Description of the attraction
In many countries and cities there are scientific and educational institutions in which the celestial sphere with all celestial bodies and systems - stars and planets, galaxies and constellations - is demonstrated to visitors. Demonstration of the starry sky and the processes taking place on it is helped by a device called the "Planetarium".
Its own planetarium in Moscow appeared in the late 1920s. Then he was the only one in the country and the thirteenth among those existing in the whole world.
The history of the creation of the Moscow Planetarium
In 1927, founder and first director of the Marx and Engels Institute David Borisovich Ryazanov put forward a proposal to the Moscow City Council. He called on the government of the capital to create a scientific and educational institution that could bring to the masses new knowledge about astronomy and the structure of the world. The necessary projection apparatus "Planetarium" was recently invented by the German by Carl Zeiss Jena, and its capabilities were demonstrated to the world community in the planetarium, which opened at the Deutsches Museum Munich in 1925. The Moscow City Council supported the proposal and allocated a quarter of a million rubles for the purchase of the necessary equipment and the construction of the building. Ryazanov went to Germany to negotiate the purchase of a device from the Karl Zeiss firm, and those approved for work on the project architects M. Barshch and M. Sinyavsky started creating drawings.
The authors of the building of the Moscow Planetarium decided to take as a basis the shape of a bird's egg, which, as they thought, could best demonstrate the celestial sphere and its objects. The project envisioned a spacious auditorium in which 1400 people could simultaneously look at the sky and listen to lectures. The dome diameter was 27 meters, moreover, the strict geometry of the building was emphasized by elements attached from the outside - a spiral staircase and a porch of the main entrance.
The first stone in the foundation of the future building was laid in September 1928 and already The planetarium was opened on November 5, 1929 … Soviet Russia became the fourth world power to have such a scientific and educational institution.
Eight years after the grand opening Ryazanov was accused of having links with the Mensheviks and shot, and the Moscow Planetarium by that time had turned into a center for the propaganda of astronomical knowledge. A circle for young lovers of stargazing has opened in it. In 1936-37 lecture cycle on the theory of jet propulsion for schoolchildren and students in the planetarium was read by one of the pioneers of Soviet rocket technology V. P. Glushko … They were very popular with the audience performances, which were staged in the planetarium with the participation of professional actors. For this, plays of the corresponding theme were chosen: "Galileo", "Copernicus" and "Giordano Bruno".
During the Great Patriotic War, the planetarium staff provided invaluable assistance in training scouts and military pilots. In the Star Hall, lectures were given on astronomy and the basics of orienteering using the starry sky map. The planetarium worked throughout the war and was closed for only two months in all four years.
After the end of World War II, the scientific and educational activities of the planetarium resumed, and in 1947 it was opened on its territory astronomical site … In the 1950s, sections on astronomy, geography and physics worked successfully in the Moscow Planetarium, and devices were designed to demonstrate the law of universal gravitation.
The old device "Planetarium" was replaced by a more modern one in 1977. Now, in the planetarium hall, automatic programs have begun to be demonstrated, accompanied by an audio track and visuals. The educational programs of the Moscow Planetarium became an elementary school for famous Soviet astronomers who made scientific discoveries in the field of space research. Lectures for visitors were delivered by world famous scientists, writers, geographers and researchers: I. D. Papanin, K. G. Paustovsky, T. Heyerdahl, O. Yu. Schmidt … Before flying into space, Soviet cosmonauts underwent the necessary navigational training in the planetarium and, returning to their homeland, read lectures and talked about what they saw in space. The most famous and favorite lecturer among the Moscow public was Yu. A. Gagarin.
At the end of the 80s of the last century, the Moscow Planetarium existed Fantastic theater, whose troupe staged performances on space themes. The works of domestic and foreign writers were taken as a basis.
Planetarium today
In 1994, the Moscow Planetarium was closed for reconstruction, which they tried to carry out at the expense of private investors. Things went on with a creak until 1998, when, finally, the Moscow government issued a decree on the comprehensive restoration and reorganization of the capital's planetarium. The financing of the necessary work was determined by the business plan, and the Moscow architects began to develop the project. They visited many countries of the world, where they got acquainted with the architectural appearance and technical structure of buildings in which such scientific and educational institutions were located. Finally, in 2002, work began to bring the project to life. The process turned out to be long and difficult, and The Moscow Planetarium reopened only on June 12, 2011 … The modern building comprises several levels.
The lower floor is located underground … It works Small Star Hallwhere children can see a miniature of the starry sky with cosmic bodies, planets and galaxies. Here is located cinema 4D and exhibits dedicated to physics and astronomy and related to the interactive museum "Lunarium".
