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John C. Wells Planetarium

James Madison University, 800 South Main Street

Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Visit Website

540- 568-6211

Characterizing it as an astronomical challenge may be a bit of a stretch, but operating the John C. Wells Planetarium before its $1.3 million renovation in 2007 was anything but easy.

Fixing the broken parts was not possible in a lot of cases because the parts of the 1970s-era system had become obsolete. Now running a state-of-the art hybrid projection system, those concerns seem light years in the past. When the planetarium reopened in September 2008, it offered visitors a total-immersion-in-space-experience available at only three other planetariums in the United States.

"We're one of the few planetariums in the world with a digital movie capability and a GOTO Cronus star ball that allows us to project an authentic view of what the night sky would look like on any given day at any given location on the earth," said planetarium director Shanil Virani.

While the hybrid system is different than IMAX technology, which some visitors have compared it to, the new GOTO Chronos instrument and Digistar 3 projection system can provide some eye-opening effects along with some advanced teaching tools. "We can account for light pollution, so what I normally do, I bring up the star ball with full light pollution and people recognize the familiar constellations and that's what they're used to seeing," Virani said. "When we remove the light pollution, that's the first 'ooh, ah' moment. Everytime."

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AARP Events for Harrisonburg

AARP Events for Harrisonburg

• Featured Event

  The Great American Songbook

  Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET

  Haymarket Gainesville Library

  Haymarket, VA

• Featured Event

  Protecting Yourself from Holiday Scams and Fraud

  Monday, Nov 18, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. ET

  PRINCE WILLIAM SENIOR CENTER AT MANASSAS

  MANASSAS, VA

• A Gentle Workout With Nia

  Tuesday, Nov 5, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. ET

  Zoom and Facebook

  Online Event

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											<div>James Madison University, 800 South Main Street</div>
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												<span>22801</span>
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						<p>Characterizing it as an astronomical challenge may be a bit of a stretch, but operating the John C. Wells Planetarium before its $1.3 million renovation in 2007 was anything but easy.</p>
<p>Fixing the broken parts was not possible in a lot of cases because the parts of the 1970s-era system had become obsolete. Now running a state-of-the art hybrid projection system, those concerns seem light years in the past. When the planetarium reopened in September 2008, it offered visitors a total-immersion-in-space-experience available at only three other planetariums in the United States.</p>
<p>"We're one of the few planetariums in the world with a digital movie capability and a GOTO Cronus star ball that allows us to project an authentic view of what the night sky would look like on any given day at any given location on the earth," said planetarium director Shanil Virani.</p>
<p>While the hybrid system is different than IMAX technology, which some visitors have compared it to, the new GOTO Chronos instrument and Digistar 3 projection system can provide some eye-opening effects along with some advanced teaching tools. "We can account for light pollution, so what I normally do, I bring up the star ball with full light pollution and people recognize the familiar constellations and that's what they're used to seeing," Virani said. "When we remove the light pollution, that's the first 'ooh, ah' moment. Everytime."</p>
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											<div>James Madison University, 800 South Main Street</div>
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							<span>Harrisonburg</span>,
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												<span>22801</span>
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						<p>Characterizing it as an astronomical challenge may be a bit of a stretch, but operating the John C. Wells Planetarium before its $1.3 million renovation in 2007 was anything but easy.</p>
<p>Fixing the broken parts was not possible in a lot of cases because the parts of the 1970s-era system had become obsolete. Now running a state-of-the art hybrid projection system, those concerns seem light years in the past. When the planetarium reopened in September 2008, it offered visitors a total-immersion-in-space-experience available at only three other planetariums in the United States.</p>
<p>"We're one of the few planetariums in the world with a digital movie capability and a GOTO Cronus star ball that allows us to project an authentic view of what the night sky would look like on any given day at any given location on the earth," said planetarium director Shanil Virani.</p>
<p>While the hybrid system is different than IMAX technology, which some visitors have compared it to, the new GOTO Chronos instrument and Digistar 3 projection system can provide some eye-opening effects along with some advanced teaching tools. "We can account for light pollution, so what I normally do, I bring up the star ball with full light pollution and people recognize the familiar constellations and that's what they're used to seeing," Virani said. "When we remove the light pollution, that's the first 'ooh, ah' moment. Everytime."</p>
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							<span>Harrisonburg</span>,
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												<span>22801</span>
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										<a href="http://www.jmu.edu/planetarium/about.shtml" target="_blank">Visit Website</a>
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												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 540- 568-6211</div>
				
