IPS Award: Dr. Ludwig Meier Pioneer of Modern Projection Planetariums

JENA/Germany, 06.08.2014.

On August 4, 2014 the President of the International Planetarium Society (IPS), Thomas W. Kraupe, presented the IPS Technology and Innovation Award to Dr. Ludwig Meier, widely regarded as the father of modern ZEISS projection planetariums. The IPS decided to award this distinction based on a recommendation from the Society of German-Speaking Planetariums (GDP). It pays tribute to the exceptional achievements of an outstanding ZEISS planetarium expert who has played a key role in the development of modern planetarium technology. This exclusive award has only been presented twice before, in 2008 and 2010.

Meier studied mathematics in Leipzig and obtained his doctorate in 1968. He joined ZEISS Jena in 1958 and worked in the R&D department of the Astronomical Instruments Division right up to the end of his career in 1998. As well as taking on numerous responsibilities in the field of astronomical observation instruments, he was also engaged in fundamental R&D work in the field of projection planetariums. This led to innovative solutions such as algorithms for production processes, adjustments to the drive systems for planet, star field, constellation and didactic projectors, and advances in projector automation and operation. Meier made key contributions to the development of automatic control systems in their transition from purely mechanical analog systems and punched tape to full digital control systems.

He was heavily involved in the creation of the Spaceflight Planetarium the first ZEISS planetarium system for medium-sized domes and the large-dome COSMORAMA planetarium projectors. Thanks to his activities as a lecturer at the Jena Zeiss Planetarium between 1962 and 1985, he became familiar with the pros and cons of all the various ways of operating a planetarium projector. This led to the development of a new operating concept that continues to play a fundamental role in ZEISS planetarium control systems even today.

In the mid-1980s, Meier was the leading scientist in developing the fiber optic projector, thereby laying the foundations for a technical breakthrough in planetarium technology. Faced with the challenge of how to substantially increase the brightness of the projected stars without using a higher power lamp, the team came up with the concept of conducting light directly and separately to each individual star hole in the star field mask using optical fibers. Transforming this idea into a finished fiber optic projector took years of intensive development work, the most challenging aspect of which lay in the manufacturing technology. But the final results were well worth the effort: the new system not only boasted a hundred-fold increase in efficiency, it also made ZEISS planetarium projectors into a leading light in the industry.

In addition to his development work, Ludwig Meier also provided advice and on-site support to customers and service engineers all over the world. He is fondly remembered by users in the planetarium community, many of whom benefited from his professional advice on the handover of newly installed planetariums and his invaluable assistance in preparing the outlines of inaugural shows. His many and varied activities in the fields of planetarium development and applications have formed the subject of numerous publications. In 1992 Meier published his book "Der Himmel auf Erden" (Heaven on Earth), in which the planetarium expert, who turned 81 this year, provided fascinating and immensely valuable insights into the history of planetariums. "On behalf of the international planetarium community, the Society of German-Speaking Planetariums and the employees of the ZEISS Planetarium division I would like to congratulate Ludwig Meier on his receipt of the IPS Technology and Innovation Award. We are delighted that he continues to be involved so enthusiastically in the concepts and ongoing development of planetarium technology," said Wilfried Lang, Vice President Planetarium Division, at the award ceremony.

On August 4, 2014 the President of the International Planetarium Society (IPS), Thomas W. Kraupe (right), presented the IPS Technology and Innovation Award to Dr. Ludwig Meier (middle), widely regarded as the father of modern ZEISS projection planetariums. Wilfried Lang (left), Vice President Planetarium Division, congratulated at the award ceremony.

Gudrun Vogel

Carl Zeiss

Corporate Communications

Jena Site

Phone: +49 3641 64-2770

Fax: +49 3641 64-2941

gudrun.vogel@zeiss.com

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an international leader in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. The more than 24,000 employees of ZEISS generated revenue of about 4.2 billion euros in fiscal year 2012/13. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. ZEISS has been contributing to technological progress for more than 160 years. ZEISS develops and produces solutions for the semiconductor, automotive and mechanical engineering industries, biomedical research and medical technology, as well as eyeglass lenses, camera and cine lenses, binoculars and planetariums. ZEISS is present in over 40 countries around the globe with more than 40 production facilities, around 50 sales and service locations and over 20 research and development sites. Carl Zeiss AG is fully owned by the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation).

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