Wetherbee Planetarium at Thronateeska Heritage Center to open upgraded facility
Soft opening Tuesday, public opening Thursday, to introduce upgrades at Wetherbee Planetarium
Jennifer Parks
From Staff Reports
ALBANY — Thronateeska Heritage Center announced late Friday afternoon that upgrades to the Wetherbee Planetarium will be revealed to the public this week.
Thronateeska officials said the upgraded planetarium features all new, up-to-date software and an IQ2400 Cannon laser projector. The new system is meant to provide more opportunities for Thronateeska to offer a wide variety of public and private programming.
“Upgrading the planetarium was critical in our overall mission. I feel it is our duty to provide the community with the best and most accurate technology in astronomy education,” Hannah Beth Hembree, director of museums at Thronateeska, said. “The upgraded planetarium actually allows for us to reach outside of astronomy and provide more programming for geology, meteorology and anatomy.
“I am very excited to start putting together new school programs as well as programs for the public.”
Thronateeska members are invited to a soft opening from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, during which members will experience the upgraded planetarium and see some short films provided by NASA. The planetarium will open to the general public at 10 a.m. on Thursday following a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce.
Thronateeska, incorporated in 1974 and located at 100 W. Roosevelt Ave., has science and history museums meant to provide a dynamic learning experience. The planetarium it houses is one of 11 in Georgia.
Annual memberships and group reservations are available at the facility. For more information, call Thronateeska at (229) 432-6955.
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