Otago Museum director Dr Ian Griffin takes a close look at an image of the International Space Station displayed at the museum's new Perpetual Guardian Planetarium, which opens to the public next month.
The $1.1 million planetarium would provide the public with a state-of-the-art insight into the latest in science communication, Dr Griffin said.
''This gives us a tool we've never had before, to do amazing things.''
English-born Dr Griffin (49), a physicist and astronomer, as well as director of the museum, was inspired to move towards a scientific career as an astronomer after visiting a London museum as a youngster.
It was ''really important'' Otago Museum ''had the tools to inspire our visitors'', he said.
The opening of the planetarium on December 5 would give Dunedin and Otago people access to an advanced facility they might have only seen in a sizeable US city, he said.
