Gadget
Home planetarium: how to get a (almost) real starry sky home
The home planetarium brings the starry sky to you from outside to inside.
© Studio Empreinte / Getty Images
Observing stars, regardless of location and weather-a dream for many amateur astronomers. Practical home planetariums should make it possible. How to conjure up a faithful starry sky on the ceiling at home, read here.
Home planetariums make it possible to observe the starry sky comfortably in your own home. Users can use the technical gadget independently of weather and location. In addition, the observation of any part of the sky is possible, as well as the simulation of shooting stars. A home planetarium is primarily aimed at adults, but is also wonderful for families who want to discover the starry sky together. Here you will find a comparison of four home planetariums and tips on their use.
Is a home planetarium a starry sky projector?
Parents are probably familiar with similar devices, for example, a starry sky projector from the children’s room. The difference from the home planetarium is explained simply, because starry sky projectors are primarily intended as a sleep aid or entertainment for children. The devices can be used to throw colorful pictures, usually stars, on the ceiling and play music. In contrast, a home planetarium is designed for adults who want to discover the starry sky from the comfort of their own home.
Home planetariums in comparison
Home planetariums are available from different manufacturers, here you can find four devices in comparison.
Homestar Original
The Home from Sega Toys with a white light LED with three watts of light output should be able to image 60,000 stars. A rotational movement ensures that the starry sky is faithfully depicted throughout the year. Included are two interchangeable projection screens representing the night sky with its fixed stars of the Northern Hemisphere. The highlight should be the integrated shooting star function, so that you can express a desire towards stars even in the home four walls. Projection angles and focus are adjustable so you can easily make individual adjustments.
Facts at a glance
- 60,000 Stars
- 3 Watt LED
- Rotation
- Sternschnuppenfunktion
- Timer switch
Homestar Flux
The home planetarium Homestar Flux is the latest model from Sega Toys and significantly more expensive than the Homestar Original. Flux is said to be more powerful and advanced compared to the Homestar Original. New projection lenses made of glass and even brighter LEDs are to be responsible for this. The 5-watt LED provides more brightness and thus better visibility of the stars. The result should be an even more vivid and realistic starry sky.
Facts at a glance
- 60,000 Stars
- 5 Watt LED
- Glass lenses
- Rotation
- Refined shooting star function
- Timer switch
Astro Planetarium
The third device comes from National Geographic and is called Astro Planetarium. As with the other two devices from Segatoys, it is a home planetarium that can faithfully throw the starry sky on the ceiling. The planetarium should be able to throw the starry sky of the current time on the ceiling and also enable the representation of shooting stars with the help of a built-in motor. The integrated radio offers musical accompaniment, as well as the possibility of connecting a smartphone.
Facts at a glance
- 190 Lumens (at 2 meters ceiling height)
- Radio function
- Connection for smartphone
Colorful starry sky
Significantly cheaper and a little more playful is this Projector. Unlike the classic home planetarium, the device does not throw a starry sky true to the original on the ceiling. The attraction is much more in the colorful light spectacle, which can even be accompanied musically thanks to the built-in Bluetooth speaker.
Facts at a glance
- 21 Lighting Modes
- 4 Color Lights (Blue, White, Green, Red)
- acoustic flicker function
- built-in Bluetooth speaker
What and for whom is a home planetarium suitable?
Whether the sky is overcast or you live in the city and find it difficult to observe stars, a home planetarium gives you the option to explore the starry sky whenever you feel like it. The gadget works simply and conveniently at the touch of a button and usually offers several options for observing different constellations and shooting stars. Most home planets also have a function to display the constellation of stars from a specific date. A home planetarium is not cheap to buy, but it is worth it for any amateur astronomer or for those who are looking for variety and a nice occupation at home. Especially in winter, the devices are often used, because it gets dark early and then the starry sky shines all the brighter inside.
Home planetarium: tips for use
It is best to have complete darkness where you use the home planetarium. The darker it is, the brighter the starry sky will appear on your ceiling. In addition, make sure that you place the device on a level surface to ensure an optimal image.
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