- Address: Královská obora 233, 170 21 Praha 7, Czech Republic
- Phone: +420 220 999 002
- Website: www.planetarium.cz
- Year of foundation: 1960
- Architect: Yaroslav Fragner
- Opening hours: Mon 08: 30-18: 00, Tue-Thu 08: 30-20: 00, Fri 10: 30-16: 00, Sat 10: 30-20: 00, Sun 10: 30-18: 00
The Planetarium in Prague , located in the administrative center of Bubeneč, is not only one of the main attractions of the Czech capital. He is one of the world's largest planetariums, second only to similar facilities in Japan , China and the United States. Despite the fact that 57 years have passed since its opening, the planetarium does not cease to be popular with residents and visitors of the city.
History of the Planetarium in Prague
The investment plan for the construction of this facility was adopted by the Ministry of Culture of the country in 1952. Already in 1954 the German equipment was delivered to the capital, including its own projection apparatus and sets for installation of a projection dome with a diameter of 23.5 m.
In November 1960, the grand opening ceremony of the planetarium in Prague took place, which at that time was part of the Julius Fucik Cultural and Wellness Park. In 1991, the last of its kind, the optomechanical projector Cosmorama, manufactured by Carl Zeiss AG, was installed here.
Structure and characteristics of a planetarium in Prague
Unlike the observatory, which also operates in the Czech capital, this science center can observe the stars and planets at any time of the day. Even in bad weather and cloud cover, the Prague Planetarium offers an excellent view of the starry sky. This was made possible by the fact that three powerful telescopes of the German brand Carl Zeiss AG are installed here. In addition, the observation of the stars is carried out using a projection unit and a laser demonstration system, which have unique technical characteristics. In total, 230 demonstration projectors operate here, whose functions are controlled by innovative computer programs.
The Planetarium in Prague is also famous for the fact that the Cosmorama Hall is open for 210 people. In it you can monitor the space objects in real time, while sitting in a soft and cozy chair. Visitors are given the opportunity to look at how the universe looks from the most diverse points of the Earth. All images are output to the dome, set at a height of 15 m.
Permanent exhibitions in the Planetarium of Prague
The Prague Research Center is a kind of storehouse for astronomical data and information about cosmic discoveries. To visit the planetarium in Prague follows in order to:
- to get acquainted with interactive models of a space black hole;
- Look at the samples of lunar soil provided by astronauts from the United States;
- to learn how to grow plants adapted to life in weightlessness;
- to study the appearance of the surface of Mars and the Moon;
- to estimate the scale of models of all planets of the solar system.
Here, computer graphics recreate processes that demonstrate how the surface of the moon changes in its different phases. In addition to interactive exhibits, the Prague Planetarium contains posters, drawings, animated and video materials about all space and astronomical discoveries.
How to get to the planetarium in Prague?
A popular Czech landmark is located about 3.5 km from the center of the capital. You can reach it by tram, metro or rented car . Approximately 250 from the planetarium of Prague is the stop Výstaviště Holešovice, which can be reached by tram lines Nos. 12, 17 and 41. 1.5 km away there is the Holešovice station, which belongs to the C line of the Prague metro. Following from the center of Prague to the planetarium by car, you need to move north along the roads of Italská and Wilsonova. The whole journey takes a maximum of 18 minutes.