Vanderbilt planetarium closes for revamp

Laser Ringo has played his last backbeat at the Vanderbilt Museum's planetarium -- at least for the next seven months.

The Centerport planetarium, which has hosted "Laser Beatles" and the more traditional "Journey Through the Solar System," closed its doors Monday for an extensive renovation project.

The plans include installing a new star projector to replace the equipment that has been in place since the museum opened in 1971, said Dave Bush, Vanderbilt's technical and production coordinator.

"Not only will we have a starry sky that will look just like the real starry sky, we can now fly around [stars] in 3-D so we can take a close-up view of them," Bush said."

As the work begins Tuesday, the museum's officials will be making their case for the Suffolk County Legislature to add an additional $250,000 to the $3 million that has already been allocated for the county-owned museum's renovation. The legislature's parks committee approved that proposal last week.

Interim director Lance Reinheimer said the additional request is due to increased construction costs since the original $3 million was allocated three years ago. The money would go to roof repairs, new lighting, and an elevator to lower the star machine into a pit so the facility can also be used for other events, he said.

"Once they hear what this money is needed for, I think they'll make the right decision," Reinheimer said.

He said the museum is also raising money from private donors to replace carpeting, the decades-old ticketing system and the planetarium's 236 seats, which were installed in 1984.

So far, 70 seats have been sponsored by donors, Reinheimer said.