A home star projector, nebular projector or planetarium can be a great way to relax and learn about the stars, but are they worth the investment?
Yes home planetariums are worth it, they’re great fun for kids and adults alike. They offer a unique experience that allows people to learn about space in a safe environment.
I’ve found that as long as people set their expectations correctly they really love having the stars projected at home.
It’s important to remember that consumer devices are not list the huge planetariums you might go and visit, with lots of animations and voiceovers. The home versions usually project a static image which is given some life by the addition of rotation movement.
This article will focus on helping shoppers make a decision by discussing the pros and cons of owning a home planetarium.
What is a planetarium projector?
A planetarium projector is a device that projects an accurate representation of the night sky, with constellations and stars in the correct position.
What you need to be careful of when making a purchase is picking up something that looks like it does this, but actually it just projects “stars” which are just pinpricks of light, they don’t set out to be an accurate representation of the nights sky, they just provide you with a star effect on your ceiling.
The other options are nebula projects and wave projectors. These often come as part of the same low-cost unit, and they have either a space nebula effect or rippling water. Again, nether option aims to be accurate, instead they are designed to be pleasant to look at.
A home planetarium can be a great investment for someone who loves astronomy and wants to learn more about the stars as you can practice looking at the different constellations no matter the weather outside.
Advantages of home planetarium projectors
There are several advantages to having a home planetarium.
They offer a night sky experience in the comfort of your own home. This allows you to view the stars without light pollution or bad weather interfering.
They often have different discs available, meaning you can swap out a star only disc for one showing you the different constellations, or even a completely different scene such as a space nebula.
You can create a very relaxing atmosphere with gentle music in the background as you gaze up at the indoor night sky.
It can be good fun with kids to make an event out of putting it on. Toast some marshmallows over a tea light candle and put some background music or natural sounds on and pretend you’ve gone camping. See if they can name the major stars and constellations, get them use to the stars in the sky so when you go outdoors they can spot them for real.
Downside of home planetarium projectors
These are very popular devices, but there are some downsides to be aware of.
Not all come with different star discs, which can mean you’re locked into a single projection.
If you want a high-end projector, one that is capable of 60000+ high-definition stars, you’ll need to be prepared to pay a much higher cost than the more basic models avilable.
They usually require some button pushing to start up, which means you can’t put them on a timer or smart plug to automatically start at a set time.
I’ve noticed feedback on my YouTube videos that suggests some people expect these devices to project animated representations of the night sky, letting you move around the solar system. That isn’t possible with a basic projector, you’d need to hook a computer up and use special software.
What’s the best accurate planetarium?
Of all the devices I’ve tried, I think the best value for money option is the Sega Homestar. This little unit is very quiet, has optional discs, and projects an accurate representation of the night sky (either from the Northern Hemisphere or Southern Hemispheres).
Homestar Features:
- 60,000 stars!
- Timer function
- Disc rotation
- Shooting star feature
There are a lot of low cost star projectors available on Amazon, and they’re great if you just want a light show, often with green stars rather than white. For creating a relaxing atmosphere these are great, just keep in mind they don’t attempt to give you the real night sky indoors.
Conclusion:
So are home planetariums worth it? Overall, whether a home planetarium is worth the investment depends on your needs, interests and budget.
More advanced (and expensive) models come with additional star discs, shooting star features and disc rotation to give life to the projection.
However, if you’re just looking for something to create a cool atmosphear then perhaps a lower cost star projector would be better for you. You might miss out on a shooting star function, but you’ll also pay half the cost!
