Chronos Users Group

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Comment by Ken Miller on January 27, 2009 at 1:42pm

Welcome Megan!

When doing things like programming a sunset, don't forget the CHRONOS' built-in "Parametarization" function. It can be used in manual mode, or in an automated program, I believe. It links the brightnesses of stars, sun, moon, planets, daylight, moonglow, sunset, and evening twilight - all to the altitude of the sun. So when it's engaged, as you simply drive forward in diurnal motion, all of the effects of a pretty sunset happen automatically. Maybe Jason can chime in with any hints on how to engage it in a CHRONOS automation program......

Also, I understand that Aoki-san visited your place in the dead of winter from Japan. He got back without any frostbite, but with plenty of stories to tell the others about winter in upstate New York. Thanks! But Iheard he also gave you a tip on how to drive the CHRONOS "the short way around" that may not be in the documentation. Could you share it with the group sometime? Thanks.

Comment by Megan EN Dominguez on January 27, 2009 at 9:10am

Hello Everyone,
I'm always looking for new ways to program the GOTO. We use our machine for live shows as well as pre-recorded shows. So, the opportunities are endless. One of the more recent things that I have done is program a slow sunset into a pre-recorded show. Has anyone tried something new lately? I'd love to hear about it.

Comment by Laurent Pellerin on December 3, 2008 at 1:28pm

Thanks for the invite. The SciDome User's Group proved to be an invaluable source of information and assistance almost immediately, and I'm sure that this Group will be the same for Chronos Users.

For those of you who don't know, the Kika Sila Pla Planetarium at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida, has both a Chronos and a SciDome system. I use the Chronos for classes, including field trip classes from University of Florida Wilderness First Responders classes.

That's a really cool class... they are training to respond to lost hikers, etc., in remote areas. Naturally, it wouldn't do for them to get lost themselves, so we use the Chronos to teach them navigation by the Sun, Moon and stars at various latitudes and seasons.

We also use the Chronos for Public constellation shows and for stellar Storytelling at the end of some of our other shows, such as "Night Spirits: Native American Star Lore."

The Scidome is used for a lot of Public shows, including purchased shows that give people a chance to see shows from world renown planetaria in addition to our own productions.

Thanks Steve for starting this Chronos Users Group.

Now Ken... about that FREE upgrade to Chronos 2...

LOL

Laurent

Comment by Ken Miller on November 25, 2008 at 8:16pm

As a reminder to those just looking in from the larger web site, be sure to click "Follow" up near the top, and you'll get a notice of each new posting. May be a bit of a nuisance if we get too chatty, but in that case you can "Stop Following" and just check in now and then.

Comment by Steven LJ Russo on November 25, 2008 at 8:04pm

WOW and Welcome ! I believe that Chronos users are a group of folks who wan't realistic looking stars in their planetarium, and who use their facilities for mostly educational purposes. We have a great machine to TEACH with !

The Schenectady Museum is "unique", as although we are a museum facility, we take pride in using the Suits-Bueche Planetarium mostly as a "classroom" for Astronomy. The school groups, scout groups, and college classes that come to our facility expect educational lessons as opposed to "entertainment shows". And even if we run a canned show, we always have 15 minutes of LIVE sky in it. We also do regular public shows and the Chronos has to be programmed into all of those along with our other automation system. Since we got the Cronos two years ago, we have had to program over a dozen existing shows into it.

After Thanksgiving, I will get my Assistant Planetarium Manager, Megan to join this group. She is the one who does ALL the computer programming for not only the Chronos, but also our ECCS automation system. She has even taken the GOTO (half) Analemma that was made for Japan, and re-programmed it to run for 13 months from New York's Latitude. It is used in all of our Earth Science programs.

So at any rate, Welcome, and lets have some fun !

Comment by Ken Miller on November 25, 2008 at 4:51pm

Ah yes, the CHRONOS II... The price will actually be a bit less than the current CHRONOS, since it adds fewer auxiliary projectors; leaving those to the video. But retrofitting would be "crazy cost" according to Japan. Probably better to sell the old and get a new CHRONOS II. I'm asking them about a retrofit price, but don't hold your breath for a bargain.

Comment by Darryl Stanford on November 25, 2008 at 3:54pm

I've just seen (between my classes) Steve's and Ken's invites to join, so I'm in. It will be great to find out from other Chronos users, how they use the chronos for their style of teaching.

Ken, I've seen the info that you posted on the new Chronos II on dome-L. What price are we talking about, and, is there any chance that the new mods can be retrofitted on the original Chronos?

Darryl

Comment by Ken Miller on November 25, 2008 at 2:49pm

I've just sent out invitations to all of the CHRONOS owners I know. If anyone joining in knows of others who should be on the list, feel free to invite them as well.
......Ken

Comment by Keith Turner on November 25, 2008 at 2:29pm

I am excited about the idea of a Chronos Users group...there are quite a few Chronos users now...hopefully we can share ideas and programs with each other...Keith Turner

Comment by Ken Miller on November 25, 2008 at 1:01pm

Hi Steve,

Good idea. I hope all of the CHRONOS users will join up and share ideas after seeing the announcement on Dome-L. I'll be happy to help out as I can with answers to tech issues, or to simply watch and hear how folks are using their projectors. Good luck for a lively and useful group.

Ken