We’ve looked at the best star projectors and home planetariums that money can buy, with options ranging from the scientific to the… not so scientific. You’ll see what we mean.
The models that tend to be more affordable are those that give you an immersive experience, to give the feel of being somewhere other-worldly, and the colors and patterns are loosely ‘inspired’ by space — nebulas, auroras and galaxies. You’ve likely seen them at parties, in games rooms, in spas and so on.
Then there are scientific home planetariums that generally project ‘real imagery,’ so you can study and enjoy projections of real galaxies and nebulas from the comfort of your own home without investing in expensive astronomy equipment. These are much more likened to the more traditional planetariums that teach astronomy and related sciences.
We’ve scoured the market for the best star projectors and home planetariums, and we’ve noticed that over time, there’s a growing competition of manufacturers bringing out newer versions with additional functionality and better quality and packaging. We’ll keep revising this list with new models as we come across and test them. For now, here are the best ones currently available on the market.