Ball State building largest, most sophisticated planetarium in Ind.

MUNCIE, Ind. (WANE) A Ball State alumnus is donating $2.2 million to the university to go towards a $4.6 million planetarium; Ball State said it will be the largest and most sophisticated planetarium in Indiana.

Charlie Brown graduated in 1971 and is co-owner of Southern Bells, a chain of Taco Bell and KFC restaurants. He hopes his contribution will help students become interested in science and technology and give to the community at large.

"My goal is to get the biggest and best planetarium we can at Ball State to serve this area of the country. My hope is the community — especially youth — as well as the university students will have an incredible resource here," Brown said.

The planetarium will encompass a free-standing theater, a prominent campus location, and a 52-foot diameter dome, making it among the largest in the Midwest. Ball State said it will be one of the top 10 university planetariums in the country.

"In a globally competitive environment, capturing the imagination and enthusiasm of the next generation for science is an investment worth its weight in gold," said Michael Maggiotto, dean of the College of Sciences and Humanities.

The new planetarium project will have a high-technology GOTO Chronos II Hybrid star projector. The GOTO projector, complemented by an integrated full-dome video projection system and automated by computer control, is designed to accurately portray the night sky up to 10,000 years into the future or into the past, within a few seconds. The projector will allow the study of night sky simulations with sharp displays and realistic star images.

Many facilities throughout the country do have this projector technology but it will be the first one in the state of Indiana.

The university is seeking additional donor participation to fund the project, which is scheduled to open in 2014.