Overhead update

"The $410 billion spending bill signed by President Barack Obama this week includes about $900,000 for the Adler Planetarium for the 'overhead projector' that became controversial during the presidential campaign.

"The machine is actually a sophisticated $3 million to $5 million light-projection system that beams images of the stars, planets and galaxies onto the ceiling.

"The museum wants to spend millions to update its original, 78-year-old domed Sky Theater auditorium, including replacement of the huge, 40-year-old Zeiss planetarium projection system, which is falling into disrepair. The Zeiss machine is so old that the German manufacturer no longer has employees who know how to fix it, said Charles Katzenmeyer, Adler's vice president of external affairs."