Digitalis Education Solutions, Inc. announced the Digitarium Alpha 2 portable digital planetarium system. The Digitarium Alpha 2 system combines a digital fisheye projector with a computer control unit. Integrated planetarium and media display software is easily controlled with an innovative backlit remote control.

The Digitarium Alpha 2 system can help students of all ages grasp abstract astronomy concepts and spark interest in science. Educators can simulate the sky from any point on Earth or from other solar system bodies; show constellations from many cultures; demonstrate phenomena such as transits, eclipses, and meteor showers; label or zoom in on any object; etc.

Educators can project images or videos on any subject or play prerecorded fulldome shows. They can create prerecorded segments or even entire shows using the software's powerful scripting capability. Scripting can alleviate tedious sequences or provide special effects with image manipulation and other advanced features.

The Digitarium Alpha 2 system offers full sky (full horizon) projection. Some competing systems cut out parts of the sky, making it harder for students to orient themselves and placing limitations on what can be easily demonstrated.

The Digitarium Alpha 2 system is a second generation product that has been enhanced by feedback from users around the world. It is brighter and provides enhanced projection quality, making it an excellent choice for domes up to approximately 33 ft/10m in diameter.

The Digitarium Alpha 2 system offers the best usability and lowest training costs on the market due to its unique remote control interface. Educators are liberated from complex software interfaces to focus on their audiences. Free lesson plans get educators started teaching right away. The system is designed for reliability, with a solid-state hard drive and no laptop computer required. The two year limited warranty is double that of most other suppliers.

At a price of US$19,750, the Digitarium Alpha 2 is by far the best value in the fulldome digital planetarium market. Yet for practical instruction, Digitalis believes this product outperforms competing systems costing more than twice as much.

The Digitarium Alpha 2 system runs Stellarium, free, open source planetarium software available from http://Stellarium.org. Digitalis encourages educators to use Stellarium with their students.

Digitalis employees are regular contributors to Stellarium. Unlike many competitors, this means Digitalis is intimately familiar with the planetarium software in its systems. Bug fixes and new features are made available to Digitarium system users in an easy, automated manner.

Digitalis also sells inflatable domes in several diameters for a complete portable planetarium. The Digitarium Alpha 2 system is ideal for schools, school districts, education service agencies, astronomy outreach programs, science centers, children's museums, colleges, universities, and other portable or small fixed planetariums.