Navy Planetarium, buildings works, Belém, Lisbon, 1965 (1965-07-20) by Navy PlanetariumNavy Planetarium
The idea of building a Planetarium in Lisbon arose from the fascination and enthusiasm for astronomy of an officer of the Portuguese Navy, the Commander Eugénio Conceição Silva, when he visited the Planetarium in New York.
Construction of the dome of the Navy Planetarium, Belém, Lisbon, 1965 (1965-07-20) by Navy PlanetariumNavy Planetarium
In the early 1960s, the project to build a Planetarium gained momentum through a partnership between the Portuguese Navy and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Commander Conceição Silva's dream became a reality, Lisbon would even have a Planetarium.
Workers on the surface of the dome of the Planetarium , Belém, Lisbon, 1965 (1965-07-20) by Navy PlanetariumNavy Planetarium
The work was designed by architect Frederico George, which began in September 1963, and was inaugurated in July 1965 as Calouste Gulbenkian Planetarium, a designation that remained until November 2021.
Navy Planetarium, under construction, view from the main facade, Belém, Lisbon, 1965 (1965-07-20) by Navy PlanetariumNavy Planetarium
The genius of this project lies in its grandeur, even today, the Navy Planetarium is the second largest in Europe, with a dome measuring 23 meters in diameter and with 250 seats.
For the creation of the replica of the sparkling night sky in the dome of the Planetarium, the optical projection system was chosen, the model Planetarium UPP 23/4, an invention with a patent dating from 1922.
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, under the established partnership, subsidized the acquisition of this projector in the amount of 7 million escudos, having been acquired from the German company VEB Carl Zeiss-Jena.
This astronomical projector is an optical-mechanical device consisting of two spheres separated by a cylindrical body.
Inside each of these spheres was installed a 1000W tungsten lamp, surrounded by 8 hemispherical lenses.
This projection system was manually operated, it worked uninterruptedly for 39 years, having shown the replica of the starry sky to more than 3 million visitors.
To give the visitor the feeling of being in a high area to observe the sky, a dark metallic structure was fixed along the base of the dome that represented the landscape silhouette of the urban area of Belém.
In this metallic structure, monuments and other buildings were identified, such as the dome of the Jerónimos Monastery, the 25th of April Bridge, the lighting towers of the Restelo Stadium and the statue of Cristo Rei.
Opening ceremony of the Navy Planetarium, Galeotas Pavilion, Belém, Lisbon july 20th, 1965. (1965-07-20) by Navy PlanetariumNavy Planetarium
In less than 2 years the work was completed. The inauguration took place on the day that marked the tenth anniversary of the death of Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian, 20 July 1965, in a ceremony presided over by the President of the Republic, Admiral Américo Thomaz.
Planetarium opening ceremony, speech to the guests present, Galeotas Pavilion, Belém, Lisbon july 20th, 1965 (1965-07-20) by Navy PlanetariumNavy Planetarium
On that same day, the newspaper “Diário de Notícias” published the opening of the Planetarium in the headline, with the novelty of going to discover a new world: “A journey through the cosmos within reach of Lisbon”.
Opening ceremony of the Planetarium, audience with the invited entities, Galeotas Pavilion, Belém, Lisbon july 20th, 1965 (1965-07-20) by Navy PlanetariumNavy Planetarium
The city of Lisbon now had a cultural facility par excellence, like the main European capitals, where astronomical sciences were disseminated in a didactic way.
Guests and other official entities await the start of the inaugural astronomy session , Navy Planetarium, Belém, Lisbon july 20th, 1965. (1965-07-20) by Navy PlanetariumNavy Planetarium
It was the beginning of a cycle of “travels” through space, unheard of at the time. The planetarium sessions, through the recreation of the sparkling night sky, where figures of constellations were projected and celestial phenomena, such as eclipses and rain of stars.
Religious entity among the guests in the Planetarium gallery, next to the auditorium entrance, Navy Planetarium, Belém, Lisbon july 20th, 1965. (1965-07-20) by Navy PlanetariumNavy Planetarium
The Planetarium had as its first director, Commander Conceição Silva, his enthusiasm for astronomy also covered the dissemination of this science to the public.
Commander Conceição Silva, in uniform, in the company of the President of the Republic Admiral Américo Thomaz, Navy Planetarium, Belém, Lisbon july 20th, 1965. (1965-07-20) by Navy PlanetariumNavy Planetarium
Since then, the Portuguese, with a special focus on the school public, began to have a new cultural space, providing an experience hitherto unknown, the astronomy sessions projected in a dome.
Completed dome of the Navy Planetarium, inserted in the spectacular landscape of Belém, Lisbon, 1965. (1965-07-20) by Navy PlanetariumNavy Planetarium
57 years later, since its inauguration, the Planetarium of Marinha once again offers another journey through the cosmos. Not only for people from Lisbon, but for all people who visit the planetarium.
