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When you visit TELUS World of Science – Edmonton, you will notice a new interesting object at the base of the Zeidler Dome staircase: the Zeiss Star Projector, nicknamed “Sophie”.
It is a piece of our history you may not have gotten a good look at before. Now you can see it, up close! Sophie was installed in the planetarium in 1984, just a few months before the doors opened to the new Edmonton Space Sciences Centre (ESSC). Manufactured in Jena, East Germany, the projector was one of the first computer-controlled star projectors anywhere in the world.
Take a look at the 16 lenses that once helped create the starfield backdrop on the planetarium dome. See how our planetarium technology has evolved over the years, to now what is one of the best viewing experiences in the world, in the Zeidler Dome Theatre.
The original Spitz A2 projector from the Queen Elizabeth II Planetarium is also on display alongside Sophie. The Queen Elizabeth II Planetarium was the first public planetarium in Canada and opened on September 22, 1960.
TELUS World of Science – Edmonton is grateful to the Edmonton Heritage Council and the numerous individual donors who provided funding for this project.
Where: Zeidler Dome Stairs
Age: All Ages
Entry: Included with public Science Centre Admission / School rates apply
Where: Zeidler Dome Stairs
Age: All Ages
Entry: Included with public Science Centre Admission / School rates apply