W. A. Gayle Planetarium
The W.A. Gayle Planetarium is operated by Troy University for the city of Montgomery, Alabama. It provides public presentations and exhibits on astronomy, planetary science, and space exploration.
| W. A. Gayle Planetarium | |
|---|---|
![]() Front of W. A. Gayle Planetarium | |
![]() Location within Montgomery | |
| General information | |
| Type | Planetarium |
| Location | Oak Park |
| Address | 1010 Forest Ave, Montgomery, Alabama |
| Coordinates | 32.368°N 86.287°W |
| Opened | September 25, 1968 |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | 159 |
| Website | |
| www | |
Overview
The W.A. Gayle Planetarium is a planetarium located in Oak Park in the city of Montgomery, Alabama. Dedicated on September 25, 1968,[1] the planetarium is named after William Armistead Gayle,[2] mayor of Montgomery from 1952 to 1959. It is currently operated by Troy University for the City of Montgomery.
Daily public shows typically offer visitors a full-dome movie about a current topic in astronomy and planetary science. Interactive presentations provide a tour of the night sky over Montgomery, pointing out what planets, stars, and constellations can be seen overhead. The 159-seat theater uses a Super MediaGlobe II digital projection system (installed in 2014[3]) to simulate the night sky. Other exhibits include a scale model of the Hubble Space Telescope, images of celestial objects, and a black lit hallway depicting the history of astronomy.[4] The planetarium is currently closed on Saturdays.[5]
References
- "Editorial: The Planetarium Dedication". WSFA-TV. September 26, 1968.
- "ABOUT | Montgomery Botanical Gardens". Montgomery Botanical Gardens. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
- Staff, WSFA 12 News. "W.A. Gayle planetarium in Montgomery to reopen March 9". Retrieved 2017-10-11.
- "Stars Shine at the W.A. Gayle Planetarium". Midtown Montgomery Living. 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
- "troy.edu - W.A. Gayle Planetarium". www.troy.edu. Retrieved 2017-10-09.

