There’s a lot of things that locals loved about the old COSI… the coal mine, the Presidents exhibit, and especially, the Planetarium. So it’s been no surprise that the anticipation has been high surrounding the reopening of the Planetarium ever sine it was first announced back in April. Today, COSI announced the official date that the exhibit returns (November 22nd) along with an update on the type of new technology it will feature (a Digistar 5 digital Fulldome system).
“The digital system means the new COSI Planetarium can offer virtually endless educational opportunities,” said COSI President & CEO David Chesebrough. “Besides classic sky shows, the technology allows us to present programming such as the inner workings of the human heart, the mysteries of an underwater volcano, or even a virtual ride on a digital roller coaster.”
The Planetarium originally made the move from the old COSI to the new COSI in 1999 when the move to 333 West Broad Street took place. The exhitbit was shuttered five years later due to financial issues. To reopen in 2014 is significant both for the 10 year anniversary of the return of the Planetarium, but also to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of COSI, which has been an ongoing event throughout the year.
Once completed, the new COSI Planetarium will feature a 60 foot dome with a seating capacity of 200, which will make it one of the largest in Ohio. An ongoing crowdfunding campaign has raised approximately $700,000 of the $1 million goal necessary to modernize and reopen the exhibit.
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