She noted that the Łódź planetarium is the most advanced facility of its kind in Europe. "Consequently, the equipment currently being installed in the planetarium by the Polish-American consortium, will have the highest attainable parameters among devices currently on the market" - she added.

The value of the equipment of the planetarium established in the eastern part of the historic complex of the former thermal power plant EC1, reaches 13 million zlotys (ca. 3.24 million euro). A spherical screen is currently being assembled in the already completed dome. According to the EC1 director Błażej Moder, the work is taking place according to schedule; the test phase of the planetarium with the participation of school groups will begin in September. The opening of the entire facility for all viewers is scheduled for November.

The planetarium has just received projectors giving an image with 8 K resolution - the highest currently available. According to the planetarium director Tomasz Kisiel, assembly of the spherical screen with a diameter of 14 m is almost completed.

"Connections between the individual screen parts are practically invisible, which - after starting high-definition 8K (32 million pixels) projection on the dome - will give the impression of total immersion in the displayed image. This huge resolution is generated simultaneously by twelve computers" - he added.

Approx. 140 people will be able to participate simultaneously in a screening in the planetarium. The planetarium team is currently preparing the educational program. The dome will serve as a venue for lessons for schools, including geography and physics. For the afternoon program,, the organizers plan live demonstrations conducted by the presenters, supplemented by several projections on various topics.

Planetarium will have specific acoustics, allowing to organize artistic events. A series of regular concerts that will take place in the evenings will be launched in autumn.

The construction of the planetarium is part of the long-term revitalization project of the former power plant EC1 complex. The historic buildings - with an area nearly 40 thousand m2 - will house a number of cultural institutions and the Centre for Science and Technology. The gross value of the project amounts to 274 million zlotys (ca. 68.3 million euro), of which 82.7 million zlotys (20.6 million euro) is co-financed by the EU.

EC1 is part of the New Centre of Łódź - revitalization project covering the area of approx. 90 hectares in the heart of the city, including the construction of an underground railway station Łódź Fabryczna. (PAP)

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