Ride a roller coaster through space, dive into the rocky rings of Saturn and explore a new nebula.

These are virtual images you can experience at the Bishop Museum's new planetarium.

"It made me personally feel like I was in space," said Honolulu resident Dorina Lowe.

Thanks to state funding, the museum made $1.5 million in upgrades to its 50-year-old planetarium.

The renovations include a state-of-the-art projection system, new seating, lighting and an interior dome.

The museum director says the upgrades made stargazers feel as if they were in outer space.

"Nowadays, instead of a single slide from a slide projector, the entire dome is covered with images," said Bishop Museum Director Mark Shanahan.  "The feel is very much like the IMAX dome or what used to be called 'I'm a dome' -- the immersive 'you are there' feeling."

"When the computer dimmed and you can see the black sky and the pin points of light, it was like being in the most remote place where you could see the stars," said Taitt Vigus, who enjoyed the new planetarium.

In addition to the virtual feel, a moderator helps you trace the constellations and learn more about our skies and beyond.

The projection system is just one of six across the U.S.  Now that the Bishop Museum has completed the renovations inside the planetarium, there will be four show each day.