DuPont Planetarium

The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center's DuPont Planetarium at the University of South Carolina Aiken consists of a 30-foot diameter tilted aluminum dome by Astro-Tec, Digistar II planetarium projection systems from Evans & Sutherland, and Spice automation system by Sky-Skan. This equipment has the capabilities of all-sky, video and panoramic projection. The 45-seat planetarium chamber houses the only known "camera obscura" in such a facility anywhere in the world.

Complementing the planetarium facility are two large sundials with shadow lines included in the cement plaza area. Also complementing the planetarium facility are the observatory housing the Bechtel Telescope and a variety of other telescopes:

• 17.5-inch Dobsonian reflecting telescope (Donated by observatory presenter, Jim Cadieux).
• 8-inch Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain catadioptric telescope with a full-aperture solar filter.
• 7-inch Scherr refractor telescope.
• 90 mm Orion Skyview refractor telescope with a full-aperture solar filter.
• 40 mm Coronado Personal Solar Telescope (PST) (Donated by observatory presenter, Jim Cadieux).

The DuPont Planetarium opened in September 1995. The planetarium conducts K-12 school programs, general-interest level programs for the public and specialized programs for university classes. For information on special shows and birthday parties, call Janice Weeks at 803-641-3769.

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Directions to DuPont Planetarium

To the Moon and Beyond Show kit available for planetariums

33° 34' 29.14440" N
81° 46' 10.73198" W

Please indicate if you need any special services, assistance, or accommodations to participate in planetarium programs by contacting Janice Weeks at JaniceW@usca.edu or 803-641-3769.