Stars and shows on planetarium horizon

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by Mary Lisa Russell

Two years ago, when Dr. F. Harold Downing donated more than $1.1 million to build a planetarium on campus, the then-93 year old hoped he'd live long enough to see his gift come to fruition.

Now 95, the long-time Fresno resident was realizing his wish earlier this month - in a grand tour of the framed-and-under-construction Downing Planetarium, which will open to the public next semester.

College of Science and Mathematics Dean K.P. Wong led Downing and his son, Tom, through the new building while physics professor and planetarium director Steven White talked about its features.

"See this window in the wall that looks like a slit, Dr. Downing?" said White, pointing to an eight-foot slit in the south wall. "This is going to be part of a sundial. At any time during the day when the sun shines in, the light will hit the floor and you will be able to tell what time it is."

White told Downing that dark glass will be installed in the slit and a small amber lens also will be set into the glass. When the sun shines through the lens, it will strike the sundial that will be sandblasted into the dark granite floor.

"This is going to be great," said Downing, "especially for the school children to visit."

White also explained to Downing the special dome that will be installed at the end of September. "The dome is a 30-foot diameter hemisphere that forms a projection screen for the planetarium programs."

The dome itself will be full of small holes. "It is actually 25 percent perforated by small holes so that 30 slide projectors, which are hidden behind the dome, can project through them," said White.

The star projector and the slide projectors that show the multimedia programs all will be controlled by one computer. Members of the audience will sit in specially angled planetarium seats that will give them optimum viewing of the displays overhead.

Initially, a telescope trained on the stars will be installed on the north side of the building and controlled by students or guests inside the resource center. Once all the "bugs" are worked out with the telescope, it will be moved to a remote site in the foothills to an elevation of more than 3,000 feet. "It needs to be that high to be away from the city lights and higher than the winter fog," said White.

Walking with the aid of his cane, Downing toured the building, asking questions about different rooms, the seating and the programs planned for the public.

"The first public showing in the building will be in January 2000," said White. "We are going to be very busy the first year."

"The first program we are showing is Search for Alien Worlds," said White. "There is also one about solar systems and another about dinosaurs and the Giant Impact Theory."

The Downing Planetarium was increased from 2,500 to 4,000 square feet and will house a 74-seat theatre, lobby, teacher training/resource room, and work space area for planetarium program production.

To wrap up the Downing Planetarium campaign, the College of Science and Mathematics is offering a seat sponsorship program. For each $1,000 seat sponsorship, the donor will receive a plaque on a chair and recognition in the lobby of the planetarium.

The additional monies raised by the seat sponsorship will be used to buy equipment such as a hydraulic lift for the projector and special lighting for the dome, White said.

For program or sponsorship information, call White at ext. 8-2371.