The FMU Physics and Engineering Department requires the Digistar 7 (Digistar 2025) upgrade to the FMU Dooley Planetarium for student use in the academic setting along with supporting the FMU community outreach that showcases astronomical datasets. Research is very important for developing fundamental skills that are essential for experimental physics and research. This instrument will be used by students in ASTR 201 – Introduction to Astronomy, ASTR 202 – Voyage Through the Solar System, ASTR 203 – Observational Astronomy, PHYS 497 – Special Topics in Astrophysics. These classes include students in a variety of majors (e.g. Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Computational Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Biology, Criminal Justice, Sociology, Psychology, etc.) as it satisfies a General Education course requirement for Natural Sciences. Students in the School of Education also benefit from the coursework as it helps prepare them for content they will be teaching as outlined in the Science Standards for South Carolina. Additionally, Dooley Planetarium provides free programming to PreK, K-12 public schools, private schools, home school associations, technical colleges, civic groups (Adult Education, summer camps, girl/boy scouts, etc.). FMU’s conversion to a fully digital planetarium occurred in December 2014. Since then, we have presented 1,148 programs to 48,867 guests. Of these shows, 927 were specifically for youth groups. A large portion of our shows are for the 1st and 4th grade levels. Most youths that attend these programs are from the Pee Dee region. Francis Marion University purchased the Digistar 5 Planetarium unit from Evans and Sutherland in 2014 via solicitation 5400008218 through the Information Technology Management Office of the State of South Carolina. The Domecast ability of the newer versions of Digistar allows FMU to host speakers on our dome who are presenting at any Digistar 6+ site in South Carolina or across the globe. The newest release of Digistar also includes an expanded STEM Curriculum library which includes 41 topics relevant to the courses taught at FMU with animations, models, and control panels that will allow for easy integration of the content into a show. Datasets can also be added to the system to showcase where fossils are discovered, the migration patterns or different species, or pathways using Google map coordinates. This will allow for collaboration with faculty in the Departments of Biology, History, etc. A new feature introduced with Digistar 7 is the ability to show the Sun in real time. Digistar can now accurately display the sunspots visible on the sun without relying on a static model that never changes. Terrain generation has also greatly improved and no longer requires the user to pre-download the terrain files for a location to be visited. This terrain system now includes the Moon and Mars. It allows for an even more immersive experience for the audience. Close-up views of cities on Earth can also display a 3-dimensional view using the datasets built by Google engineers. The Digistar 2025 system also allows the operator to create a full show in the software system. This was first offered in the FMU Digistar 5 software and has been greatly improved to allow for timelining content, music, and lighting controls. FMU has produced many productions over the years and have also trained students in how to do the same. These productions are shown during FMU’s free public programs as well as by special request of groups reserving a private show in the planetarium. Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation (E&S) are pioneers in digital planetarium systems. These systems use computer projection to create a starfield instead of using an optical projection system. They installed the first digital system (Digistar 1) at the Hansen Planetarium in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1983. They actively maintain their software through a team of software engineers and the input of the Digistar Users Group. E&S acquired Spitz, Inc. in 2006. Together these businesses supply the greater share of fixed planetarium systems across the United States. They offer 24-hour customer support, yearly training at the Digistar Users Group Conference, monthly online training sessions, and in-person training at their facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah or Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. They also offer a cloud service which allows planetariums in the Digistar network to share content (scripts, vignettes, 3D models, full-dome videos, etc.). With the introduction of Digistar 6, one planetarium can hold a presentation that is simultaneously broadcast to any Digistar 6 system (or higher). The Digistar 2025 system will continue to allow for broadcasting to these systems which include six other locations in South Carolina. The Domecast ability is not available through any other planetarium platform on the market. E&S are they only full-service provider, offering Digistar, CX LED dome systems, NanoSeam domes, planetariums, and theater systems. For these reasons, Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation is the sole source for this purchase. Please note: This is a Sole Source Notification.
