The planetarium operated successfully for over 30 years, but in the early morning hours of August 23, 2001, an electrical fire, thought to have started in the Planetarium's lighting equipment, destroyed the interior of the auditorium and most of the offices and support spaces in the Museum's north wing. The Planetarium's concrete dome and lack of windows helped to keep the fire contained to the north wing, sparing the cultural and natural history collections in the main museum, but it also turned the Planetarium into a kiln, gutting the theater and its projection equipment. The events of 9/11 and Tropical Storm Gabrielle impeded recovery efforts, and the Museum did not reopen to the public until September 23. The Planetarium and north wing offices would remain closed until a $4.5 million renovation could be completed in 2005. The reborn Bishop Planetarium opened with new projection and sound systems, but by 2012 the equipment was already outdated. In 2013 a new projection system was installed that was 25 times sharper and five times brighter, placing the Planetarium once again on par with some of the best in the country.