5. Planetariums and the Satellite Constellation Challenge
The primary authors of this section are:
- James Sweitzer (Science Communication Consultants, USA; Subgroup member)
- Ryan Wyatt (California Academy of the Sciences)
- Ka Chun Yu (Denver Museum of Nature & Science)
- Michael McConville (Evans & Sutherland)
The primary attendees of the SATCON2 Community Engagement Working Group breakout session on planetariums were:
- Ryan Wyatt (California Academy of the Sciences)
- Ka Chun Yu (Denver Museum of Nature & Science)
- James Sweitzer (Science Communication Consultants, USA)
- Patrick Seitzer (University of Michigan)
- Rosemary Walling (Marie Drake Planetarium)
- David Galadi Enriquez (Calar Alto Observatory)
- Andreas Haenel (Museum am Schölerberg)
5.1. Introduction
Planetariums deliver accurate, dark, artificial starry skies on demand. In an era when the natural night sky is under threat from light pollution and now satellite constellations, planetariums could well become a leading method to communicate the satellite constellation challenge and educate a broad range of people, whether they live in urban or rural areas, about these problems. Unfortunately, some 83% of the world’s population live under light polluted skies. Few have ready access to natural dark sky sites either. Planetariums might therefore be the only starlight refuges we have to educate the public. These “domed
