The Design and Production of a Planetarium Presentation Employing a Unique Format Implemented as an Innovation Within an Organization

Abstract

"Nationwide, over 16 million people annually attend public planetarium presentations. In many cases this is their only exposure to semi-formal astronomical education. Various authors have stressed the importance of including astronomy, especially current astronomical phenomena, in planetarium presentations. There seems to be a movement away from the inclusion of this type of topic in planetarium presentations.

The current format of pre-recorded planetarium presentations would seem to inhibit the inclusion of current astronomical phenomena. The presentations are designed, written, produced, and presented on a single topic with no provision for modification to allow for the inclusion of astronomical phenomena (or other subjects), not related to the presentation topic, which may occur during the time of the presentation's showing.

The multi-topical format developed as a result of this project allows for the inclusion of these topics. This change in the planetarium was viewed as an innovation within an organization and the various factors affecting the innovation process are discussed."