THE VALUE OF A PLANETARIUM

Planetaria play a multifaceted and valuable role in society, contributing to education, scientific understanding, and overall cultural enrichment. Multiple international government and scientific agencies have recognized the worth that the planetarium provides, especially in education.

The planetarium dome surrounds viewers with a 360-degree canvas, effectively conveying concepts in a manner that flat screens simply cannot replicate.1,2
Planetaria offer a similar experience to virtual reality (VR) while differing in how the planetarium is a shared experience3—serving as both a teaching tool and a bonding experience among groups that is associated with positive educational outcomes.4,5
Studies performed on students who learned complex scientific topics within a planetarium suggested that such an environment encouraged a deeper understanding of concepts that require 3D thinking.6
The visualization, freedom, flexibility, and interactivity of the planetarium environment are invaluable for engaging audience members, especially in our modern digital age where attention is so difficult to capture.
There is abundant evidence that suggests that planetarium shows can "generate interest in science, improve academic achievement in students, and develop skills and understanding of the natural world" - The International Planetarium Society

Read more about the value of the planetarium in education...

CITATIONS

[1] Yu, K. C., Sahami, K., Sahami, V., Sessions, L. C. (2015). Using a digital planetarium for teaching seasons to undergraduates. Journal of Astronomy & Earth Sciences Education, 2(1), 33-50.[2] Thornburgh, W. R. (2017) The Role of the Planetarium in Students' Attitudes, Learning, and Thinking About Astronomical Concepts. [Doctoral Dissertation, University of Louisville, USA, Paper 2684]. https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/2684[3] Doane, K. (2019, April 22). Will VR kill the planetarium? https://www.digitaliseducation.com/blog-post-20190422[4] Schnall, S., Hedge, C., & Weaver, R. (2012). The immersive virtual environment of the digital fulldome: Considerations of relevant psychological processes. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 70(8), 561-575.[5] Creighton, J, & Mello, R. (2021). Tale of scale: Infusing astronomical concepts in an undergraduate storytelling course. Planetarian, 50(1), 12-19.[6] Türk, C., & Kalkan, H. (2015). The effect of planetariums on teaching specific astronomy concepts. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 24(1), 1-15

"Planetariums have a way of attracting people's attention and their imagination, ushering learners into a deeper understanding of scientific concepts."

- Dayna Thompson, Planetarium Director (BSU)

WHAT THE AUDIENCE SAYS:

“The children at our program loved the solar system presentation! Our middle schoolers, who are usually harder to engage, were captivated the whole time, while the younger children had so many questions! This was a great way for the children to experience something they normally might not get to see and not even have to travel anywhere. The Solstice staff were engaging, knowledgeable, and fun!”

Carolyn, Festa

“The staff did very well in creating a welcoming atmosphere. The whole experience bettered my life. Thank you 🙏”

Chris

“This was such a great show and event! Everyone did such a great job interacting with guests! I loved talking to everyone! I learned some stuff and everything was really cool! Thank you so much to everyone!”

Anonymous

“The duration is good even for toddlers and young kids. The resolution of the projector is amazing.”

Chia-Wei

READY TO REACH OUT?

Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page before submitting a planetarium program request.

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