Planetário Professor José Baptista Pereira, Planetarium and museum in Porto Alegre, Brazil
Planetário Professor José Baptista Pereira is an educational facility with a 12-meter diameter dome that displays the solar system and projects the positions of over 8,000 stars. The building sits within the UFRGS Health Campus at the intersection of Ipiranga Avenue and Ramiro Barcelos Street.
The facility was established in 1972 and received a visit from NASA astronauts James Lovell from Apollo 13 and Director Donald Slayton before opening to the public. This visit highlighted the site's international importance for space exploration efforts.
The planetarium bears the name of an engineering professor who championed astronomical education in the region, and this legacy shapes what visitors experience. People come here to connect with science and learning in a space dedicated to that mission.
Visitors do not need any special background knowledge, as the displays present basic astronomy concepts for all ages. The building is surrounded by gardens that guests can explore before or after their visit inside.
The outdoor grounds include a sundial and a wind rose that complement the astronomical education and reinforce the connection to celestial bodies. These practical instruments allow visitors to explore concepts beyond the dome structure itself.
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