The Halifax Planetarium is located in the Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science of Dalhousie University. The department can be found in the Sir James Dunn Building, the first building on the left hand site when entering the Coburg Road entrance to the Dalhousie University Campus. Signs inside the building lead you to the Planetarium.

The Planetarium was bought around 1955 by the Nova Scotia Museum. It contains a projector (Spitz Model A-I) inside a doom 24 ft (7 meter) in diameter. It was originally housed in the NS Museum. The first showing was on February 6, 1956. It allows seating room for about 30 people. When the museum moved to Summer Street the Planetarium was put in storage.  Eventually through efforts by members of the Physics Department and the NS Museum a place was found in the Dunn building. The technical staff of the department maintains it.

The heart of the planetarium is the projector. Despite that it was built in 1950, it is an impressive instrument projecting images of the stars, from a magnitude of 2 to 4, as well as the Andromeda Galaxy and star clusters, on the dome. To produce sharp images of first magnitude stars, lenses are used. Separate projectors are provided for the planets, sun and the moon in its different phases. Motors and gear systems allow for rotation about the “polar axis” simulating the motion of the sky during the course of the night or from season to season. This axis can be rotated to show the sky at different latitudes.

Although the Halifax Planetarium is not as big as others in Canada, it size is ideal for small groups and allows for a dialog between the operator and the audience. It is a valuable educational tool.

Bookings, by appointment only, can be made through the NS Museum or the Dept of Physics and Atmospheric Science.

GS (based on an article by Pat Kelly)