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When the planetarium opened at Bishop Museum on Dec. 12, 1961, as “the most ambitious educational project the museum has undertaken,” it looked as if a sleek spacecraft had landed in Kalihi.

“It was really hot stuff. It was the first part of the museum built specifically to interpret science for the public,” said Mike Shanahan, the museum’s director of education, exhibits and planetarium.

“At the time the U.S. was engaged in a ‘space race’ with the Soviets and so we were afraid of being left behind.”

The first set-up now seems quaint: visitors sitting on benches in a circle around a “star machine” that cast dots of light while a single slide projector superimposed images of constellations, Polynesian voyagers and other scenes.

The planetarium didn’t get its first upgrade until 1987, when 23 slide projectors replaced the one and theater seating was installed.

There have been more recent improvements, but the planetarium experience will be light years ahead of what past visitors, including 6 million schoolchildren, remember when the J. Watumull Planetarium reopens Saturday after a 3 1⁄2-month, $1.5 million renovation.

Although its new cutting-edge, automated digital equipment will take top billing, the planetarium will continue its signature live programs featuring always entertaining and well-informed presenters.