This type of planetarium uses a mechanical device, such as fiber optics or light luminous lamps, which projects towards the dome stars and other astronomical objects. Until the end of the past century they were the only type of planetarium available.

Today this type of planetarium has reached a high-level of quality and Konica Minolta is one of the best manufactures in the world.

Current state-of-the-art optical planetarium technology is represented by the Konica Minolta Infinium Series. This series has actually two models: the Infinium S, for domes in the range from 12 to 20 meters, and Infinium L, for domes in the range from 18 to 27 meters. Both models offer fiber optics projection in conjunction with metal halide lamps for high quality projection in a compact body.

This is the most complex but also the most powerful type of planetarium available today.

Konica Minolta was the first company in the world to develop the optical-digital hybrid. Now, with GEMINISTAR III, Konica Minolta combines the best optical planetarium available – the Infinium series – with different types of digital systems, such as the Super Mediaglobe II.

GEMINISTAR III is a true wonder of Konica Minolta experience in planetarium technology. This hybrid planetarium reached a so high level of perfection that it is possible to acquire a pair of binoculars to watch projected globular clusters and nebulae. They will appear like under a real sky!

The Infinium L is an optical type of planetarium that projects the beautifully realistic starry sky, featuring the brightest, sharpest, and naturally twinkling stars.
The Infinium L is the new generation model of Infinium series of optical planetariums. Konica Minolta Planetarium puts all of its precise know-how in opto-mechatronics into reproducing world’s most realistic star field. Interviewing planetarium professionals about their way of planetarium operation to develop the easiest control console to provide high level planetarium presentation.

Projecting a Realistic Star Field is the World’s First Hybrid Optical Fiber System

• Beam from the light bulb is divided into Fixed Star Projectors and Bright Star Projectors.
• Fixed Star Projectors provide 15,000 – 29,000 fixed stars and 350,000 tiny stars in the Milky Way. Using this method, number of stars and durability has been greatly enhanced.
• Bright Star Projectors provide 23-bright stars such as Sirius with sharp and pinpoint image.
• The Hybrid Optical Fiber System is an Evolutional optical system which enables enlarging number and brightness of the stars.

Main features

• Positions of fixed stars are superbly accurate.

  By using latest astronomical data and our unique laser processing technique. Star Plates, core parts of fixed star projector, has manufactured by using our original precise laser processor. Latest astronomical data and precise calculation for compensation of lens distortion provide superb accurate star positioning. Accuracy of projected position of each fixed star in less than 0.5 arc minutes. Audience who watches the star field by pair of binoculars will be able to study that the Milky Way, Andromeda Galaxy and major deep sky objects are composed by tiny stars as same as real sky.

• Realistic reproduction of star magnitude.

  We have been putting concentrate on making most realistic star field. We took the Pogson’s law as the basic concept then made modification on the faint stars to reproduce more natural appearance. Hybrid Optical Fiber system prevent any uneven illumination in the entire star field. Therefore the star magnitude is accurate for the entire sky.

• Color reproduction of fixed stars.

  We chose Metal Halide Lamp as the light source. Metal Halide Lamp has 6000K color temperature and it is similar to the Sun. Fixed stars brighter than 2.5 magnitudes have each color as natural by using filters on the star plates. These colors do not affect reproduction of magnitude.

• Digital Shutter for Fixed Star Projector.

  Fixed Star Projector has Digitally Controlled Shutter. This mechanism enables the operator to switch the horizon as tilted or horizontal. Tilted horizon is used for space travel show. Horizontal horizon is used for astronomy education.

• Scintillation Function.

  All fixed stars have scintillation function. They randomly twinkle as natural.

• Sun, Moon and Planets projectors.

  Sun, Moon and Planets projectors also have Optical Fiber System. The projected images are much brighter than other former system. Not only planets but also major satellites such as Phobos, Deimos, Io and Europa can be projected without any additional software. Accuracy of each planet position on calculation is less than 0.2 degree within plus or minus 3,000 years.

• Combination of the integrated console.

  Adopting universal design and newly designed GUI made the best function possible remarkably for operation. Regardless of the age of operator, young or old, the console can easily be used in the dark room with dim light because of easily usable layout, and larger letter and pictograph are on it. Also, it utilizes Windows with newly designed GUI (Graphical User Interface), and made the easy operation possible remarkably for operators.

• The operation of all peripheral equipments can be managed from the Console.

  The operation of all peripheral equipments can be done from Console by the network control. Needless to say, during Automatic operation, Manual or Semi-Automatic operation, All-sky digital projection system and sound system can be controlled with perfect freedom.

Specification Table

The Infinium S reproduces realistic starry-sky with which audience feel temptation of observing the show forever, pursuing beauty and reality and high performance of learning astronomy.

The Infinium S is the new generation model of Infinium series of optical planetariums. Konica Minolta Planetarium put all of his precise know-how in opto-mechatronics into reproducing world’s most realistic star field. Also they investigated planetarium professionals about their way of planetarium operation to develop the easiest control console to provide high level planetarium presentation.

Infinium S reproduces the brilliant, sharp and realistic starry sky, by adopting the technology of optical fiber and high luminous lamp.

This optical planetarium introduces the projection method of light through the optical fiber with lens, and metal halide lamp of high color temperature. It can project natural-like and realistic starry sky, reproducing in high fidelity the difference of brightness for fixed stars and particular color tone of them. Also, in spite of a compact star-ball (approx. 70cm in diameter), it makes substantially increasing possible number of bright stars.

Specification Table

Since announcing the GEMINISTAR , the world’s first integrated planetarium, in 1994, Konica Minolta has been a consistent pioneer of integrated systems, sending many integrated planetariums out into the world. And today, as a result of further research and development, a new model is born: GEMINISTAR III, the integrated planetarium of 3rd generation.

GEMINISTAR III completely centralizes optical and digital systems into a single system. The integrated console realizes a broad range of programs and effects in real time through seamless operability which makes no distinction between optical and digital.

Furthermore, through organic fusion of a real, beautifully starry sky, and powerful Computer Graphic (CG) imagery, it is possible to project the dramatic, immense spectacle of the universe on the full dome screen.

GEMINISTAR III Brochure

More beautiful and more realistic starry sky featuring high-luminance fixed stars.

GEMINISTAR III utilizes the world’s first hybrid optical-fiber method for the fixed-star projection system. By enhancing the efficiency of utilizing light, not only the bright fixed-star can be projected with less power consumption, but the bright stars can be reproduced as if the audience is in the real star-field with the small and brilliant star images which are made by the direct projection from the ending surface of the optical fiber. It features an efficient metal halide light source with high color temperature producing the natural colors of stars more expressively with high fidelity.

Scientific and impressive presentation that only integrated planetarium can produce.

GEMINISTAR III reproduces not only beautiful star-field that attracts and relaxes audience, but also dynamic projection image beyond time and space of three dimensional universe that could never be realized by conventional types of planetarium.

The integrated system enables us to operate easily and to make show-program in high standard possible.

GEMINISTAR III has evolved the way of operation a great deal. Without awareness of the difference between an optical planetarium and a digital planetarium, the intuitive operation can be done freely in real time. The integrated console panel has well designed layout with larger size of lettering, pictograph letter etc. on it adopting the universal design totally for easy operation. Also, newly designed GUI (Graphical User Interface) has made the operation remarkably in higher grade.

Main features

• High quality projection delivered through the best optical planetarium in the world, the Konica Minolta Infinium L and S, and the best digital planetariums available such as Konica Minolta Super Mediaglobe-II and Sky-Skan DigitalSky2.
• Perfect integration between optical and digital systems
• Integrated control console with universal design
• Integrated Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Integrated presentation

“A great image begins with a great lens by Konica Minolta.”

Mediaglobe III is a new Konica Minolta Planetarium product available in 2011.

The Mediaglobe III is designed for small to medium sized domes and features higher image resolution, higher contrast ratio, a newly designed precision fish-eye lens, and boasts the same easy-to-use 3D digital planetarium functions as our flagship model – Super Mediaglobe II.

Featuring:

• Highest resolution and contrast ratio of any small dome digital planetarium system. Projects a dome image diameter of 1500 pixels, more than 1.766 million dome pixels. Super high-definition fish-eye lens designed for dome projection.
• Advanced 3-D digital planetarium (space simulation) functions. Includes stars down to 12.4 magnitude. Powerful real-time simulations take the audience through the solar system and beyond.
• Projects high-resolution full-dome digital still and movie images. Still: BMP, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, etc. Movie: MPEG, AVI, MOV, MP4, WMV, etc. Sound: WAV, MP3, WMA, OGG, etc.
• Easy-to-use operation and functions to create and play back stored programs. Featuring a new and more powerful graphical user interface.
• Realistic representation of natural sky phenomena and special effects: meteors, fireballs, cloud, lightning, rain, snow, even an aurora.
• “Dome Board” – a blackboard for the dome. Place arrows, lines, and letters – annotate the starfield or projected image.

Images:

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View the full-color brochure for more details: MG3-Bruchure.pdf

The Next Generation Konica Minolta Digital Dome Projection System

SUPER MEDIAGLOBE-II is the latest top-level model of the Konica Minolta MEDIAGLOBE series, the world’s first full-color single-lens digital planetarium. It projects simulations of the latest information gathered about our universe and presents it with leading-edge digital dome technology. Its 3-D digital planetarium functions simulate not just the earth and sky, but can take audiences to the edge of the known universe. The MEDIAGLOBE’s famous Graphical Control Interface (GUI) is now as powerful as it is easy to use.

Featuring:

• High-resolution 2400 pixels (image diameter) and 10,000:1 contrast single-lens projection system
  SUPER MEDIAGLOBE II is the first single-lens digital planetarium to adopt a new standard in high-resolution projection (4096 x 2400 pixels), four times more pixels than the best HDTV image and a native contrast of 10,000:1. Super high-definition fish-eye lens designed for dome projection.
• Advanced 3D digital planetarium (space simulations) function. In addition to showing stars down to 12.4 magnitude, 3D data of 118,000 fixed stars, proper motion data of fixed stars at any time from 1,000,000 BC to 1,000,000 AD, SUPER MEDIAGLOBE-II utilizes the comprehensive stellar database “Mitaka” from the *NAOJ 4D2U project.
• Easy-to-use operation and functions to create and play back stored programs. SUPER MEDIAGLOBE II features a new and more powerful GUI interface. Its improved customization feature meets the wide-ranging needs of both beginners and experts.
• New function provides realistic representation of natural sky phenomenon. In addition to the simulations of stars, constellations, and planets, SUPER MEDIAGLOBE II projects natural sky phenomenon including lightning, clouds, rain, snow and aurora that can be superimposed on the background sky or an all-sky image or movie.
• “Dome Board” is like a black board which can place arrows, lines, and letters on the dome screen at any location. “Dome Board” can be used to annotate the starfield or a projected image by superimposing arrows, circles or text messages.
• Projects high-resolution fulldome digital still and movie images and plays high-quality sound.

View the full-color brochure for more details:

>> Further information at Konica Minolta Planetarium Website

MEDIAGLOBE-II is a single projector planetarium system that produces high-quality real-time digital Planetarium functions and full-color all-sky Computer Graphics. It is a user-friendly system that has superior cost-benefit performance.

Combine the MEDIAGLOBE-II with external audio, DVD, DVR and/or computer work stations to create an awe-inspiring and versatile domed theater.

The MGII simulation range from the earth to the universe is more than 20,000 light-years radius for stars and constellations.

Wide yearly range of simulation from BC 500,000 to AD 500,000.

Impressive presentations by manual operation. Macro buttons can simplify complex sequences.

Reliable data base for fixed stars Hipparcos +BSC*: app. 118,000 stars 12.4 magnitude
*BSC – Bright Star Catalogue

Images:

[Show as slideshow]

View the full-color brochure for more details:

Mediaglobe is currently out of production and is succeeded by Mediaglobe II (MG II). However, we proudly continue to upgrade, support and service this groundbreaking product.

The product that started the full-dome, full-color, digital revolution in small domes!

Projecting 6000 stars, sun, moon, planets, comets and meteors, the Mediaglobe is a giant celestial calculator that can instantaneously show the sky at any time, 30,000 years into future or 30,000 years in the past from any location on Earth. It can also step out billions of miles and show the position of sun and planets on any given date in history.

Because it is digital, the Mediaglobe can be programmed to project virtually any image that can be rendered on a computer, meaning that teachers can develop programs and lessons on any subject in the arts as well as the sciences.

Equipped with CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives, Network connections, as well as inputs for Audio and Video and its own built-in sound system, the Mediaglobe provides the ultimate in full-dome multimedia technologies.

The MG is the first planetarium system in the world able to project full color, full dome computer graphics.

MEDIAGLOBE-III Delivers Sharper, Higher-Definition Images of Our Universe with Dazzling Computer Graphics, Incomparable Functionality and Ease of Use!

MEDIAGLOBE-III is a new Konica Minolta Planetarium designed for small to medium size domes and features higher image resolution, higher contrast ration; a newly designed precision fish-eye lens, and boasts the same easy-to-use 3-D digital planetarium funtion as a flagship model, SUPER MEDIAGLOBE-II

Mediaglobe III Brochure