Mike Sponable, Planetarium Teacher
The Edison High School planetarium opened in January of 1963. It was the first planetarium to be installed in Fairfax County Public Schools, and is the first of the still functioning planetaria in Northern Virginia. The planetarium uses a Spitz A3P projection system, and has a 24 foot diameter dome with a maximum seating of about 60 in a circular pattern. The primary projection system is supplemented by a three-projector programmable slide dissolve system, and several special effects projectors constructed by the former planetarium teacher, Lowell Koontz. A renovation of the planetarium, which was completed in September of 1987, added an new console section with controls for auxiliary projectors which are mounted on wall shelves. The auxiliary projectors include two slew projectors, a rotating galaxy projector, two planetary nebula projectors and two carousel projectors for a multiple panorama projection.
Mike Sponable has been the planetarium director since September of 1999. He graduated in 1986 with a B.S. (double major) in Marine Science\Geology from the University of Miami. He taught sixth grade Math and Science for 4 years and high school Mathematics for two years in Fairfax County Public Schools before becoming a planetarium teacher.
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