Four months after re-opening the renowned Dome theater with a brand new, state-of-the-art digital projection system, the Cosmosphere is pausing evening feature films to correct issues with elements of the custom-built lens.

As of Wednesday, the Carey Digital Dome Theater will be closed in the evenings while specialists work on the Barco DP 4K-32B digital projection system. The projector features a custom-built lens fit to the specifications of the Carey Dome. The 4K resolution is the highest in the industry, and the Cosmosphere was the first Dome theater in the nation to utilize this combined technology.

“When we premiered this projector in October, the results were amazing. We recently noticed a decline in clarity and visual quality with Hollywood-type feature-films. These films are typically darker in nature than documentaries and the experience is not at the level we expect,” said Jim Remar, President and COO of the Cosmosphere. “The lens manufacturer is in the process of making a replacement lens at no cost to the Cosmosphere. We expect to once again provide a theater experience that includes the incredible quality of picture with the clarity and depth of color that our system is capable of producing, by early March.”

Feature films will not be shown during the maintenance period. The two documentaries currently playing in the Dome, Flying Monsters and The Last Reef, will run on their regular daily schedules. Group events, including private functions and school field trips, will continue to enjoy documentaries as anticipated. LunaFest, a film festival featuring documentaries and short films, co-hosted by the Soroptimists International of Hutchinson and the Cosmosphere, will be held on March 8 in multiple theater venues at the Cosmosphere.

Says Jim Remar, “We share in the disappointment, with our recent visitors and those who expected to see upcoming feature films on the Dome, and we are committed to returning to the standard of quality expected at the Cosmosphere. We will make an announcement when the lens has been replaced and the Carey Digital Dome Theater is prepared to show feature length films again.”

Watch and listen to local media outlets for updates on the status of feature films in the Carey Digital Dome Theater.