Buenos Aires’ Spectacular Planetario Galileo Galilei Sparkles With Thousands of LEDs

This past Friday Buenos Aires’ celestial <a title="Buenos Aires’ Saturn Inspired Planetario Now Sparkles With Thousands Of Colored LEDs" href="http://www.planetario.gov.ar/" target="_blank">“Planetario Galileo Galilei”</a> unveiled a magnificent new LED-studded facade that transformed the night into an open-air energy-efficient party. Public Space Minister Diego Santilli flipped the switch on the stunning LED array while expressing the importance of environmental responsibility - particularly regarding government initiatives. The planetarium's old boring white lights used to suck up 37.5 kilowatts, so they were replaced with a more environmentally friendly system that requires only 2.7 kilowatts in total. The new system also features different lighting patterns, colors, and motifs including Argentina’s sky blue and white flag.

"Planetario Galileo Galilei" was designed by architect Enrique Jan and opened its doors in 1962.

After the minister spoke a few words, the Planetario building and surrounding gardens were lit up by fireworks followed by the playful <a title="Buenos Aires’ Saturn Inspired Planetario Now Sparkles With Thousands Of Colored LEDs" href="http://inhabitat.com/index.php?s=LED" target="_blank">LED</a> lighting displays, which greatly surprised curious families that dropped by.

Inspired by Saturn, the planetarium features five floors, six <a title="Buenos Aires’ Saturn Inspired Planetario Now Sparkles With Thousands Of Colored LEDs" href="http://inhabitat.com/philippe-starck-unveils-two-revolutionair-wind-turbines/" target="_blank">helicoidal</a> sets of stairs, and a circular planetarium paneled with wood that has space for 360 reclining seats.

The building sits amidst wide-open parks in the green Palermo area of <a title="Buenos Aires’ Saturn Inspired Planetario Now Sparkles With Thousands Of Colored LEDs" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina" target="_blank">Argentina</a>’s bustling capital.

In addition to spectacular planetarium shows, the building showcases a piece of the Moon (gift by the <a title="Buenos Aires’ Saturn Inspired Planetario Now Sparkles With Thousands Of Colored LEDs" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_XI" target="_blank">Apollo XI</a>’s mission), and the entrance features marine fossils dating back more than 100 million years and a grey metallic meteorite that fell from the sky back in 1965.

The astronomic circular room is actually the planetarium dome.

The park also features an artificial lake populated with ducks and reeds that was renovated for the opening of the Planetario.

The solar clock, a present from Japan, will be restored with care.

Marine fossils are showcased on the Planetario's entrance path.

The entrance features a grey metallic meteorite that fell from the sky back in 1965.

The planetarium's artificial lake received an extensive renovation

This past Friday Buenos Aires’ celestial <a title="Buenos Aires’ Saturn Inspired Planetario Now Sparkles With Thousands Of Colored LEDs" href="http://www.planetario.gov.ar/" target="_blank">“Planetario Galileo Galilei”</a> unveiled a magnificent new LED-studded facade that transformed the night into an open-air energy-efficient party. Public Space Minister Diego Santilli flipped the switch on the stunning LED array while expressing the importance of environmental responsibility - particularly regarding government initiatives. The planetarium's old boring white lights used to suck up 37.5 kilowatts, so they were replaced with a more environmentally friendly system that requires only 2.7 kilowatts in total. The new system also features different lighting patterns, colors, and motifs including Argentina’s sky blue and white flag.