Beijing Planetarium is a national leader in public astronomy, a beloved civic visiting place, and one of Beijing's most popular attractions. It contains two parts: Beijing Planetarium and Beijing Ancient Observatory. Beijing Planetarium consists of new building and the old Planetarium. The new facility has several exciting parts: Digital space theater, 3D theater, 4D theater, exhibition hall, two observatories. After 50 years of public use by roughly 18 million visitors, it's under rebuilding and will be reopened in March 2008. There are a planetarium and two exhibition galleries in old Planetarium. Beijing Planetarium is one of the powerful planetaria in the world. It has made great contributions to popularize astronomy.
The planetarium has 600 seats and a celestial body showing system which is makes up of a large homemade Star Projector and tens of special effect projectors ) . Now we present four to five space shows such as a universe trip each day (except Monday and Tuesday ). The exhibition hall illustrate the astronomical knowledge perennially. The up-to-the-minute theme of exhibition is pertinent to Shenzhou spaceship--- satellite.By using the powerful functional figure workstation and advancing laser projectors,Digital Space Theater shows the visitors the magnificent all-sky scene on the dome screen, which will make the visitors feel like being in the vast universe and enjoy themselves there.
3D Popular Science Theatre:
There are 6 sets of Turbo Rides Motion Base in the theatre, looking like real spaceships. They can simulate the flight in space in the condition of free-falling, swing and rotation, coordinated with appealing story, video and audio effects, which makes the visitors have a soul-stirring experience in this simulated space.
4D Popular Science Theatre:
There are 6 synchronous film projectors give powerful, lifelike, amazing shows on the cylinder wide screen with the angle of 180°. In addition to the special environmental effect devices such as smoke, bubbles and photoelectricity, there are also spray, blowing and patting effects behind the audience seats.
The future exhibition zone in the new building will be another classroom for visitors to acquire the astronomical scientific knowledge.
