May 8, 2022
In May 1774, panic rose throughout the Netherlands when it was suggested that an upcoming conjunction of several planets and the Moon would cause Earth to be thrown from its orbit into the Sun. To counteract this fear, Dutch woolworker Eise Eisinga began construction on a large orrery, or model of the solar system, in his living room. The orrery, which still operates today, is the oldest working planetarium in the world and is open to the public.
To learn more about the Eise Eisinga Planetarium and to view the current position of the planetarium, visit: https://www.planetarium-friesland.nl/en/the-planetarium/
The ceiling of the Eisinga Planetarium. Image credit: Erik Zachte