TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium

The TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium is a one-of-a-kind teaching, learning, and special occasion space located on the campus of Texas A&M International University. The planetarium is open to the public for shows, star-gazing events, field trips, and private functions; the Planetarium reflects TAMIU's commitment to service through educational engagement with the community. The TAMIU planetarium is one of the most sophisticated planetariums in the State of Texas and operates a state-of-the-art digital projection system.

This new technology allows not only a view from planet Earth, but from any part of the known universe as well; allowing us to take audiences to structures unseen, except to highly developed telescopes. The Digistar 3 projectors use powerful graphics hardware and software to generate immersive full-dome images on the interior surface of a dome, integrating all-dome video, real time 3D computer graphics, and a complete digital astronomy package.

Designed as a state-of-the-art 21st Century digital planetarium instrument, Digistar 3 is a fully integrated system that replaces the need for traditional planetarium equipment such as slide projectors, special effects projectors, slewable video projectors, etc.

The TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium's mission is to create and present enlightening experiences that inspire wonder in learning about space and science. We realize that science has a critical role to play in the lives of the residents of Laredo and the South Texas Region. As careers become progressively more technologically oriented, facilities such as the planetarium become even more important to address America's declining proficiency in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); which puts our children at risk of not competing successfully in a global economy. All residents specially school aged children need to be informed and empowered in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to individually and collectively embrace the opportunities available today and in the future.

The vision of the Planetarium at TAMIU is that this region will, through science literacy and capability, achieve industrial and economic growth and high employment, and its residents will enjoy the consequent social benefits. The culture of science will become as integrated into peoples' lives as the culture of sport.

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