Renovation Update

Happy July! We've tweeted a few photos of the ongoing work in the planetarium as it's been happening. Here's a summary of the work so far.

On May 1 we gave the last presentation with the 1966 projector. It was a packed house!

Last ride of the A3P! pic.twitter.com/FfoBG2JiNU

— Hatter Planetarium (@GCPlanetarium) May 1, 2016

Soon after the show planetarium director Ian Clarke and astro professor Jackie Milingo sorted through the materials and extra equipment.

Renovations already underway! Here's a keepsake from the old #planetarium #hatter2016 #bigbang pic.twitter.com/C2XTJFekxY

— Hatter Planetarium (@GCPlanetarium) May 3, 2016

Then Spitz removed the old projector (it's being stored by the Physics Department for potential display) and the contractor completed demolition.

The Hatter Planetarium after a week of demo. #hatter2016 #astronomy #planetarium pic.twitter.com/zsUXHXclQR

— Hatter Planetarium (@GCPlanetarium) May 13, 2016

Since then work has been ongoing to turn the space into a its new purpose as a digital planetarium classroom.

Update on progress with architect, facilities, and IT. #Hatter2016 #planetarium pic.twitter.com/f7W06tWbns

— Hatter Planetarium (@GCPlanetarium) June 15, 2016

Not a planetary surface! It will be the entryway of our renovated #planetarium #hatter2016 pic.twitter.com/wnTaii7vL3

— Hatter Planetarium (@GCPlanetarium) June 27, 2016

The next milestones will be installation of the Spitz SciDome projector and the attendance by six Gettysburg College faculty and administrators at the Spitz Institute, a training and skills development program. By the first day of Fall 2016 classes (August 29) the new Hatter Planetarium will be ready both for public shows and, for the first time ever, as a home for the college's astronomy classes.