Universal Upgrade One star dies, another shines more brightly in its place Just like a star, the Pretlow Planetarium at Old Dominion University in Norfolk has reached the end of its life, and the new Michael and Kimthanh Lê Planetarium has replaced it. “Not only was our Pretlow Planetarium, which was built in 1967, beginning to show its age, but our projection system had also become outdated,” said Justin Mason, Old Dominion University planetarium director. “To compete up with the other planetariums in Hampton Roads, we desperately needed an upgrade. The new Chemistry Building was in the early stages of development and this was our opportunity to include a new planetarium along with it.” Over five decades ago, the proximity of the NASA Langley Research Center inspired the creation of the Pretlow Planetarium during a time when the space program reached great popularity in the U.S. “With NASA Langley just up the road in Hampton, the influence of the space race of the 1960s was very much felt throughout all of Hampton Roads,” said Mason. “This is the main reason why we have so many planetariums within the area: The Virginia Living Museum, TCC in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Planetarium, Plaza Middle School, Norfolk State University, Children’s Museum of Virginia and, of course, here at Old Dominion University.”
[ by jill doczi ] 10
aug-oct 2021 | boulevard
