Stardome sets sights on out-of-this-world format

Stardome Observatory presenter Colin James takes a turn through the galaxy with high-definition full dome video, technology that is new to New Zealand. Picture / Dean Purcell

The world's most advanced "mind-blowing" audio-visual experience could be in Auckland's Stardome Observatory by 2007.

About 60 people were invited to attend a preview of full-dome Planetarium technology at the observatory yesterday. The system blankets the hemispherical dome with a seamless high-resolution video image.

"You're under the dome and actually part of the image, absorbed, as we take you right through the galaxy. The result is spectacular colour and movement, allowing us to create unique immersive environments," said the observatory's Victoria McArthur. "It's like no other technology we've got in New Zealand ... like nothing I've ever experienced."

She said the observatory's present facilities consisted of slide pictures on a big screen with moving images on a different projector screen. They are outdated and costly to maintain.

"Full dome is in a completely different league - six projectors on the dome, and it's all moving and three-dimensional," she said.

The observatory is looking for sponsors to help with the upgrade, estimated to cost between $1 million and $2 million, and hopes to have it ready for the public by January 2007.

Sky-Skan Australia installed the technology over the weekend for yesterday's presentation.

"If we want to get it back, we have to get somebody to help us," Mrs McArthur said.