content to show the incredible advances that have fundamentally changed our understanding of the Universe, to exploit the multidisciplinary capabilities that the GeoDome offers, and to partner with other facilities running Uniview to fully leverage the opportunities they can offer our students and community members. Their initial focus is on particle astrophysics, but UWRF programs in General Physics, Astronomy, Biotechnology, Geography, Chemistry, Mathematics, and other applied and social sciences will be involved with this engaging way to explore data and images of all types.