The artificial sky is a facility at the Chair of Spatial Arts and Lighting Design at the TU München. It enables closer examination of photometric properties of spaces used and serves as a design and project support tool. The apparatus consists of a diffuse plexiglass hemisphere of about 4 m in diameter, which is acted on by external light. This produces a replica of the diffuse light of the sky in the interior of the hemisphere. To recreate directed sunrays, an artificial sun in the form of a parabolic mirror is mounted in the interior of the hemisphere.
In order illuminate the diffuse hemisphere, dimmable fluorescent lamps are arranged continuously over the entire surface. The angle of the artificial sun is adjustable, although its intensity cannot be changed. In order to replicate the azimuthal motion of the sun, the models are placed on a rotatable table, which is set in accordance with the displayed azimuth angle.
Artificial Sky
