The Jasper Planetarium announced plans to build a permanent facility at Marmot Lodge early Thursday morning.
The 30-foot dome will have seating for 50 people, more than twice the capacity of the portable planetarium the company has been operating for three years.
“Our new facility will allow us to add capacity and accommodate increasingly larger groups of visitors looking to participate in the nightly experiences we offer in Jasper Dark Sky Preserve,” general manager Peter McMahon said in a press release.
The new dome theatre is set to open May 1 at Marmot Lodge. A winter version will open in December at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
“Because of its greater size, we hope casual passers-by will notice the unique dome shape and realize there’s this cool activity for couples and families and others to do each night after dinner,” McMahon said.
Astronomy experts at the planetarium offer outdoor experiences with the largest telescope in the Rockies.
“Because we have innovative resources like a video telescope that can record the sky from clear nights and play it back for visitors when clouds hamper our view, we’ve got something for visitors to do when they arrive every single evening, no matter what the weather’s like.”
