This weekend marks the opening of the new Dorrance Dome at the Arizona Science Center, replacing the old planetarium.
The redesigned dome screen totally surrounding the 200-seat theater is made of more than 40 million LEDs. Daily showings are open to members starting Friday and open to the general public starting Saturday.
The revamped theater bears resemblance to the Las Vegas Sphere, but on a smaller scale.
The technology allows for broader programming than just space shows. There are programs that show what it’s like to be in nature as well as art-focused shows, like one featuring the music of Taylor Swift.
Kirk Johnson is Chief Operations Officer at COSM, the company that makes the technology used in the dome.
“I think there’s a lot of experiences we can give to people that we like to call it democratizing access to things where people can go places and experience these things. where they may not be able to travel, may not have the means to travel,” Johnson said.
The Science Center will be renovating more of its exhibits in the coming years.
A visual demonstration inside the Dorrance Dome illustrates the array of panels that contain more than 40 million LEDs that make up the screen.