講演情報
[O1-02]Reconsidering the Reality of the Starry Sky through Projection Practices in Diverse Spaces: Emerging Directions for Opt-Mechanical Planetariums
*Takayuki Ohira1 (1. Ohira-Tech (Japan))
キーワード：
Reality、Experience、Education
More than a century has passed since the first opt-mechanical planetarium was created, and advances in digital and high-resolution technologies have transformed planetariums from places for learning constellations into immersive environments for experiencing the universe. In 1998, I introduced the optical planetarium MEGASTAR at the IPS conference in London, capable of projecting more than one million stars. Since then, I have focused on reproducing faint stars at brightness levels consistent with the real night sky—ensuring that stars invisible to the naked eye also appear invisible. This fidelity-based approach has been adopted by over forty institutions worldwide.
A turning point occurred when a live television broadcast required a significantly brightened star field. Although physically unfaithful, the enhanced projection elicited strong emotional reactions, allowing viewers to intuitively grasp the vast number of stars and the scale of the universe. Subsequent screenings of this high-brightness star field in diverse non-planetarium venues—including concert halls, wedding halls, aircraft cabins, and caves—demonstrated consistent educational and psychological effects.
This presentation compares two contrasting approaches: fidelity-based star-field reproduction and perceptually emphasized star-field representation. Through this comparison, I examine the educational significance of enabling audiences to understand astronomy as an experiential act. The results suggest a broader framework for planetarium education that extends beyond physical realism toward the value of immersive, transformative experiences.
A turning point occurred when a live television broadcast required a significantly brightened star field. Although physically unfaithful, the enhanced projection elicited strong emotional reactions, allowing viewers to intuitively grasp the vast number of stars and the scale of the universe. Subsequent screenings of this high-brightness star field in diverse non-planetarium venues—including concert halls, wedding halls, aircraft cabins, and caves—demonstrated consistent educational and psychological effects.
This presentation compares two contrasting approaches: fidelity-based star-field reproduction and perceptually emphasized star-field representation. Through this comparison, I examine the educational significance of enabling audiences to understand astronomy as an experiential act. The results suggest a broader framework for planetarium education that extends beyond physical realism toward the value of immersive, transformative experiences.