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						<p>Characterizing it as an astronomical challenge may be a bit of a stretch, but operating the John C. Wells Planetarium before its $1.3 million renovation in 2007 was anything but easy.</p>
<p>Fixing the broken parts was not possible in a lot of cases because the parts of the 1970s-era system had become obsolete. Now running a state-of-the art hybrid projection system, those concerns seem light years in the past. When the planetarium reopened in September 2008, it offered visitors a total-immersion-in-space-experience available at only three other planetariums in the United States.</p>
<p>"We're one of the few planetariums in the world with a digital movie capability and a GOTO Cronus star ball that allows us to project an authentic view of what the night sky would look like on any given day at any given location on the earth," said planetarium director Shanil Virani.</p>
<p>While the hybrid system is different than IMAX technology, which some visitors have compared it to, the new GOTO Chronos instrument and Digistar 3 projection system can provide some eye-opening effects along with some advanced teaching tools. "We can account for light pollution, so what I normally do, I bring up the star ball with full light pollution and people recognize the familiar constellations and that's what they're used to seeing," Virani said. "When we remove the light pollution, that's the first 'ooh, ah' moment. Everytime."</p>
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							<span>Harrisonburg</span>,
							<span>VA</span>
												<span>22801</span>
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						<p>Characterizing it as an astronomical challenge may be a bit of a stretch, but operating the John C. Wells Planetarium before its $1.3 million renovation in 2007 was anything but easy.</p>
<p>Fixing the broken parts was not possible in a lot of cases because the parts of the 1970s-era system had become obsolete. Now running a state-of-the art hybrid projection system, those concerns seem light years in the past. When the planetarium reopened in September 2008, it offered visitors a total-immersion-in-space-experience available at only three other planetariums in the United States.</p>
<p>"We're one of the few planetariums in the world with a digital movie capability and a GOTO Cronus star ball that allows us to project an authentic view of what the night sky would look like on any given day at any given location on the earth," said planetarium director Shanil Virani.</p>
<p>While the hybrid system is different than IMAX technology, which some visitors have compared it to, the new GOTO Chronos instrument and Digistar 3 projection system can provide some eye-opening effects along with some advanced teaching tools. "We can account for light pollution, so what I normally do, I bring up the star ball with full light pollution and people recognize the familiar constellations and that's what they're used to seeing," Virani said. "When we remove the light pollution, that's the first 'ooh, ah' moment. Everytime."</p>
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		<header><h1 class="article-headline">John C. Wells Planetarium</h1></header>

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											<div>James Madison University, 800 South Main Street</div>
											<div>
							<span>Harrisonburg</span>,
							<span>VA</span>
												<span>22801</span>
											</div>
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					<i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> 
										<a href="http://www.jmu.edu/planetarium/about.shtml" target="_blank">Visit Website</a>
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												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 540- 568-6211</div>
				
