Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium, Science museum and planetarium at University of Arizona, Tucson, United States.
Flandrau Science Center is a museum at the University of Arizona that combines a digital planetarium with interactive exhibits on astronomy, physics, and Earth sciences. Visitors move through several gallery spaces that showcase different scientific topics and discoveries.
The Flandrau Science Center was created with a donation from the estate of American author Grace Flandrau, and the University of Arizona Board of Regents approved its creation in 1972. It first opened to the public in 1975, with O. Richard Norton as its first director. The planetarium originally ran shows with a star projector nicknamed the "Hector Vector Star Projector", later replaced by newer technology. Renovations were completed in 2017, when the theater reopened as the Eos Foundation Planetarium Theater.
The center maintains strong connections with university researchers and faculty members who contribute their expertise to exhibitions and educational programs throughout the year.
Visitors should allow time for planetarium shows, as these are the highlights of any visit. The building is straightforward to navigate and exhibits work well for different age groups.
The planetarium presents monthly astronomy talks that line up with current sky events happening in real time. These presentations let visitors watch space phenomena as they unfold through advanced projection technology.
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