Hansen Dome Theatre shows mix science, stories

SALT LAKE CITY — Planets, asteroids and meteors flash by, and you glimpse the blaze of a red giant going supernova in the distance.

The roar of a rocket engine travels through your feet and the back of your seat as a smooth banking turn reveals an inky black vista dotted by a field of stars.

While it looks and feels like you're a passenger on a journey into space, the experience is wholly the creation of a team of Salt Lake City computer maestros delivered via the high-tech wizardry of the Hansen Dome Theatre at downtown's Clark Planetarium.

The 52-foot spherical screen that tilts over the 200-seat amphitheater comes to life with six synchronized digital projectors and a 13,000-watt audio system that converts the room into a space and time warp to distant galaxies.

While the hardware can fill the room with light and sound, the real magic is in the hyper-realistic spacescapes and imagery created by a team of animation experts toiling away in the bowels of the planetarium at The Gateway.

Mike Murray, who oversees the production of programs for the dome screen, said the process has much in common with the work that goes into a feature film.

"Our goals are good stories, good scripts and a dynamic and engaging visual experience," Murray said. "And, of course, it all has to be based on good science."

That basis in science is where the Clark team, which creates the programs from the ground up, diverges from the Hollywood fantasy factories that ply their products at the local multiplexes. Murray said the themes explored in the planetarium works are grounded in current research and advances in a multitude of scientific disciplines.

"We're keeping close track of current trends and research," he said. "Extra-solar planets, Hubble telescope findings, exploration and NASA's work all contribute to our content."

Topics explored by Murray's team include the mysteries of black holes, the search for Earth-like planets in other galaxies and a visual tour of the universe.

Marketing director Dani Weigand said working toward a balance of engaging stories and informative science distinguishes the animated journeys created for the dome.

"If we get too specialized on the science, we risk losing some audience members," Weigand said. "We cater to those interested in space and science, but we want get everybody excited about the topics."