Smarter Space Theatre is back

Leung Pak-hei

The Hong Kong Space Museum's Space Theatre will reopen tomorrow after renovation costing HK$30 million, with crisper images on its new screens.

The renovation was the largest since the theater launched in 1980. Replacement of screen panels of the hemispherical theater with a diameter of 23 meters - nicknamed "pineapple bun" by locals - was the major part of the project.

The renovation began in May 2020 and lasted 14 months, finishing before the handover anniversary.

Lawrence Lee Wai-Kwan, curator of the Space Museum, said in a media preview yesterday: "Before the revamp, the screen panels on the dome overlapped with each other, so some parts of it may show images in deeper color.

"But now, using the latest NanoSeam technology, there will be no more overlapping of panels and the viewing experience will be enhanced."

The theater has been re-equipped with new loudspeakers, and the old 4K projectors have been replaced by six 8K ones to provide high-definition 3D. New 3D glasses - lighter and brighter - will also be available.

New seats were installed in the theater. A device with touch screen is available on the right-hand side of the seat for visitors to select their preferred language when watching films.

Visitors can now also bring their own wired headphones into the theater, but the system does not support wireless headphones. They can also continue using the headphones provided by the museum.

Three films will be screened in the theater once it reopens, including Secrets of the Universe, a film about scientists exploring the universe. It will be shown in 3D.

Ticket prices will stay the same, costing HK$24 to $32 for adults. Students will get a 50 percent discount.

Besides the films, visitors can see computer simulations of the solar system and universe generated by a new system called "Dark Matter" in the theater.

Lee said: "Our staff are now being trained to operate it. We hope we will be able to provide astronomy talks and demonstrations, as well as make our own astronomy programs in the future."