6 best home planetariums

*A Review of the Best according to the Editors. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to purchase. It is necessary to consult with an expert before purchase.

Home planetariums with 3D projection – a great opportunity to observe and study the stars from the comfort of your home. Modern astro planetariums are realistic and multifunctional, so they will be interesting to both adults and children.

1. When choosing a home planetarium, you need to consider for what purpose it will be used – as a night light, a background or for studying astronomy.
2. Experts recommend to pay attention to the realism of the projection. An image of up to 8000 stars is enough for a child, but for an adult or studying astronomy, it’s better to buy devices which project 50000 and even 1200000 celestial bodies.
3. No less important are the features of the model. Many home planetariums have additional features such as music, backlighting, the ability to connect other discs or devices.

For those who wish to know more about the features and benefits of home planetariums, we have ranked six of the most popular models. Our experts think these devices are the best, because they have a lot of positive feedback from customers and meet the criteria of “price-quality”.

Rating of the best home planetariums

Levenhuk
esser National Geographic

Rating: 4.9

On the second line of the rating is an improved model of home planetarium Homestar Pro 2, produced by the Chinese company Sega Toys. The device depicts up to 60,000 celestial objects at a distance of 2-2.3 meters. You can adjust the angle of projection, pointing the unit at the ceiling or walls.

Home planetarium has the option of “shooting star” and rotates in different directions. The unit can be turned off for 15,30 or 60 minutes to save power. HomeStar Classic is charged with the included power supply.

But it should be taken into account that the surface, where the image will be directed, must be white and flat and the home planetarium is used only in a dark room. Image sharpness can only be adjusted 1 minute after powering on. Price: from 10990 rubles.

Advantages

• Clear picture and focus;
• Good sky rotation effect;
• Excellent design and build;
• Powerful LED;
• Ability to use discs with other projections.

Disadvantages

• The comets do not look very realistic;
• High cost of disks with additional projections.

AstroEye Eastco

ght 26181

Rating: 4.7

Astro planetarium is included in the rating because it is more popular with users, easy to use. Futuristic and original design. The body of the device is made of durable plastic to protect against external damage.

Control panel illuminated by LEDs and located on the front. Optical lens and quality lenses make for the sharpest picture possible. Home planetarium lets you see up to 10,000 celestial bodies. It is adjustable so you can make the projection moving or static. The device comes with two disks – a color “Earth, Moon and Sun” and a monochrome map of the night sky. There is a possibility of additional application of other discs.

Home planetarium is equipped with a timer with a delay time of 30 and 60 minutes. The unit is powered through a standard USB adapter. STAR THEATER has a rotatable, practical base which can be fixed in different positions. Price: from 8490 rubles.

Advantages

• Auto Off;
• An exact replica of the starry sky;
• Made of reliable materials;
• Beautiful design.

Disadvantages

• Difficult to find on sale.

Sititek AstroEye

Rating: 4.5

The Sititek AstroEye takes fifth place in our ranking because it’s not your average home planetarium, but an entire astronomy learning aid. The device projects a starry sky, the area is 1,8×2,2×2 m and can transmit an image to the ceiling or wall. It is possible to adjust the projection angle, focus or speed control.

Sititek AstroEye shows over 8000 stars and 31 constellations in the Southern and Northern Hemisphere. The location of celestial bodies can be changed depending on geographic latitude, date or time.

Includes two discs (“Stars in Constellations” and “Stars”), a book about the constellations of the Zodiac, a bright poster. To save battery life, the Sititek AstroEye has an auto-off function after 30-120 minutes. Price: from 6890 rubles.

Advantages

• Planetarium suitable for studying astronomy;
• Realistic image;
• Easy installation and setup;
• Price meets quality.

Disadvantages

• No option to charge from the mains;
• Uncomfortable battery replacement;
• No music.

HomeStar Aurora Alaska Black

Rating: 4.4

Closes our ranking home planetarium, developed by a scientist from Japan Miho Miheshi for the company SEGATOYS. The device is equipped with three lenses to create the most realistic projection, up to 1.8 meters. The HomeStar Aurora Alaska Black displays up to 10,000 stars. This is a unique home planetarium, alternately projecting the night sky, sunset or aurora.

The HomeStar Aurora Alaska Black has built-in speakers that allow you to listen to smooth music and gaze at the stars at the same time. There is a volume control, headphone jack. Four AA size batteries are enough to power the home planetarium. The unit can operate independently for up to 5 hours, and is equipped with a two-position timer switch off for 5 and 30 minutes. Price: about 10 700 rubles.

Advantages

• Specific object system;
• Long-lasting autonomy;
• Opportunity to see the northern lights and sunset;
• There is a jack for headphones;
• Built-in speakers.

Disadvantages

• High cost.