Kika Silva Pla Planetarium

Kika Silva Pla Planetarium
Established September 2007
Location Gainesville, Florida, US
Coordinates 29°40′55″N 82°25′59″W / 29.6819°N 82.4331°W
Type Science museum
Director James Albury
Owner Santa Fe College
Website www.sfcollege.edu/planetarium/

The Kika Silva Pla Planetarium is a 34-foot in diameter, domed theater that seats 60 people. The planetarium uses two projection systems. An In-Space-System (ISS) 1C-3K digital projection system by RSA Cosmos and an optical-mechanical Chronos Space Simulator manufactured by Goto.[1]

History

The planetarium opened to the public in September 2007[2] and is located on the Northwest Campus of Santa Fe College. The Kika Silva Pla Planetarium was made possible by a donation of John Pla and his wife Amy Howard, on behalf of the Pla family, in recognition of his mother, Kika Silva Pla's, commitment to education and passion for social justice and civic engagement. The planetarium was funded with additional support from a special federal appropriation arranged by Congressman Cliff Stearns.[3]

Laurent Pellerin was the planetarium's first coordinator.[4] James C. Albury became the planetarium coordinator in October 2009, and is a co-host on the internationally syndicated PBS show "Star Gazer".[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Albury, James (2009). "Planetarium Equipment and Fun Facts". Kika Silva Pla Planetarium. Santa Fe College. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  2. ↑ Crabbe, Nathan (September 16, 2007). "Planetarium opens to the public". The Gainesville Sun (Gainesville, Florida, US: James E. Doughton). ISSN 0163-4925. OCLC 187958376. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  3. ↑ Arndorfer, Bob (May 24, 2005). "SFCC's planetarium gets $300,000 donation". The Gainesville Sun (Gainesville, Florida, US: James E. Doughton). ISSN 0163-4925. OCLC 187958376. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  4. ↑ Voyles, Karen (January 11, 2008). "Planetarium reopens with new shows". The Gainesville Sun (Gainesville, Florida, US: James E. Doughton). ISSN 0163-4925. OCLC 187958376. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  5. ↑ Alexander, Jackie (June 15, 2011). "Santa Fe planetarium director to co-host 'Star Gazer'". The Gainesville Sun (Gainesville, Florida, US: James E. Doughton). ISSN 0163-4925. OCLC 187958376. Retrieved June 26, 2011.