Dunedin's cloudless starry night sky will soon be available in air-conditioned, high definition, surround-sound quality.
Otago Museum's planetarium and adjoining science gallery were bustling construction sites yesterday and both are expected to open to the public on December 5.
The free-of-charge science gallery would make science fiction fact for Dunedin, with 12 interactive video stations around the 160sq m gallery being operated by laser technology, museum director Dr Ian Griffin said yesterday.
Instead of using a touch screen, visitors would thrust their hands into a stream of lasers, pulling and manipulating to control the video image - as seen on Hollywood science fiction movies.
Another video station would use more conventional technology.
All stations would occasionally become one giant display, he said.
But the planetarium would be the museum's biggest new drawcard, using cutting edge technology to display the universe's oldest secrets, Dr Griffin said.
With 51 seats and two disabled access seats, the 9m-wide dome would be 4.5m high.
Double-walled to ensure absolute darkness, the dome would show 3-D footage, serviced by two projectors with a picture quality ''significantly better'' than high definition, he said.
A surround sound audio system was expected to be capable of ''rattling the chest''. The ''significant soundproofing'' that that demanded was being installed yesterday.
The result would be an experience of ''utter immersion'', Dr Griffin said.
The dome would be launched with two shows - both locally made - and would be capable of hosting both live ''operator led'' sessions and pre-prepared movies.
Dunedin's night sky, including video footage of the city's recent Aurora Australis, could be shown without people needing to brave midnight temperatures, he said.
The ''bespoke, custom-made'' perforated aluminium dome was expected to arrive from the United States in November, as was the ''Digistar 5'' projection system.
The science gallery's laser technology was coming from Wellington, while all construction and design was being sourced from Dunedin.
Construction on the $1.3 million project was expected to be completed in November, with a month being set aside for testing.
Pricing for the planetarium was yet to be set, but would likely be in the same range as pricing for other cinema experiences in the city, Dr Griffin said.
