The Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium
When the Museum opened the Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium on January 15, 2002, it raised the bar for astronomy education in Northeast Ohio. This state-of-the-art facility, designed by Cleveland architectural and engineering firm Westlake Reed Leskosky, continues to offer audiences unparalleled opportunities to learn about the universe.
The Shafran Planetarium also set a new standard for midsized planetaria worldwide. It blends modern technology with the Museum's commitment to science education that emphasizes real-world experiences.
Want to know what's visible using your bare eyes or a small telescope? Visit our Sky Roundup page for updates.
Cutting-Edge Technology Inside
Shows in the Shafran Planetarium use the latest technology to take visitors on stunning visual journeys into the night sky.
The Skymaster ZKP3/S projector can display more than 5,000 stars. It also can show nebulae, galaxies, the Sun and Moon and the positions of the five planets visible from Earth without a telescope. This projector was custom-built for the Museum by Carl Zeiss of Jena, Germany.
A second projection system, SkyVision, works in concert with the Skymaster to display video. This four-projector system was created by Sky-Skan, Inc., of Nashua, New Hampshire. The system can simulate a visit to the International Space Station, a voyage past Jupiter's moons, a supernova explosion and more.
Rounding out the planetarium's technology are "All Sky" and "Panorama" slide projection systems, a digital sound system and an Internet link that allows Museum astronomy staff to download images and video from NASA and other sources of space information.
Images from the projection systems appear on a 40-foot-diameter aluminum dome. This structure is perforated to create a favorable acoustical environment and disguise overhead HVAC and sound equipment. Astro-Tec of Canal Fulton fabricated and installed the dome.
Innovative Design Outside
The exterior of the Shafran Planetarium is as functional as the inside.
Titanium-coated stainless-steel panels give the planetarium a space-age look. A fiber-optic light is embedded in each panel. At night, this lighting system gives the building a subtle glow that does not contribute to the light pollution in the skies above University Circle.
The sleek structure was designed with a chamfered roof tilted at 41 1/2 degrees. Visitors can use this slope to locate Polaris, the North Star, in the clear night sky.
A circular exedra, dedicated in 2004, provides the perfect vantage point from which to spot Polaris.
In the daytime, the exedra has a lesson of its own to impart. Pavers representing the inner planets at their relative size are set into the concrete floor around a bronze disk that represents the Sun. The planets appear in the positions they will occupy at noon on December 13, 2020 – the 100th anniversary of the Museum's incorporation.
Near the viewing exedra is a sundial designed by noted sculptor and former Museum staffer Walter Matia. The hour sections on the dial are made of bronze. Each represents a geologic period within the 542 million-year span during which most animal life has evolved on Earth. The sundial's gnomon is sculpted to resemble a chambered nautilus shell.
Always Someone to Answer Your Questions
The Museum has offered planetarium shows delivered live by a staff astronomer since 1936. Maintaining this aspect of programming was a key part of the plans for the Shafran Planetarium.
Live programs offer audiences the opportunity to interact with the show's presenter. People can ask questions about what they're seeing or seek out more information afterward.
Museum astronomers also have the flexibility to tailor their presentations, either to work in the latest news from NASA or accommodate the age range of a particular audience.
We encourage you to experience the Shafran Planetarium for yourself on your next Museum visit.