Observing the stars, regardless of location and weather — a dream for many amateur astronomers. Practical home planetariums should make it possible. Read here how you can conjure up a true-to-life starry sky on the ceiling at home.
Home planetariums make it possible to observe the starry sky from the comfort of your own home. Users can use the technical gadget regardless of the weather and location. In addition, the observation of any part of the sky and the simulation of shooting stars are possible. A home planetarium is primarily aimed at adults, but is also ideal for families who want to discover the starry sky together. Here are four home planetariums compared and tips on how to use them.
Is a home planetarium a starry sky projector?
Parents probably know similar devices, such as a starry sky projector from the children’s room. The difference to the home planetarium is easy to explain, because starry sky projectors are primarily intended to help children fall asleep or to entertain them. Colorful pictures, mostly stars, can be projected onto the ceiling with the devices and music can be played. 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
There are home planetariums from various manufacturers, here you will find four devices in comparison.
The Homestar from Sega Toys with a white light LED with three watts of light output is said to be able to display 60,000 stars. A rotational movement ensures that the starry sky is displayed faithfully over the course of the year. Included are two interchangeable projection discs that show the night sky with its fixed stars of the northern hemisphere. The highlight should be the integrated shooting star function, so that you can also express a wish towards the stars in your own four walls. Projection angles and focus are adjustable so you can easily make custom adjustments.
Facts at a glance
The Homestar Flux home planetarium is the latest model from Sega Toys and is significantly more expensive than the Homestar Original. Flux is said to be more powerful and advanced compared to the Homestar Original. New glass projection lenses and even brighter LEDs are said 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 lively and realistic starry sky.
Facts at a glance
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 cast the starry sky onto the ceiling. The planetarium should be able to project the starry sky of the current time onto the ceiling and, with the help of a built-in motor, also enable shooting stars to be displayed. The integrated radio offers musical accompaniment, as does the connection option for a smartphone.
Facts at a glance
This projector is significantly cheaper and a bit more playful. Unlike the classic home planetarium, the device does not cast a starry sky true to the original on the ceiling. The attraction is much more in the colorful light show, which can even be accompanied by music thanks to the built-in Bluetooth speaker.
Facts at a glance
Why and for whom is a home planetarium suitable?
Whether the sky is overcast or you live in the city and have difficulty gazing at the stars, a home planetarium gives you the option to explore the starry sky whenever you feel like it. The gadget works easily and conveniently at the push of a button and usually offers various options for observing different constellations and shooting stars. Most home planetariums also have a feature that allows you to view the constellation of stars on a specific date. A home planetarium is not cheap to buy, but it is worthwhile for every amateur astronomer or for those who are looking for a change and a nice activity at home. The devices are particularly popular in winter, because it gets dark early and the starry sky inside is all the brighter.
Home planetarium: tips for use
It is best to have total darkness where you are using the home planetarium. The darker it is, the brighter the starry sky appears on your ceiling. Also make sure that you place the device on an even surface to ensure an optimal picture.
Note: The article was first published in December 2020
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