Cernan Earth and Space Center Upgrades to New Laser Projector

Visitors to the Cernan Earth and Space Center in River Grove, Illinois, can now experience enhanced visual displays following the installation of a new JVC laser phosphor projector. This upgrade promises brighter and more vibrant images on the planetarium’s dome, marking a significant technological advancement since the previous projector was installed in 2015.

Kris Kovach McCall, director of the Cernan Earth and Space Center, noted that the original projector began to show signs of hardware issues three years ago. “We discovered the reason for the problems, but obtaining the necessary parts for repair proved difficult,” McCall said. The older technology relied on high-energy arc lamps, which became increasingly challenging to source. As McCall explained, “It was time to upgrade the technology. This was also an opportunity to improve what we were doing.”

To assist in this transition, McCall enlisted Philip Groce, president of Helping Planetariums Succeed LLC. Groce specializes in smaller projects, which made him an ideal consultant for Cernan’s needs. His involvement included conducting a site visit to determine specifications and ensuring that the installation went smoothly. “I was the design consultant for the project,” Groce mentioned. “I determined what projector would be used as a replacement and how we could proceed with minimal costs.”

The previous lamps, which theoretically lasted up to 1,000 hours, often degraded significantly after about 800 hours. Groce highlighted the cost implications, noting that each lamp ranged from $4,000 to $5,000 and required replacement every 24 weeks. Furthermore, many companies were no longer servicing projectors that had been discontinued for seven years, leaving Cernan with limited options for repairs. “It was at its end of life,” Groce stated. “It still worked, but we knew it was just a matter of time before it ceased to function.”

The new JVC projector, which is designed for high-contrast applications like helicopter and fighter jet simulators, fits the existing mount at Cernan after some modifications. “JVC offered a replacement projector at a reduced price,” Groce said. They were fortunate to find a projector that could accommodate the existing lens, manufactured by Konica Minolta for dome projection. McCall indicated that this lens was quite costly but crucial for optimal image quality.

Significantly, they were able to reuse the mount and the operating system from the previous setup, which had been updated after four or five years of service. The total cost of the project for Triton College, which oversees the center, was $109,250, including a $6,000 consulting fee. Groce referred to this as a “real bargain” given that without the savings accrued from trading in the old system and reusing components, the new projector could have cost around $400,000.

The installation process itself was efficient, taking less than four days. Groce first visited the center in July 2024, and the projector was ordered in late January 2025. After arriving in the United States in June 2025, the projector underwent testing in Salt Lake City before being shipped to Cernan.

According to McCall, the new projector has greatly improved the visual experience for visitors. “It is considerably brighter than the projector we had,” she stated. “The color reproduction is better while maintaining the same resolution. Overall, the image is brighter and more colorful.”

This upgrade underscores a commitment to providing an enriching experience for visitors, ensuring that the Cernan Earth and Space Center remains a leading destination for astronomy and space exploration education.