Housed for many years in the Octagonal Room of the Baths of Diocletian, the Planetarium was closed in the 1980s to allow restoration work on the Baths and their conversion into a museum. The vault of heaven was achieved by using a German Zeiss manufactured projector, a gift from Hitler to Mussolini in the 1930s. After restoration work carried out in the laboratories of the astronomical observatory in Monteporzio Catone, the equipment is now housed in the Museum of Roman Civilisation and enables the projection of over 4 thousand stars on a dome 14 metres in diameter as well as the rotation of the planets of the solar system and the constellations. The new SN 95 optical projector was designed and manufactured in France. Visitors can enjoy watching the heavens on ergonomic reclining seats arranged in concentric rows. Other rooms contain reconstructions of the Earth, Moon, Mars and Jupiter’s satellite Europa.
Shows
Shows for adults and children with the aim of discovering the fascinating world of astronomy, organized in 6 categories:
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Celestial Panorama - An Introduction to understanding the sky;
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Open Universies - In-depth astrophysics on the nature of the universe;
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Impacts - Astronomy and around;
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Direct from the cosmos - Observation of the sky with a telescope;
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Tales of Doctor Stellarium - Interactive game;
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Astroconcert - Music and images from space.
The timetable of the shows can be consulted online www.planetarioroma.it
It is advisable to call in advance.
HERITY certification: www.herity.it/Siti/Planetario.htm
