Spitz to Brighten Fernbank Planetarium with Laser-Illuminated SciDome 4K

    CHADDS FORD, PA, February 25, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Spitz Incorporated, the world's leading supplier of educational planetarium systems, announced that Dekalb School System in Atlanta, GA has ordered the SciDome 4K Laser fulldome planetarium system. Located at Fernbank Science Center, the 70-foot-diameter Jim Cherry Planetarium is the largest planetarium owned and operated by a public school system. The introduction of 4096 x 4096-resolution laser phosphor projection delivers the unmatched educational capabilities of SciDome to even the largest planetarium domes.

"This is a great system for us," said Douglas Hrabe, Director of the Fernbank Science Center. "The quality on our 70 foot dome is really amazing. We're happy to be partnering with SPITZ on this project. The 4K SciDome system is truly tied to instruction. The level of interaction an instructor can have with the information being displayed on screen will tremendously increase diversity of the instruction in our planetarium. It also increases the level of engagement for our public audiences. The staff can't wait to show it off this summer and next school year."

SciDome 4K Laser expands Spitz's line of SciDome planetarium systems by delivering 24,000 lumens of phosphor laser illumination and ultra-high resolution to produce crisp planetarium star fields, spectacularly bright dome movies, and vivid computer simulation. With a projected life of 20,000 hours, the laser illumination source dramatically reduces the periodic replacement costs and maintenance time required by the UHP or arc lamps which power other dome display systems.

"Spitz is very pleased that SciDome 4K Laser is DeKalb School System's fulldome planetarium of choice for the Fernbank," said Jon Shaw, President and CEO of Spitz. "Scidome's multi-curricular software suite, including Starry Night, The Layered Earth, and Zygote Body, coupled with a high performing projection system for their 70 foot diameter dome, are the perfect fit to deliver on the Planetarium's wide-ranging educational mission."

SciDome planetariums, designed specifically for educators, include robust realtime simulation in multiple disciplines. In addition to the comprehensive astronomy content provided by Starry Night, SciDome covers geology, geography, and meteorology with The Layered Earth, and (coming in 2016) human anatomy with Zygote Body. SciDome educators can also extend the learning experience beyond the dome with integrated, standards-based classroom curriculum.

"It's great that we can bring the educational strengths of the SciDome system to a planetarium as large and prestigious as the Fernbank" said Scott Huggins, Spitz Director of Marketing and Product Development. "We've always designed the SciDome to be the best possible teaching planetarium for schools and colleges. It's an honor to support the educational mission of the Fernbank and its visitors."

Spitz Incorporated is the world's leading supplier of educational planetarium systems, projection domes, fulldome shows and architectural domes.

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