The Planetanya Center for Science, Space and Culture, opened in June 2016 thanks to the support of Mr. Rikiharo Madarame, a Japanese businessman, and with the help of the Netanya Municipality. The center stretches over more than 1,000 square meters and offers visitors a unique journey into the world of science, space and culture with educational, challenging and interactive activities.
Inside the building is a large auditorium that can seat up to 200 people, suitable for lectures and assemblies. In the auditorium are two huge screens equipped with sophisticated technology that enables viewing of the constellations, both in real time and as they look at different times throughout the day. Films about science and space are also shown in this auditorium, providing explanations about the work done at the space station.
The building also contains several workshops that can be used by groups of visitors and the general public, as well as an area with tatami mats, designed to look like a traditional Japanese room.
The heart and soul of Planetanya is the planetarium, home to one of the most sophisticated projectors in the world. Visitors can watch films about outer space and the processes that take place in space. Before each film is shown, there is a demonstration of a model that was specially built by the Israeli Astronomy Society for that particular month. The demonstration includes explanations about the constellations at that point of the year, as well as captivating, thought-provoking stories.
A beautiful garden was planted at the site one level lower than the building’s ground level. It features motifs of a Japanese garden, but the plants selected for the garden are suitable for growth in Israel. There are nine bonsai trees in the garden, miniature versions of large trees such as the oak, olive and carob.
An authentic Zen garden features ecological pools with unique waterfalls. A wooden bridge crosses over the pool – symbolizing the past and the future, in keeping with Japanese tradition.
To the side of the main building is a science garden, where visitors can see and experience interactive physical phenomena related to the force of gravity, optical illusions, solar energy and energy conversion in general, acoustics and more.
The center is open to visitors Monday through Wednesday from 4 PM – 7 PM, on Thursday from 10 AM – 4 PM and on Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Planetanya’s address is 168 Ben Gurion Boulevard.
