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Frequently
Asked Questions .
Why
does the planetarium dome need to be indoors? Because
the dome is made of a soft material, it can't sit on concrete or asphalt surfaces.
This would most certainly cause damage. Grassed areas are also not practical because
the dome needs to sit on a relatively smooth surface such as wood or carpet to
maintain a seal to keep it inflated. Wind and rain are potential hazards even
if setup under a Covered Outdoor Learning Area. [Back
to Top] How
long does it take to set up the planetarium? The
equipment takes about an hour to fully set up. However Geoff usually arrives One
and a Half Hours before the first presentation because it can take extra
time to carry the equipment in and to prepare the floor area. Most wooden floors
are vacuumed by Geoff before setup. [Back
to Top] What
if our school doesn't have a Hall? We
have visited many schools that don't have a dedicated hall. Double classrooms
are usually sufficient. Gymnasiums are ideal. Any cleared area with a floor space
of 6 x 8 metres and a ceiling height of 3.2 metres. The floor needs to be either
wood or carpet. [Back
to Top] Can
we use a room if the ceiling is not quite 3.2m high? We
are able to fit into rooms with ceiling lower than 3.2 metres but as
long as the surface of the ceiling is smooth. Sprayed plaster surfaces are far
too rough and would definitely damage to dome. [Back
to Top] In
the brochure it says that the dome can fit 30-35 kids but we have 37. Is this
OK? This
really depends on the age of the kids. Usually infants are so little that 45 in
the dome is still comfortable. For stage 2 kids, 37 would still be comfortable
but for stage 3 and early high school, anything over 35 would be a bit squeezy.
For bigger High School students, anything over 30 would be less than comfortable.
That said, we've had unavoidable situations of around 45 year 8 students but with
a bit of patience and organisation it was still workable. Its always best to even
out the numbers to a comfortable level. [Back
to Top] We
only have enough students for 1 session. Will you still visit? Yes
we will visit a school for 1 session as long as the school agrees to pay the minimum
cost. Unfortunately, because there is a lot of equipment and it takes quite
a bit of time to set up, a minimum cost has been set. This covers us for 60 students
(or 90 for outside Sydney). [Back
to Top] We
have a teacher with claustrophobia. Will he/she be alright in the dome? The
dome is very safe. The entrance tunnel is the only part with a floor. The actual
dome tucks under only enough to seal in the air and keep the thing inflated. If
someone had a panic attack, they could easily just lift the wall from the inside.
Let's face it though, if someone has chronic claustrophobia, there's no way they're
getting anywhere near that tunnel in the first place. In this case simply arrange
for a replacement teacher prior to the visit. [Back
to Top] Can
the kids pay as they enter the dome? No!
The kids need to enter the dome relatively quickly in single file, so money collection
would slow this process down. Skyworks is fully GST compliant and will issue a
Tax Invoice the following school day (usually by fax). [Back
to Top] Do
the students need to bring anything with them to the planetarium? No.
The only thing the kids bring are themselves. Students can cause damage with pens
or pencils and besides, even if they wanted to write notes, it's really dark for
most of the presentation! Food and drink of any kind including chewing gum and
lollies are not allowed in the dome. [Back
to Top] Can
the class teacher stay outside of the dome during the presentation? Sorry,
but the answer to this is absolutely not. Geoff is in attendance only as the presenter
and is not responsible for the students. The Child Protection Declaration that
we have signed states that there must be a teacher in the dome for the full duration
of the presentation. [Back
to Top] What
happens if there is a power failure at the school? I
get asked this question a lot. The dome is inflated by a fan that runs continuously.
If the fan stops, the dome comes down very slowly. At the beginning of
every session an emergency exiting procedure is given. This involves simply lifting
the dome on one side and everyone is clear. Of the hundreds of presentations I
have given, this has only happened once and the safety procedure worked without
a hitch. [Back
to Top] | 
