Press Release

The planetarium in Sharjah reopens with new technology from ZEISS

The most prominent planetarium in the United Arab Emirates

22 May 2023

Jena, Germany/ Sharjah, United Arab Emirates | 22 May 2023 | ZEISS Group

The planetarium in the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST) was reopened at a ceremony on 10 May 2023 by Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the sovereign ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah and member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates.

The planetarium in Sharjah reopens with new technology from ZEISS

ZEISS refitted the planetarium with 360-degree full-dome projectors. The Arab customer chose the digital projectors from the ZEISS VELVET LED series, which offer the greatest possible sharpness and were developed and built by ZEISS. Eight projectors generate a seamless video image spanning the entire 500 m2 dome. One challenge for ZEISS involved incorporating the existing star projector from a Japanese manufacturer into the ZEISS UNIVIEW planetarium software, which controls all projectors. In so doing, the customer can operate and use the digital astronomical projections and the planetarium projector’s starry night sky together. The technical refit also includes computer clusters – networked computers with specialized ZEISS software that generate images in real time and display images on the dome.

The building’s architecture is designed to symbolize the sun, while the interior places the focus on science and the starry night sky. Numerous exhibition halls offer visitors the opportunity to learn about what we currently know about astronomy in interactive exhibits.

Sharjah is the capital of the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With more than a million residents, it is the largest city in the UAE after Dubai. Sharjah has evolved into a prominent education hub in the Gulf region. The SAASST planetarium first opened eight years ago. With an 18 m-diameter dome and 200 seats, it is one of the largest planetariums in the region.

Press contact Beatrice Weinberger Planetariums

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In the previous fiscal year, the ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling 8.8 billion euros in its four segments Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology and Consumer Markets (status: 30 September 2022).

For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for the life sciences and materials research, and medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world's leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses and binoculars.

With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare and Smart Production and a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping the future of technology and constantly advancing the world of optics and related fields with its solutions. The company's significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS' technology and market leadership. ZEISS invests 13 percent of its revenue in research and development – this high level of expenditure has a long tradition at ZEISS and is also an investment in the future.

With over 40,000 employees, ZEISS is active globally in almost 50 countries with around 30 production sites, 60 sales and service companies and 27 research and development facilities (status: 31 March 2023). Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the largest foundations in Germany committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG.

Further information at www.zeiss.com