Maintaining the Tradition of Excellence at the SUNY Oneonta Planetarium. Dr. Jason Smolinski 120 Physical Science

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1 Maintaining the Tradition of Excellence at the SUNY Oneonta Planetarium Dr. Jason Smolinski 120 Physical Science Department of Physics and Astronomy Amount Requested: $58,000 Abstract Since the installation of state-of-the-art digital equipment in the SUNY Oneonta Planetarium in 2008, the facility has offered views of the Universe like never before. Unfortunately, in recent months, the computer equipment has begun to show its age and because of this the consistency and quality of the programming has suffered. This proposal requests funding to upgrade the current system to the new Digistar 5. Utilizing the latest in digital capabilities and a full computer replacement, an upgraded planetarium will continue the College s proud tradition of offering exciting astronomical programming to the Oneonta community and beyond for many years.

2 I. Proposal Narrative A. Proposal Description and Objectives Originally upgraded to Digistar 3 in 2008, the SUNY Oneonta Planetarium transformed from an analog star ball system supplemented with numerous image projectors to a fully digital system with high-resolution video capabilities and surround-sound audio. An upgrade to Digistar 4 in 2011, included as part of the original installation contract, enhanced the system through improved functionality and greater programming capacity. This software upgrade did not include any substantive changes to the hardware, leaving Digistar 4 to operate on computers originally designed for Digistar 3. As use of the facility increased from late 2011 through the end of 2013, numerous technical problems have arisen, some of which have required 10 or more hours of labor to repair. While a service contract extension through 2017 has provided valuable assistance with both software- and hardware-related technical problems, it has become increasingly clear that the hardware originally intended for Digistar 3 is no longer capable of running the latest updates to Digistar 4. Indeed, several software updates have led to crippling problems that, in multiple instances, have resulted in canceled shows for the public and for visiting school groups. The most recent in the series of technical malfunctions, unrelated to software updates, has been the complete loss of one of the four computers in the system. While a workaround was managed that allowed one of the other three computers to serve as a replacement, this replacement computer has also exhibited problems that manifest themselves during the shows. The negative impact on the audience when the computer crashes during a program is of tremendous concern, as any perception that the facility is not up to the task of hosting a program could lead to greatly reduced interest in the planetarium both on and off campus. Considering the investment made in renovating the planetarium, steps must be taken to continue the tradition of excellence our facility has offered up to now. After discussions with technicians at Evans & Sutherland, the ability to maintain the computers currently in place is becoming increasingly compromised as components become obsolete. A hardware upgrade is rapidly becoming the only feasible option to maintain the functionality of the planetarium. An upgrade in hardware opens the door to a software upgrade as well, to the newly-released Digistar 5. This latest release will continue to provide cutting-edge displays of the night sky, Galaxy, and Universe while taking full advantage of the technological capabilities of the upgraded hardware. Digistar 5 significantly adds to the experience currently presented by Digistar 4. Volumetric modeling of catalog objects allows the viewer to travel in and around celestial objects, exploring them in greater depth than allowed by Digistar 4. Planetary systems and flight throughout the Milky Way Galaxy are rendered in a much more realistic way and shows can be programmed to display not only more celestial objects but more details and features relating to these objects. Additional datasets are also included that expand the planetarium s applicability to the fields of comparative geology, meteorology, and climatology, allowing for a greater diversity of programs for subjects beyond astronomy.

3 B. Contribution to the SP2010 The upgrades detailed in this proposal contribute to the College s Strategic Plan by emphasizing our dedication to enhanced student learning and outreach to the community. By upgrading the facility s computer hardware, the planetarium s functionality will be brought back into its full form, beyond that which it had originally possessed. The more advanced and modern components will combine improved performance with longevity. The upgraded software will open doors to not only new features added to existing program topics but also entirely new types of programs that address subjects currently beyond the scope of Digistar 4. Students across the sciences can benefit from these added features, and new possibilities exist for implementing shows tailored toward nonscience majors as well. Among SUNY Oneonta s public outreach efforts, the planetarium serves as a key element. Not only do the monthly public planetarium shows attract attendees from as far away as Binghamton and Albany, but local public and private educational group visits bring visitors ranging in age from 3-80 years old. Such successful public outreach not only promotes the image and presence of the College, but also serves as an educational tool partnering with local schools to enhance the learning experiences of the area s youth. C. Links to College Priorities An upgraded and operational planetarium contributes significantly to the experiential and technology-enhanced learning of the College s student body. Not only can science and non-science majors learn from the datasets and features included in the Digistar 5 software, but astronomy students can also learn aspects of public outreach by operating the system independently. Particularly in astronomy, effective public outreach skills are vital and training astronomy students in the practices of outreach is an important part of their education. Additionally, an enhanced and operational planetarium can contribute to the courses offered in the Cooperstown Graduate School s Museum Studies program. A planetarium operations course was once offered at SUNY Oneonta several decades ago and can easily be revamped for today s modern planetarium. D. Supporting Evidence The SUNY Oneonta Planetarium has proven to be a popular draw for both members of the public and local educational institutions. Since the reinstatement of regularly scheduled (monthly) public planetarium shows, attendance has remained consistently high. Figure 1 illustrates the total attendance per public show, with the average attendance at 22 ± 6 people, with two-thirds of all public shows having 20 or more attendees. Ticket offerings are continuing to be adjusted to provide consistent, maximized attendance. This steady interest in public programming has also been demonstrated by continuously sold out ticket numbers. As the number of free tickets being offered for public planetarium shows has risen from 28 to 35, shows continue to sell out. Over the past twenty-two shows, just one failed to sell out. Show of hands polls indicate that

