Nica Jurlando (285)

In the depths of Central High School lies the old planetarium-turned-art-exhibit, roughly the size of a couple of classrooms, with a big white dome filling the room. White paint peels and flakes off the walls and the dome, evidence of the use of lead paint, though it has never actually been tested for the toxic metal. It was the first high school planetarium in America, built in 1924 and donated by an alumni’s widow in memory of her late husband. So why is it no longer in use?

The most obvious reasoning is because of the lead paint, which is not technically confirmed but still evident. However, there’s more to the story than the paint. Mark Rosen (225), who attended Central in the sixties, said it wasn’t functioning and wasn’t in use when he attended. According to Mr. Ovetsky, a physics and astronomy teacher, in his first years teaching at Central around 2003, he was approached by Rosen, who had returned to teach and became the head of the science department. Rosen intended to do research to help preserve the planetarium and present it to the alumni association to raise funds for the restoration. However, after consulting experts, Rosen found that restoring just the projector alone would cost well over hundreds of thousands of dollars, let alone other costs, such as maintenance. Mr. Ovetsky says that, in the end, the planetarium belongs to the School District of Philadelphia, which has refused to pay for restorations and upkeep. 

Although at one point very involved in the story of the planetarium, Mr. Ovetsky is now  at peace with the idea that the future use of the planetarium to teach astronomy or physics is unlikely. In fact, he claims, “the planetarium is too fancy.” Instead, his classes use the simpler option: computers. His astronomy classes use digital astronomy platforms to study, allowing them to complete over nine labs a year. He’s not sure how the planetarium would benefit him as a teacher. He is also a big supporter of art teacher Ms. Durkee’s use of the planetarium for art exhibits, stating “art is a good use for it.” There have been efforts to paint over the peeling paint to establish a more enjoyable experience while displaying art. 

With technological developments since their establishment, planetariums are no longer necessary for practical astronomy teachings, and the restoration of our planetarium would be extremely costly. Despite this, some could argue that there is a historical aspect to it, as it’s the oldest school planetarium in America, donated in honor of an alumnus. However, art is a good use for the expansive space. Who knows? Maybe one day Central High School’s planetarium will see the faces of bright young astronomy students attending class. For now, keep your eyes peeled for upcoming art displays!