For years, the Hansen Planetarium served people along the Wasatch Front well. It was, in its day, cutting edge. But over time it lost that edge as other planetariums nationwide expanded to new levels. Gradually, it became a virtual dinosaur, too cramped to provide what the public wants.
Welcome back to the cutting edge.
The Sheila M. Clark Planetarium, a new county-owned facility that opened yesterday at the Gateway in Salt Lake City, sets a new standard. It features a new star-show projector that cost $1.6 million that can literally surround viewers and pull them into the cosmos. This new feature offers possibilities way beyond what traditional projectors could handle.
In addition, this planetarium has built-in safeguards against obsolescence. Chief among these is a link with the Space Science Telescope Institute in Baltimore, which will regularly download the latest images and data from the Hubble Space Telescope. This latest information will be used in the array of exhibits that use television monitors to display the latest information.
In addition to all this, a moon rock will be on display, and patrons can walk through re-creations of the surface of the moon and mars.
It's all heady stuff for people interested in the heavens, which includes just about everyone. It's also great stuff for any teacher or student within a few hours drive of the place.
And it's wonderful stuff for downtown Salt Lake City, which has been languishing a bit because of a slowdown in the economy. With the new state-of-the-art public library only a short TRAX ride away, the planetarium offers yet another reason to visit the heart of the city and explore the many things it has to offer. Gateway undoubtedly will benefit, as well. People who finish studying the heavens will want to eat and shop before they go home.
The new planetarium cost taxpayers $19 million, but it was money well-spent. This is the kind of public expenditure that greatly enhances a community.