The Brasov mountain resort will soon be home to Romania’s largest planetarium after councillors approved plans for its development.
Brasov councillors approved the plans, thought to be worth around RON6.7m (US$1.8m, €1.6m, £1.5m), with the building to be located at the entrance to Zoo Brasov making it the only planetarium housed inside a zoo in all of Europe.
The planetarium’s dome will be 15m (50ft) in diameter, double the size of any existing facilities in the country, with also the largest capacity at 90 seats.
The plans were first touted in March of 2015 by Romania’s viceprimarul Ciprian Bucur, who also said there would be space for hosting temporary exhibitions about astronomy. RON1.1m (US$269,000, €250,000, £215,000) will be invested in equipment for the planetarium including two projectors.
Designed primarily for astrological purposes, the planetarium will also show documentaries, cartoons and educational films – all projected in 4K resolution.
Romania currently has eight planetariums in operation, with existing locations in Constanta, Baia Mare, Suceava, Barlad, Galati, Craiova, Bacau and Pitesti, the largest of which have 7m (23ft) domes and maximum capacity for 50 people.
