Slovak observatories and planetariums are commemorating the 100th anniversary of the world’s first projection planetarium, which began regular operations on May 7, 1923, in Munich. To mark the occasion, several Slovak institutions will host special public programs.
As noted by Rudolf Gális of the Slovak Astronomical Society, the technology for projecting the night sky has evolved significantly, turning planetariums into important educational and cultural venues. Over the years, they have also played key roles in astronaut training and navigation instruction.
The first planetarium in Slovakia opened in 1975 at the Slovak Technical Museum in Košice. Today, the country has 14 planetariums—eight permanent and six mobile—serving all regions and attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually.
Special anniversary programs are planned in several cities. In Senec, events will run from May 8 to 11. In Žiar nad Hronom, the local planetarium will offer sky observations and programs titled “A Hundred Years of Eternity” on May 7. Rožňava’s observatory will host an educational series on the solar system from May 13 to 16. Finally, the Night of Museums on May 17 will mark 50 years since the opening of Slovakia’s first planetarium.
Source: TASR