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						<p>Characterizing it as an astronomical challenge may be a bit of a stretch, but operating the John C. Wells Planetarium before its $1.3 million renovation in 2007 was anything but easy.</p>
<p>Fixing the broken parts was not possible in a lot of cases because the parts of the 1970s-era system had become obsolete. Now running a state-of-the art hybrid projection system, those concerns seem light years in the past. When the planetarium reopened in September 2008, it offered visitors a total-immersion-in-space-experience available at only three other planetariums in the United States.</p>
<p>"We're one of the few planetariums in the world with a digital movie capability and a GOTO Cronus star ball that allows us to project an authentic view of what the night sky would look like on any given day at any given location on the earth," said planetarium director Shanil Virani.</p>
<p>While the hybrid system is different than IMAX technology, which some visitors have compared it to, the new GOTO Chronos instrument and Digistar 3 projection system can provide some eye-opening effects along with some advanced teaching tools. "We can account for light pollution, so what I normally do, I bring up the star ball with full light pollution and people recognize the familiar constellations and that's what they're used to seeing," Virani said. "When we remove the light pollution, that's the first 'ooh, ah' moment. Everytime."</p>
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											<div>James Madison University, 800 South Main Street</div>
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							<span>Harrisonburg</span>,
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												<span>22801</span>
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						<p>Characterizing it as an astronomical challenge may be a bit of a stretch, but operating the John C. Wells Planetarium before its $1.3 million renovation in 2007 was anything but easy.</p>
<p>Fixing the broken parts was not possible in a lot of cases because the parts of the 1970s-era system had become obsolete. Now running a state-of-the art hybrid projection system, those concerns seem light years in the past. When the planetarium reopened in September 2008, it offered visitors a total-immersion-in-space-experience available at only three other planetariums in the United States.</p>
<p>"We're one of the few planetariums in the world with a digital movie capability and a GOTO Cronus star ball that allows us to project an authentic view of what the night sky would look like on any given day at any given location on the earth," said planetarium director Shanil Virani.</p>
<p>While the hybrid system is different than IMAX technology, which some visitors have compared it to, the new GOTO Chronos instrument and Digistar 3 projection system can provide some eye-opening effects along with some advanced teaching tools. "We can account for light pollution, so what I normally do, I bring up the star ball with full light pollution and people recognize the familiar constellations and that's what they're used to seeing," Virani said. "When we remove the light pollution, that's the first 'ooh, ah' moment. Everytime."</p>
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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]
Code Context
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		<header><h1 class="article-headline">John C. Wells Planetarium</h1></header>

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											<div>James Madison University, 800 South Main Street</div>
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							<span>Harrisonburg</span>,
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												<span>22801</span>
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					<i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> 
										<a href="http://www.jmu.edu/planetarium/about.shtml" target="_blank">Visit Website</a>
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												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 540- 568-6211</div>
				
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						<p>Characterizing it as an astronomical challenge may be a bit of a stretch, but operating the John C. Wells Planetarium before its $1.3 million renovation in 2007 was anything but easy.</p>
<p>Fixing the broken parts was not possible in a lot of cases because the parts of the 1970s-era system had become obsolete. Now running a state-of-the art hybrid projection system, those concerns seem light years in the past. When the planetarium reopened in September 2008, it offered visitors a total-immersion-in-space-experience available at only three other planetariums in the United States.</p>
<p>"We're one of the few planetariums in the world with a digital movie capability and a GOTO Cronus star ball that allows us to project an authentic view of what the night sky would look like on any given day at any given location on the earth," said planetarium director Shanil Virani.</p>
<p>While the hybrid system is different than IMAX technology, which some visitors have compared it to, the new GOTO Chronos instrument and Digistar 3 projection system can provide some eye-opening effects along with some advanced teaching tools. "We can account for light pollution, so what I normally do, I bring up the star ball with full light pollution and people recognize the familiar constellations and that's what they're used to seeing," Virani said. "When we remove the light pollution, that's the first 'ooh, ah' moment. Everytime."</p>
<p></p>		</div>
		

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					<p class="venue">Haymarket Gainesville Library</p>
					<p class="loc">Haymarket, VA</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

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					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/manassas-speakers-bureau-fraud-holiday-online-shopping-scams-pfnc6qhzqjz.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PROTECTING-YOURSELF-FROM-HOLIDAY-SCAMS-AND-FRAUD">Protecting Yourself from Holiday Scams and Fraud</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Monday, Nov 18, 2024 at 10:00&nbsp;a.m. ET</p>
					<p class="venue">PRINCE WILLIAM SENIOR CENTER AT MANASSAS</p>
					<p class="loc">MANASSAS, VA</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/virtual-aarp-tx-fitness-a-gentle-workout-with-nia-dallas-tx-11052024-ssnv27bm562.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-A-GENTLE-WORKOUT-WITH-NIA">A Gentle Workout With Nia</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 5, 2024 at 11:00&nbsp;a.m. ET</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom and Facebook</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/harrisonburg-va/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
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											<div>James Madison University, 800 South Main Street</div>
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							<span>Harrisonburg</span>,
							<span>VA</span>
												<span>22801</span>
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								<div>
					<i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> 
										<a href="http://www.jmu.edu/planetarium/about.shtml" target="_blank">Visit Website</a>
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												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 540- 568-6211</div>
				