4 approximately 90% of those attending any given public planetarium show are attending for the first time. This suggests that the interest in public planetarium shows will continue to be high in the future, as attendees overwhelmingly give positive feedback at the end of each program. Group visits make up the majority of the scheduled shows. These groups include K-12 classes from local public schools as well as local private schools. Several adult educational and rehabilitation agencies have also visited. Last year, shows for private groups brought in 597 people, while local school groups brought 469 people. Overall, in the time period from July 2012 to June 2013 the planetarium hosted 1333 attendees, a 63% increase from the previous twelve months.!"#$%&'##()*$)+(& '!" &#" &!" %#" %!" $#" $!" #"!" -%$)(#$./01&'##()*$)+(&&,$#(&!"#$%&'()''*+,-.'-,,&/0-/1&'-,',2&'3456'7/&+/,-'8.-/&,-%"$9':&%':$;."1'<2+='<"/1&',2&' %&"/<,-,&9&/,'+>'9+/,2.?':$;."1':%+#%-99"/#)'*2&'%&0'0-<2&0'."/&'%&:%&<&/,<',2&'-@&%-#&' -,,&/0-/1&'+@&%',2"<',"9&':&%"+0A'-,'-::%+B"9-,&.?'CC':&+:.&'DEFG'>$..'1-:-1",?H)' E. Evaluation Plan 1. Development of focused programs oriented around age-specific K-12 curricula aligned with state and national standards. 2. Public radio and social media broadcasts about the newly upgraded system. 3. Continued evaluation of ticket distribution and attendance statistics, with comparisons to pre-upgrade numbers. F. Timeline July 2014 Funding for system upgrade allocated, purchase requisition submitted August /September 2014 E&S performs system upgrade October 2014 Inaugural Digistar 5 public event is held

5 II. Funds Requested A. Budget This proposal requests funding in the amount of $58,000. Of this total, $57,000 goes toward the purchase of the hardware and software for the system upgrade, as quoted by the manufacturer Evans & Sutherland (Salt Lake City, UT). This also covers the travel costs for 1-2 technicians to visit SUNY Oneonta to install the new system. The remainder, $1000, is to cover the shipping costs of the equipment. Please see the attached budget spreadsheet and price quote from Evans & Sutherland. III. Consultation Feedback The Chief Information Officer has reviewed this proposal and verified potential costs as it relates to technology: [ ] Yes [X] No [ ] Not Applicable Comments: I was not able to obtain feedback from the CIO in time to submit this proposal I believe I ed him on a busy day. Since all potential costs associated with this upgrade are included in the quote from Evans & Sutherland, I do not anticipate any added costs. The Associate Vice President for Facilities and Safety has reviewed this proposal and verified potential costs as it relates to facilities: [X] Yes [ ] No [ ] Not Applicable Comments: The Budget Director has reviewed this proposal and verified potential costs: [X] Yes [ ] No [ ] Not Applicable Comments: The Senior Executive Employee Services Officer has reviewed this proposal and verified potential costs as it relates to human resources: [ ] Yes [ ] No [X] Not Applicable Comments:

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Proposal Title: Developing the Planetarium as a Center for Public Outreach, Content!! Production, and Student Involvement. Amount Req.

Proposal Title: Developing the Planetarium as a Center for Public Outreach, Content!! Production, and Student Involvement Point Person: Department: Dr. Joshua Nollenberg Physics and Astronomy Amount Req.: