Planetarium Galileo Galilei, Buenos Aires

Rising like a large spaceship from the midst of the Palermo area of Buenos Aires, is the Planetarium Galileo Galilei. There are several educational programs for children, embossed equipment with audio visual effects for the visually challenged and displays through pictures and subtitles for those who are hard of hearing.

The Planetarium Galileo Galilei was designed by architect, Enrique Jan and construction was completed in 1966. At the time, the structure had a unique modernist style that was unusual in Buenos Aires. It consists of a large central sphere supported by three arches. It has five floors. The planetarium is a Zeiss Model MV located at the heart of the building with over a hundred projectors. The framework is cylindrical with separate projectors for the Sun, Moon and the planets visible from Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

Visitors are greeted by a metallic meteorite found in the Chaco province of Argentina at the entrance terrace. There is also a lunar rock brought by the Apollo XI mission and gifted to the planetarium by the American President, Richard Nixon. Fossils found in Argentina’s Neuquen province are also displayed. The planetarium hosts an array of astronomic programs geared towards young visitors. All the tours and programs are in Spanish. Telescope viewing sessions are held from Thursday to Sunday and a sun viewing session is held every Sunday.