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						<p>Characterizing it as an astronomical challenge may be a bit of a stretch, but operating the John C. Wells Planetarium before its $1.3 million renovation in 2007 was anything but easy.</p>
<p>Fixing the broken parts was not possible in a lot of cases because the parts of the 1970s-era system had become obsolete. Now running a state-of-the art hybrid projection system, those concerns seem light years in the past. When the planetarium reopened in September 2008, it offered visitors a total-immersion-in-space-experience available at only three other planetariums in the United States.</p>
<p>"We're one of the few planetariums in the world with a digital movie capability and a GOTO Cronus star ball that allows us to project an authentic view of what the night sky would look like on any given day at any given location on the earth," said planetarium director Shanil Virani.</p>
<p>While the hybrid system is different than IMAX technology, which some visitors have compared it to, the new GOTO Chronos instrument and Digistar 3 projection system can provide some eye-opening effects along with some advanced teaching tools. "We can account for light pollution, so what I normally do, I bring up the star ball with full light pollution and people recognize the familiar constellations and that's what they're used to seeing," Virani said. "When we remove the light pollution, that's the first 'ooh, ah' moment. Everytime."</p>
<p></p>		</div>
		

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					<p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024 at 1:00&nbsp;p.m. ET</p>
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					<p class="loc">Haymarket, VA</p>
					
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					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/manassas-speakers-bureau-fraud-holiday-online-shopping-scams-pfnc6qhzqjz.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PROTECTING-YOURSELF-FROM-HOLIDAY-SCAMS-AND-FRAUD">Protecting Yourself from Holiday Scams and Fraud</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Monday, Nov 18, 2024 at 10:00&nbsp;a.m. ET</p>
					<p class="venue">PRINCE WILLIAM SENIOR CENTER AT MANASSAS</p>
					<p class="loc">MANASSAS, VA</p>
					
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					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/virtual-aarp-tx-fitness-a-gentle-workout-with-nia-dallas-tx-11052024-ssnv27bm562.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-A-GENTLE-WORKOUT-WITH-NIA">A Gentle Workout With Nia</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 5, 2024 at 11:00&nbsp;a.m. ET</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom and Facebook</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
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		<li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li>
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						<p>Characterizing it as an astronomical challenge may be a bit of a stretch, but operating the John C. Wells Planetarium before its $1.3 million renovation in 2007 was anything but easy.</p>
<p>Fixing the broken parts was not possible in a lot of cases because the parts of the 1970s-era system had become obsolete. Now running a state-of-the art hybrid projection system, those concerns seem light years in the past. When the planetarium reopened in September 2008, it offered visitors a total-immersion-in-space-experience available at only three other planetariums in the United States.</p>
<p>"We're one of the few planetariums in the world with a digital movie capability and a GOTO Cronus star ball that allows us to project an authentic view of what the night sky would look like on any given day at any given location on the earth," said planetarium director Shanil Virani.</p>
<p>While the hybrid system is different than IMAX technology, which some visitors have compared it to, the new GOTO Chronos instrument and Digistar 3 projection system can provide some eye-opening effects along with some advanced teaching tools. "We can account for light pollution, so what I normally do, I bring up the star ball with full light pollution and people recognize the familiar constellations and that's what they're used to seeing," Virani said. "When we remove the light pollution, that's the first 'ooh, ah' moment. Everytime."</p>
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						<p>Characterizing it as an astronomical challenge may be a bit of a stretch, but operating the John C. Wells Planetarium before its $1.3 million renovation in 2007 was anything but easy.</p>
<p>Fixing the broken parts was not possible in a lot of cases because the parts of the 1970s-era system had become obsolete. Now running a state-of-the art hybrid projection system, those concerns seem light years in the past. When the planetarium reopened in September 2008, it offered visitors a total-immersion-in-space-experience available at only three other planetariums in the United States.</p>
<p>"We're one of the few planetariums in the world with a digital movie capability and a GOTO Cronus star ball that allows us to project an authentic view of what the night sky would look like on any given day at any given location on the earth," said planetarium director Shanil Virani.</p>
<p>While the hybrid system is different than IMAX technology, which some visitors have compared it to, the new GOTO Chronos instrument and Digistar 3 projection system can provide some eye-opening effects along with some advanced teaching tools. "We can account for light pollution, so what I normally do, I bring up the star ball with full light pollution and people recognize the familiar constellations and that's what they're used to seeing," Virani said. "When we remove the light pollution, that's the first 'ooh, ah' moment. Everytime."</p>
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		<header><h1 class="article-headline">John C. Wells Planetarium</h1></header>

