Cernan Center Sets the Stage for Immersive Journeys With New Planetarium Intro Animation

The Cernan Earth and Space Center has a brand-new introductory animation that will play before most programs. Produced by Cernan Center intern Kyle Blakely, the thrilling sequence sweeps the audience through time and space, offering a preview of the planetarium’s capabilities just before the show’s start.

RIVER GROVE, Ill. — As the lights dim just before the start of a show at Triton College’s Cernan Earth and Space Center, visitors may soon find themselves swept through a glowing portal, racing past a dinosaur, spacecraft and the stars on a journey designed to showcase the magic of the planetarium itself.

The new 90-second introductory animation was created by 22-year-old Kyle Blakely of Schaumburg, a summer intern at the Cernan Center. According to Cernan Center Director Kris Kovach McCall, the center plans to use Blakely’s production as an introduction to the planetarium before most programs. Kovach McCall describes the sequence as a strong “bookend” to the planetarium experience.

Blakely’s finished work combines 3D and 2D animation. Viewers are guided through the sequence by a light particle that takes them from the Triton campus into a portal that leads to an imaginative universe. Along the way, viewers encounter hyperspeed effects, a dinosaur, an eagle, a rocket and even Eugene Cernan himself before arriving at the Cernan Center logo.

Blakely said his primary goal was to show audiences what is possible inside the planetarium. Rather than simply watching something on a screen, he wanted viewers to feel as though they were being transported somewhere else.

“I want to show audiences how exciting it is to be under the dome, and what can be accomplished in the planetarium,” he said. “When you come here to watch a program, it takes you to a different place.”

For Blakely and Kovach McCall, the rounded screen of the planetarium dome, which fills the viewer’s field of vision, allows them to offer a more immersive experience. With that in mind, Kovach McCall said Blakely approached his project with keen attention to detail.

“He didn’t just model the [Cernan Center] building,” she said. “He asked for the architectural elevation from the original blueprints so that the scale and everything would be correct. He asked for the artwork that’s in the windows and on the banners. He wanted to create a scenario that was as close to reality as possible.”

That level of immersion carries over to the shows that follow, whether it’s a program about dinosaurs, the human eye, or the stars and planets, she said.

“So, you’re not just seeing, let’s say it’s a nature documentary, you’re not just seeing a bird on a branch in the forest. You’re in the forest.”

Blakely became familiar with the Cernan Earth and Space Center through an art camp where he worked as a counselor. Earlier this year, he reached out to Kovach McCall because he had experience with 3D modeling and animation but wanted to explore planetarium production. What began as an idea to create a 3D model of the Cernan Center building evolved into an immersive introduction to the planetarium.

Shows at the Cernan Earth and Space Center are open to the public. Ticket prices vary depending on the program, ranging from $8-$10 for adults and $4-$5 for seniors ages 55 and older and children ages 2-17. Tickets may only be purchased at the Cernan Center’s Star Store on the day of the show, beginning 30 minutes before the first show of the day. There are no advance or online ticket sales.

The Cernan Center is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The center is closed Sundays.

For the complete schedule of programs along with previews and pricing, go to www.Triton.edu/Cernan. Follow the Cernan Earth and Space Center on Facebook at facebook.com/cernancenter. For more information, contact cernan@triton.edu.

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Media Contacts:
Melissa Ramirez Cooper | melissacooper@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3496
Hunter Oberst | hunteroberst@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3820

ABOUT TRITON COLLEGE:
Triton College, located at 2000 Fifth Ave., River Grove, is a public institution of higher education dedicated to student success. Recently recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the Top 200 community colleges in the nation, Triton offers more than 130 degree and certificate programs that prepare students to pursue meaningful careers, transfer to four-year universities, and thrive in a global economy. Guided by our mission—Valuing the individual, educating and serving the community—Triton serves nearly 17,000 students annually on its 110-acre campus in River Grove, Illinois. Our dedicated faculty and staff provide high-quality, accessible and affordable educational opportunities that empower students and strengthens the communities we serve. Triton College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of The Illinois Community College Board. Illinois is home to 45 colleges in 39 community college districts. Learn more at triton.edu.