Baader planetarium, 1970

Diameter: 40 cm

Total height: 43 cm.

Age: 1970.

Condition: This is a rare and early Baader planetarium. 

Description: This planetarium presents an absolutely unique method of demonstrating celestial relationships.

The BAADER PLANETARIUM consists of three units: the star globe being black and transparent simultaneously, the solar system including its electric drive system,
located inside the globe and – finally – the planetarium’s base containing the control equipment
and transformer.
The celestial globe of the BAADER PLANETARIUM is made of plexiglass which has been subjected to a black color treatment to obtain approximately 5% transparency. This
material provides an amazing optical effect: Under direct light the sphere will appear almost opaque due to the light absorbing and reflecting properties of the plexiglass. However, when
looking at the planetarium in a somewhat darker room, the human eye will adapt itself to existing light conditions and the sphere will now appear transparent: The solar System inside
the globe can be clearly seen.

The earth-moon system is equipped with a miniature drive motor, having a variable speed. The following motions can be demonstrated.
1. The earth revolving around the sun (revolution)
2. The earth rotating around its own axis (rotation)
3. Earth's axis pointing towards the celestial poles.
4. The motion of the moon around the earth
5. The shifting of the lunar nodes!

This mode of representation and the precision achieved constitute an unique combination. lt greatly facilitates apprehension of many relationships of the mechanics of the heavens, for
instance:
The mechanics and causes of day and night, the mechanics of the seasons, comprehension of the moon’s motion, light phases and eclipses. With equal ease a number of phenomena can be explained: The tides, the time zones of the earth, solar and sidereal time, the shift of the lunar nodes, the relation between the celestial equator and the ecliptic plane, the starry sky at various
periods of the year, circumpolar stars and their relation to geographical latitude, the position of the orbital plane of a satellite, the mechanics of the light phases of Venus, the Platonic year, the changing of the equinoxes, the relativity of the observer’s position, synodic, sidereal and draconitic time of the moon, a satellite’s position in space.

The base of the planetarium contains the transformer as well as two knobs for control of the model earth’s motion and the light intensity of the projection lamp. A flexible cable is used to
connect the transformer to the gear unit of the model earth. Thus the globe including its internal gear systems can be turned around any axis at any instant. By taking off the plastic cover producing the model sun’s diffuse light, the projection capabilities of the BAADER PLANETARIUM can be demonstrated. The point source of light provides a negative projection of the starry sky – as seen at any time of the year onto the ceiling of a room or hall up to a height of 15 ft – or onto one of our projection domes. (Baader planetarium, general information)

In this BAADER planetarium also the two planets orbiting the sun are electrically driven.

Not for sale