Press Release

ZEISS to equip three planetariums in Brazil with UNIVIEW and the latest technology in 2022

Best conditions for close cooperation

28 January 2022

Jena, Germany | 28 January 2022 | ZEISS Planetariums

Three cities in the Brazilian state of Ceará will receive state-of-the-art planetarium technology from ZEISS this year powered by UNIVIEW. UNIVIEW is the operating system that ZEISS planetarium technology uses to stage all its presentations. The cities of Fortaleza and Sobral already have planetariums with ZEISS technology, and a new star theater is being built in Crato. After completion of the upgrades and new installations planned for September, all three planetariums will have uniform equipment with hybrid technology. In hybrid projection systems, the optical-mechanical star projector and digital projections are coupled by means of UNIVIEW. This enables the digital projection of didactic and astronomical objects to be synchronized with the analog night sky, the brilliance of which digital systems cannot achieve. The joint ZEISS technology will enable the three planetariums to directly exchange programs in the future.

The planetarium in Fortaleza with its 10.5 m dome has been using ZEISS technology for its educational and entertainment mission since 1999. In the fall of 2022, it will be modernized with the latest technology and software from ZEISS, along with two other planetariums in northeastern Brazil.

Fortaleza Planetarium adds new ZEISS technology

The planetarium at the "Centro Dragao do Mar de Arte e Cultura" in Fortaleza has been using a star projector from ZEISS since it opened more than 20 years ago. In 2010, the first hybrid projection system moved into the 10.5 m dome of the cultural and educational center. Since then, visitors have not only been able to experience the night sky from Earth in impressive simulation, but also to travel into the depths of the universe. The ZEISS VELVET projectors installed in 2018 for digital projection will be upgraded to modern LED light sources in late summer. Visitors will experience brighter projections and improved color reproduction, while the customer will save on energy and the cost of regular lamp replacement in the future. Fortaleza, as well as the other two planetariums, are licensing new shows that will expand the program lineup starting in the fall.

Reopening after fire

In Sobral, a fire in 2019 led to the closure of the local planetarium. It is part of the "Museu do Eclipse", which since 1999 has commemorated the observation of the total solar eclipse in Sobral in 1919. The results of the observation confirmed the General Theory of Relativity of Albert Einstein, who subsequently became famous worldwide.
The reopening of the planetarium is also planned here at the beginning of autumn 2022 with renewed projection technology from ZEISS and updated software.

New planetarium in Crato

A new planetarium, also with a diameter of 10.5 m, is being built in Crato. ZEISS is supplying all planetarium technology, including the projection dome, the hybrid system with a ZEISS SKYMASTER ZKP 4 LED star projector, a 2-channel ZEISS VELVET fulldome system and the sound system.

In Brazil, numerous planetariums rely on ZEISS technology, including three large planetariums in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Thanks to modern digital projection technology, the planetariums are transforming from astronomical education centers to multimedia experience venues. In addition to astronomy-related topics, new science themes and entertainment programs are attracting more and more visitors to the modern venues.

Press contact Beatrice Weinberger

ZEISS Planetariums

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In the previous fiscal year, the ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling 7.5 billion euros in its four segments Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology and Consumer Markets (status: 30 September 2021).

For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for the life sciences and materials research, and medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world's leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses and binoculars.

With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare and Smart Production and a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping the future of technology and constantly advancing the world of optics and related fields with its solutions. The company's significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS' technology and market leadership. ZEISS invests 13 percent of its revenue in research and development – this high level of expenditure has a long tradition at ZEISS and is also an investment in the future.

With over 35,000 employees, ZEISS is active globally in almost 50 countries with around 30 production sites, 60 sales and service companies and 27 research and development facilities. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the largest foundations in Germany committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG.

Further information at www.zeiss.com

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