PEEC astronomers, from left, Galen Gisler, Chick Keller, Paul Arendt and Rick Wallace check out the capabilities of a projector in Bremerton, Wash., that they are asking the community to help them purchase for the Planetarium at the Los Alamos Nature Center Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

Since the opening of the Los Alamos Nature Center in April 2015, the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) has strived to give people a wow experience in the planetarium. From star shows to full-dome films, PEEC has entertained and enlightened thousands of adults and children with programs on astronomy and much more.

But since the beginning, the quality of these shows has been hampered by the limitations of the planetarium projector. During star shows, astronomers are unable to show the audience the different colors of the stars or their relative brightness, as the projector’s resolution is too poor. Films often appear dull, or washed out, their colors pale and uninspiring.

Now, a group of expert astronomers who volunteer in the planetarium have decided to do something about this! They are determined to raise $80,000 for a new projector and to have the projector installed by Earth Day 2018, just in time for the opening of the award-winning National Parks Adventure film narrated by Robert Redford. The new projector will give people a WOW experience—the kind that inspires children to pursue a career in astronomy or other sciences.

Chick Keller, Richard Wallace, Galen Gisler and Paul Arendt have been talking to friends of PEEC and to other astronomers in town about the importance of the new projector, and the impact it will have on the hundreds of children and adults who come to the planetarium each year. They also have put their money where their mouths are, each giving a significant gift toward the new projector. Together, they’ve raised more than half of what is needed for the projector in pledges and gifts, and now they’re turning to the general public for the rest of the needed funds.

PEEC has created a special webpage to collect donations toward this important project: http://www.peecnature.org/donate-projector. The astronomers and PEEC invite you to get involved with a gift of any size. The current and future scientists of Los Alamos thank you!

PEEC astronomers Galen Gisler, Chick Keller, Paul Arendt and Rick Wallace check out the capabilities of a projector in Bremerton, Wash., that they are asking the community to help them purchase for the Planetarium at the Los Alamos Nature Center Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC astronomers Galen Gisler, Chick Keller, Paul Arendt and Rick Wallace check out the capabilities of a projector in Bremerton, Wash., that they are asking the community to help them purchase for the Planetarium at the Los Alamos Nature Center Courtesy/PEEC