Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium

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Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium

Location of Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium in Montreal

Established| 6 April 2013 (2013-04-06)
Location| 4801 Pierre-de Coubertin Avenue
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
H1V 3V4
Coordinates| 45°33′39″N 73°33′03″W﻿ / ﻿45.5607°N 73.5507°W﻿ / 45.5607; -73.5507
Type| Planetarium
Owner| Space for Life
Public transit access|  at Viau
Viau station
Nearest car park| 3000 Viau Street
Website| espacepourlavie.ca/en/planetarium www.sapm.qc.ca

The Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium is the successor to the Montreal Planetarium, and is located in the Space for Life, near the Olympic Stadium and the Biodome in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[1] The new installation has two separate theatres as well as exhibits on space and astronomy. It was officially opened in April 2013.

The building, designed by Cardin + Ramirez et Associés, Architectes, is certified as LEED Platinum.

## History[edit]

Main article: Montreal Planetarium

The Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium is the successor to the Montreal Planetarium, formerly known as the Dow Planetarium, which operated from April 1, 1966, to October 10, 2011.

The Dow Planetarium was sponsored by Dow Breweries, which later became O'Keefe Breweries, now a part of Molson Breweries. Important in the brewery's decision to found a planetarium was Pierre Gendron, a past professor of chemistry and amateur astronomer who was the founding dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Ottawa. Gendron was also president of the board of directors of Dow Breweries. It was Gendron's influence that led to Dow's decision to endow Montréal with a planetarium in time for Expo 67.

The planetarium was constructed at Chaboillez Square, a former parking lot outside downtown Montréal. It was designed by the architectural firm of David-Barott-Boulva and constructed at a cost of $1.2 million. The building and projection equipment were completed in February 1966, and the inaugural show, New Skies for a New City, premiered on April 4, 1966.

Between 1966 and 2011, some six million spectators attended over 250 original productions created by the planetarium. Some 50 lecturers and educators presented more than 58,000 shows in the Star Theatre.

The Montréal Planetarium ceased its public activities on October 10, 2011.

## Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium[edit]

The new planetarium is part of the Space for Life museum complex, a cluster of museums focusing on nature. Sustainable development is a focus for the Space for Life, as reflected in the planetarium's architecture and its status as a LEED Platinum certified building. Constructed of aluminum and concrete, the building contains an exhibition area and two dome theatres named "Chaos" and "Milky Way". Artistic direction was by Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon.

Visitors choose one of two programs, then view two presentations, one in each theatre. One presentation focuses on the science of astronomy while the other presents a more artistic view of space. There is also an exhibition area with exhibits on meteorites and an area, Exo, which uses touchscreen panels to discuss the origin of life and the possibility of life on other worlds (exobiology). All exhibits and presentations are in French and English.

### Shows[edit]

A 40-minute presentation about the aurora borealis, Aurōrae, combines images of the Northern Lights with music and live commentary by the planetarium's science interpreters. The origin of the phenomenon is described. A team from the planetarium gathered over 179,000 images in March 2015 in Yellowknife. At that location, light pollution is low and the aurora is visible, on average, 240 nights per year.

Other films shown at the planetarium, some presented with live commentary, include the American Museum of Natural History's Dark Universe and National Geographic's Asteroid: Extreme Mission.

## See also[edit]

* Nicolaus Copernicus Monument, Montreal

## References[edit]

1. ^ "New planetarium, dozens of museums offer free access for a day".

## External links[edit]

* Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium \- official site

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Landmarks of Montreal

Museums|

* Château Ramezay
* Centre d'histoire de Montréal
* Biodome
* Maison Saint-Gabriel Museum
* Montreal Biosphère
* Canadian Centre for Architecture
* McCord Museum
* Montreal Insectarium
* Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
* Musée d'art contemporain
* Pointe-à-Callière Museum
* Redpath Museum
* Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium
* The Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site
* Montreal Science Centre
* Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site

Churches|

* Christ Church Cathedral
* Church of St. Michael and St. Anthony
* Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral
* Notre-Dame Basilica
* Saint James United Church
* Saint Joseph's Oratory

Skyscrapers|

* 1000 de La Gauchetière
* 1250 René-Lévesque
* 1501 McGill College
* Tour de la Bourse
* Place Ville Marie
* Tour CIBC
* Sun Life Building
* Complexe Desjardins
* Westmount Square
* Maison Radio-Canada

Other structures|

* Atwater Market
* Bell Centre
* Big Orange
* Bonsecours Market
* Château Dufresne
* Grande Bibliothèque
* Habitat 67
* Habitations Jeanne-Mance
* Hurtubise House
* Jean-Talon Market
* McCall MacBain Arts Building
* Montreal Casino
* Montreal City Hall
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* Montreal Forum
* Mount Royal Chalet
* Mount Royal Cross
* Olympic Park
* Olympic Stadium
* Palais des congrès de Montréal
* Place Bonaventure
* Place des Arts
* Technoparc
* Underground City
* Windsor Station
* World Trade Centre Montreal

Nature and parks|

* Angrignon Park
* Bois-de-l'Île-Bizard Nature Park
* Bois-de-Liesse Nature Park
* Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park
* Jarry Park
* Parc Jean-Drapeau
* Jeanne-Mance Park
* Lachine Canal
* La Fontaine Park
* L'Anse-à-l'Orme Nature Park
* Maisonneuve Park
* Montreal Botanical Garden
* Mount Royal
* George-Étienne Cartier Monument
* Old Port
* Olympic Park
* Oxford Park
* Pointe-aux-Prairies Nature Park
* Ruisseau-De Montigny Nature Park

Squares|

* Cabot Square
* Champ de Mars
* Dorchester Square
* Phillips Square
* Place d'Armes
* Place du Canada
* Place Émilie-Gamelin
* Place Jacques-Cartier
* Place Jean-Paul Riopelle
* Saint-Louis Square
* Victoria Square
* Place d'Youville

Islands|

* Île Bizard
* Île de la Visitation
* Island of Montreal
* Notre Dame Island
* Nuns' Island
* Saint Helen's Island

Transportation|

* Central Station
* Montreal Metro
* Société de transport de Montréal
* Réseau de transport métropolitain
* Gare d'autocars de Montréal
* Trudeau Airport

Events|

* Canadian Grand Prix
* Divers/Cité
* Fantasia International Film Festival
* Festival of New Cinema
* Les FrancoFolies
* Just for Laughs
* Montreal Fireworks Festival
* Montreal International Jazz Festival
* Montreal World Film Festival
* Tam-Tams

Cemeteries|

* Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery

Establishments|

* Fairmount Bagel
* La Banquise
* La Ronde
* Montreal Pool Room
* Schwartz's
* St-Viateur Bagel
* Wilensky's

Related|

* National Historic Sites in Montreal
* Historic places in Montreal

* Category:Montreal
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