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											<div>James Madison University, 800 South Main Street</div>
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							<span>Harrisonburg</span>,
							<span>VA</span>
												<span>22801</span>
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					<i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> 
										<a href="http://www.jmu.edu/planetarium/about.shtml" target="_blank">Visit Website</a>
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												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 540- 568-6211</div>
				
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						<p>Characterizing it as an astronomical challenge may be a bit of a stretch, but operating the John C. Wells Planetarium before its $1.3 million renovation in 2007 was anything but easy.</p>
<p>Fixing the broken parts was not possible in a lot of cases because the parts of the 1970s-era system had become obsolete. Now running a state-of-the art hybrid projection system, those concerns seem light years in the past. When the planetarium reopened in September 2008, it offered visitors a total-immersion-in-space-experience available at only three other planetariums in the United States.</p>
<p>"We're one of the few planetariums in the world with a digital movie capability and a GOTO Cronus star ball that allows us to project an authentic view of what the night sky would look like on any given day at any given location on the earth," said planetarium director Shanil Virani.</p>
<p>While the hybrid system is different than IMAX technology, which some visitors have compared it to, the new GOTO Chronos instrument and Digistar 3 projection system can provide some eye-opening effects along with some advanced teaching tools. "We can account for light pollution, so what I normally do, I bring up the star ball with full light pollution and people recognize the familiar constellations and that's what they're used to seeing," Virani said. "When we remove the light pollution, that's the first 'ooh, ah' moment. Everytime."</p>
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											<div>James Madison University, 800 South Main Street</div>
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							<span>Harrisonburg</span>,
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												<span>22801</span>
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						<p>Characterizing it as an astronomical challenge may be a bit of a stretch, but operating the John C. Wells Planetarium before its $1.3 million renovation in 2007 was anything but easy.</p>
<p>Fixing the broken parts was not possible in a lot of cases because the parts of the 1970s-era system had become obsolete. Now running a state-of-the art hybrid projection system, those concerns seem light years in the past. When the planetarium reopened in September 2008, it offered visitors a total-immersion-in-space-experience available at only three other planetariums in the United States.</p>
<p>"We're one of the few planetariums in the world with a digital movie capability and a GOTO Cronus star ball that allows us to project an authentic view of what the night sky would look like on any given day at any given location on the earth," said planetarium director Shanil Virani.</p>
<p>While the hybrid system is different than IMAX technology, which some visitors have compared it to, the new GOTO Chronos instrument and Digistar 3 projection system can provide some eye-opening effects along with some advanced teaching tools. "We can account for light pollution, so what I normally do, I bring up the star ball with full light pollution and people recognize the familiar constellations and that's what they're used to seeing," Virani said. "When we remove the light pollution, that's the first 'ooh, ah' moment. Everytime."</p>
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include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244
View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971
View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933
View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546
View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481
Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963
AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136
PlacesController::display() - APP/Controller/PlacesController.php, line 501
ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ??
Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118