Today, The Carnegie Science Center announced that the very historic Zeiss II
Planetarium Projector, of the original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular
Science, would be reassembled for "a permanent astronomy exhibition" in The
Carnegie Science Center "atrium with a touch screen presenting historic
information on the projector and the Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular
Science." The Science Center news release also stated that the new exhibition,
scheduled to open in late 2010, was made possible by a $100,000 gift from the
Buhl Foundation. The news release noted that this October (October 24) marks the
70th anniversary of the original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular
Science.

Originally, the Science Center had promised to have the Zeiss II reassembled for
a "Final Frontier" exhibit, to be located next to the current second-floor
planetarium, by the end of 2005, after the Zeiss II was dismantled and placed
in storage in late 2002 (NOT placed in storage in 1991 as some Science Center
statements indicate). Following the 2003 cancellation of the proposed $90
million Science Center expansion project, Pittsburgh City Council (the Zeiss II
and several other Buhl artifacts are city property) was informed that there
would be a one-year delay in the reassembly of the Zeiss II Projector. 2006 came
and went with no reassembly of the projector.

More info about "Final Frontier" exhibit:
< http://www.post-gazette.com/healthscience/20021230scinotebookp6.asp >

More info on cancellation of $90 million Science Center expansion:
< http://buhlplanetarium4.tripod.com/friendsofthezeiss/news.csc.2003.html >

In 2008, it was announced that a new robotics exhibit would open in 2009, in the
second-floor space that had been planned for the "Final Frontier" exhibit, with
the Zeiss II Projector. At that time, there was no indication of what had become
of the "Final Frontier" exhibit project.

More info about robotics exhibit announcement:
< https://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#bissues >

Friends of the Zeiss continues to pursue a long-term goal of the eventual return
of the Zeiss II Projector, and other historic Buhl Planetarium artifacts, to the
original Buhl Planetarium building where they could actually be utilized for
science education for children, as they are designed for.

However, the reassembly and display of the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector is a
desirable first step to this ultimate goal. This will result in the
rehabilitation of an important Pittsburgh artifact. It will also remind
Pittsburgh residents, and other visitors, of the important role the Zeiss II
Planetarium Projector and the original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular
Science played, and can play again, in education of the region's residents,
particularly children.

There is one other advantage to the current plan announced by the Science
Center. Assuming the Science Center does not change its current exhibition
policies, display of the Zeiss II Projector in the Science Center atrium will
mean that anyone can view this particular exhibit, for no charge.

While Friends of the Zeiss welcomes the reassembly of the Zeiss II Planetarium
Projector, we have not forgotten that the historic 10-inch Siderostat-type
Refractor Telescope and other historic Buhl Planetarium artifacts remain in
storage, educating no one. Here is an inventory of the city-owned artifacts
which were placed in storage by The Carnegie Science Center:
< https://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/friendsofthezeiss/cityassetsCSC.html >

Here is more information regarding today's announcement --

Science Center news release announcing the new exhibit:
<
http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/press_release_detail.aspx?pressID=238&pageI\
D=237 >

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Breaking News Story:
< http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09230/991625-100.stm >

gaw

Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director,
Friends of the Zeiss < http://friendsofthezeiss.org >
Electronic Mail - < siderostat1989@... >
SPACE & SCIENCE NEWS, ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR:
  < https://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#news >
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh:
  < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
  < http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear:
  < http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries:
  < http://andrewcarnegie.tripod.com >
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh:
  < http://incline.pghfree.net >
* Public Transit:
  < http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit >