Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to provide practical guidelines for those charged with the responsibility of selecting planetarium instruments for school use. Specifications for planetarium instruments were obtained from the six companies manufacturing or selling planetarium instruments in the United States. A questionnaire was prepared for the purpose of obtaining opinions of experienced planetarium personnel regarding various aspect of instructional utilization of existing planetariums, auxiliary devices, and planetarium chambers. In its final form, the questionnaire included 59 items calling for 104 responses under three main divisions: personnel, equipment, and instruction. Questionnaires were mailed to 545 known school planetariums in the United States and Canada. Museum planetariums known to conduct extensive school programs were included in the mailing. Ultimately, 260 usable questionnaires were returned. Analysis of the data revealed the following significant points. Purchasers of school planetariums tend to buy a "package" of instrument, dome, seating, and sound system. Sound systems are used for special programs and evening presentations more than for routine instruction. In existing school planetariums, the amount of time used in student investigations and experiments is, in general, inversely proportional to the cost of the main instrument. Most planetarium teacher-operators tend to recommend the instrument they operate, or one that costs more. Planetariums equipped with elevators for the main instrument are not used as a lecture hall, movie theatre, or other facility more frequently than planetariums not so equipped. Based mainly on these findings, guidelines that should be value to school systems or administrators contemplating the installation of a planetarium facility were derived with reference to the following: availability of funds, availability of personnel, pupils to be served, style of teaching preferred, and whether or not public programs will be presented. Specific recommendations were made regarding planetarium chamber design, types of instruments, and the desirability of the more costly auxiliary features of planetarium instruments.
