Star Trekkers take over museum

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The new movie Star Trek opened across Austin Friday night, including a special premiere at the Bob Bullock History Museum to raise money for the Austin Planetarium.

The gala included the Austin Wind Symphony performing the Star Trek theme, a costume contest and a raffle to win a ride on a zero-G flight.

Star Trek will run at the IMAX theater through May 21.

Dr. Torvald Hessel, executive director of the Austin Planetarium project says the benefit was a big success.

“Austin needs this," said Dr. Hessel. "Did you know Austin is the largest city in the United States without a planetarium?”

Hessel claims the planetarium could cost between $40 and $50 million and he hopes to break ground in 2012.

Star Trek is showing in 3,800 theaters across the country. It is the 11th film in the franchise, but represents a rebooting of the story, showing the beginnings of the original crew.

The first ten films averaged $75 million in earnings. The new movie may bring in that much money this weekend.