Testimonials

Your attention to your customers is amazing! I appreciate all your assistance with the Starlab. The trainings energize our team!

Thank you again,

Kathy Hopen, CCDF Director

We have set up the Starlab and tested all the equipment and I am happy to say that we are thrilled with everything.

There were no problems or questions about anything.Thank you for all of your help, and your patience.

Dawn Olive
Center for STEM Research, Education & Outreach
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

The Star Lab has been an invaluable educational tool for us over the years. More and more research comes out each year supporting the conclusion that hands-on, experiential learning is more effective than sitting at a desk and listening to a lecture. If that is true, and I believe wholeheartedly that it is, then the Star Lab is an excellent way to provide that sort of education!

Lisa Ralls
Naturalist
Winnebago County Conservation Board

I don't think anyone is going to wipe the smile off of my face for a while. I know all of my students would thank you also, they love the dome and have told me how much it has not only helped them understand the astronomy standards I am teaching, but they now have a new interest in exploring the sky at night. Thanks again!

Cheryl
DoDEA Americas

Written by teachers for teachers. The universe comes down to earth.

Director
Hayden Planetarium

Multi-Lens Starfield Cyl North.

The Multi Lens Starfield differs from the standard Starfield Cylinder in that 70 stars are individually lensed. This produces a truly breathtaking and realistic sky. The Starfield Cylinder now includes an extraordinarily precise depiction of the Milky Way based on the beautiful and highly accurate all-sky panoramas created by Dr. Axel Mellinger. From July 1997 to April 2000 Mellinger used specialized tracking cameras and Kodak film to take 51 wide-angle photos of the northern and southern hemispheres. These precise images have been carefully adapted to the cylindrical starfield projection creating a night sky so detailed, one can easily pick out features like the Coal Sack and the Milky Way center, as well as the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds and Andromeda Galaxy. The digitally-produced starfield simulates the night sky at any time, season or location on earth. Over 3,000 stars are projected to a limiting magnitude of 5.5 with over 70 of the brightest stars individually lensed to produce intense pinpoint images. Star locations are accurate to within 1 minute of right ascension and 6 minutes of declination. Betelgeuse, Rigel, Antares, Spica, Arcturus, Capella and Pollux appear in full color. Twelve aperatures show the position of the sun throughout the year. For beginning and advanced astronomy