Lunarium exposition continues on the ground floor of the planetarium. The interactive museum offers rooms dedicated to the history of mankind's exploration of outer space. The history of the creation and development of the capital's planetarium itself is told with the help of the exhibits of the Urania Museum.
Second ground level - the holy of holies for observations of the sky and outer space. The largest telescope in the capital is installed here. Its diameter is 300 mm, and the diameter of the telescope of the small observatory is 400 mm. Both observatories are available to visitors to the planetarium. On the second floor are open halls of "Urania", which demonstrate a collection of meteorites found on the territory of our country, and old equipment installed in the Moscow planetarium in the early years of its operation.
Under the dome on the top floor is arranged Great Star Hall … A modern powerful projector is installed in it, allowing viewers to see several thousand celestial bodies at the same time.
The Moscow Planetarium has an open Sky Park astronomical site, on which instruments for observing celestial bodies are installed.
Planetarium for children
Educational and entertainment programs of the Moscow Planetarium are always popular with curious preschoolers and adolescents. Lectures "Star Lessons" introduce students to the secrets of planets and stars, talk about the laws of nature and how they work in space. The lecturers are reputable scientists and researchers from Moscow universities.
Primary school students and older preschoolers will love the activities in Theater of fascinating science … During the lessons, their participants literally immerse themselves in the world around them and begin to comprehend the secrets of the night sky together with the astrologer.
Astronomical circle, which first opened the doors to young astronomers in 1934, continues to work today. Russian astronomical science is proud of its graduates. The children will not only study, but also expeditions to various Russian observatories, meetings with space explorers and excursions around their native land.
In the Small Star Hall there is attraction "City of the Sun", and watching the film "Flight of Fantasy" will allow you to visit space, feel the joy of free soaring, experience real space overloads and return to your homeland safe and sound.
In the Big Star Hall, he enjoys particular success with the audience movie about black holes, which is called the reverse side of the universe. Achievements of modern science and technology allow visitors to the planetarium and the Great Star Hall to make a virtual flight along the Milky Way, trace how celestial bodies are born and die, and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of space.
Going to excursions to museumsworking in the planetarium, both children and their parents will be able to learn a lot of new and interesting things about space and celestial bodies. For example, the excursion program about meteorites tells about stones falling from the sky and the reasons that cause such phenomena. The tour is accompanied by visual aids that you can touch and even taste. The program of the excursion "Comprehension of Space" is devoted to the methods and techniques of the study of celestial bodies and the history of the development of astronomy. In the program of the excursion, its participants get acquainted with the exposition of the interactive museum "Lunarium", where everyone can feel like a scientist exploring the big world around us.
For adults about the stars and planets
The Moscow Planetarium regularly hosts Popular Astronomy for Beginners courses … The program for adults, which includes theoretical and practical lessons, introduces cadets to the map of the starry sky, the laws of physics related to the motion of planets, the basics of spherical astronomy and celestial navigation. Participants in the courses also learn the equipment with which it is possible to observe celestial bodies.
If you are seriously interested in astronomy, are fond of physics and other exact sciences, cycle of lectures "Tribune of the Scientist" The Moscow Planetarium has prepared just for you. The lectures, accompanied by a presentation of materials on the topic, tell about modern scientific achievements in astronomy, aviation and space exploration.
On a note
- Location: Moscow, Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya, 5
- Nearest metro stations: "Barrikadnaya", "Krasnopresnenskaya", "Mayakovskaya"
- Official website:
- Opening hours: from 10 am to 9 pm daily.
- Tickets: from 200 rubles. (small hall), discounts for children, pensioners, disabled people, groups, as well as for a one-time purchase of tickets for all objects. Children under 6 years old - free admission to Lunarium.
Description added:
Yazev Roman Yakovleich 2016-26-03
architects: Mikhail Osipovich Barshch
Soviet architect
Soviet architect. In 1926 he graduated from the Moscow VKHUTEMAS-VKHUTEIN. Thesis: "Indoor market in Moscow". He was a member of the editorial board of the OSA "Modern Architecture" magazine. Wikipedia
Born: January 29, 1904, Moscow
Died: November 8
Show full text architects: Mikhail Osipovich Barshch
Soviet architect
Soviet architect. In 1926 he graduated from the Moscow VKHUTEMAS-VKHUTEIN. Thesis: "Indoor market in Moscow". He was a member of the editorial board of the OSA magazine "Contemporary Architecture". Wikipedia
Born: January 29, 1904, Moscow
Died: November 8, 1976 (72 years old)
Mikhail Isaakovich Sinyavsky
Soviet architect
Soviet architect and teacher. Wikipedia
Born: 1895, Odessa
Died: 1979 (age 84)
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