Planetarium opens: Czech Prime Minister Inaugurates New Planetarium Equipped with ZEI Technology in Hradec Krlov

JENA/Germany, 04.02.2015.

On January 22, 2015 the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Bohuslav Sobotka, officially inaugurated a new planetarium equipped with ZEISS technology in the Czech city of Hradec Kr lov . The modern planetarium, which features a 12-meter dome and seats 100 people, forms part of the astronomical observatory complex located on the outskirts of the university city in north-east Bohemia. The auditorium is slightly tilted to ensure that all the members of the audience have an unobstructed view of the fulldome shows. Five ZEISS VELVET projectors specially designed for dome theaters create an absolutely black background, enhancing the natural effect and brilliance of the artificial night sky. This outstanding system shows ZEISS technology at its best.

All the system functions such as planetarium and image projection are controlled by a cluster of eight cutting-edge, networked computers which were supplied by ZEISS as part of the package. Each of the five projectors projects one part of the overall image. These five partial images are perfectly combined to produce a fulldome image without any visible edges, filling the entire 230 square meters of the dome surface. "The fulldome image in Hradec Kr lov is the best we have ever achieved with our technology in every single respect and it is far superior to comparable systems from other companies," says Wilfried Lang, Vice President Planetarium Division at ZEISS. The ZEISS control system also operates peripheral functions such as the sound equipment and dome lighting.

In addition to the fulldome technology, ZEISS has supplied three new planetarium shows which were developed by the American Museum of Natural History in New York. ZEISS has also provided a special software program which enables the planetarium team to create their own shows and to present them live or play them back automatically.

"This new digital planetarium provides the Hradec Kr lov region with a cutting-edge facility for students and qualified professionals in up-and-coming disciplines of modern technology. Im confident that the planetarium will boost public interest in these fields even further," said Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka in his inauguration speech. The planetarium forms part of a strategy that aims to increase the attractiveness of studying at Czech schools, universities and other higher education institutions in connection with science and research activities.

ZEISS has had a successful relationship with the observatory in Hradec Kr lov for some 60 years. Previous orders have included several professional telescopes and a small-dome planetarium.

ZEISS is delivering a ZEISS VELVET projection system for the new planetarium in the Czech city of Hradec Kr lov

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 internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the optics and optoelectronics industries. ZEISS develops and distributes lithography optics, measuring technology, microscopes, medical technology, eyeglass lenses, camera and cine lenses, binoculars and planetarium technology. With its solutions, the company constantly advances the world of optics and helps shape technological progress. The company is divided up into the six business groups Industrial Metrology, Microscopy, Medical Technology, Vision Care, Consumer Optics and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology. ZEISS is represented in over 40 countries with around 30 production sites, over 50 sales and service locations and about 25 research and development facilities.

In fiscal year 2013/14 the company generated revenue approximating 4.3 billion euros with just under 25,000 employees. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. Carl Zeiss AG is the strategic management holding company that manages the ZEISS Group. The company is wholly owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation).

Further information at www.zeiss.de/en

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