The $3 Million Projector

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10/24/2008

Oct. 24, 2008

The $3 Million Projector

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In the recent presidential debates, Senator John McCain referred to "$3 million for an overhead projector" as an example of wasteful spending. The 'overhead projector,' however, was not the typical piece of classroom-style AV equipment one might imagine, but rather a state-of-the-art projector for planetarium presentations. The projector, which did not receive federal funding, would have been an update to the Adler Planetarium's 40-year old Zeiss Mark VI projector, used in the planetarium's Sky Theater. The planetarium is still attempting to raise money for the projector replacement project. We'll talk with the head of the Adler Planetarium about what the projector is and why the planetarium requested money for it.

Produced by Flora Lichtman, Correspondent and Managing Editor, Video

Guests

Paul Knappenberger
President

Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum

Chicago, IL
James Sweitzer
Principal

Science Communications Consultants

Oak Park, IL

Oct. 24, 2008