Turkey's planetarium visited by 200,000 people

By Mehmet Kumcagiz

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's first planetarium has welcomed nearly 200,000 visitors since it opened in 2007.

The planetarium in Black Sea Samsun province, built by Ondukuz Mayis University, shows images of the sun, stars, planets and other celestial objects, on a large dome-shaped projection screen.

The space simulator replicates outer space realistically, Huseyin Kalkan, founder of the planetarium, told Anadolu Agency.

It hosts at least 20,000 students every year, he added.

People are curious about the unknown, so they flocked to the planetarium, Kalkan said.

An observatory is also situated next to the planetarium.

Selami Kalkan, in charge of the observatory, said they had measured the light of the stars.

"We achieved phenomenal success and discovered that Haumea, known as the dwarf planet, beyond Neptune has a ring. This work attracted great attention in the international arena," he added.