A planetarium projector which is also known as home star projector is a device used in projecting images, especially celestial images on the surface of the dome inside a planetarium. It is an electro-mechanical device with two balls located on each end linked together to simulate some motions of stars, moons and other celestial objects in the sky. This device is used for educational and entertainment purposes. These planetariums can vary in size, they can be as small as 3 meter inflatable options to almost 35 meters. Regardless of your intentions, you can always find a sizeable planetarium for your purpose.
Here are top 3 picks at a glance:
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Things To Know To Purchase Best Home Planetarium Projector
Purchasing your first home planetarium projector could be a difficult procedure. With certain considerations and factors in mind, you should be able to get through. The following factors are things you should know before you purchase any home planetarium projector;
- Size
- Battery type and power
- Timer setting
- Lighting or projection mode and functions
- Display type (Still or Rotating)
- Ease of Usage.
1. Size
The overall size of a project or matter. For instance, the one you choose to install in your living or bedroom should be bigger than the one you choose for the kids’ room. Never go for small pieces of projectors that are too small to enter children’s mouth, they could choke kids easily. Adults can easily make use of the smaller buttons while kids’ projectors should have larger buttons. You should measure your room’s space before buying a planetarium projector.
2. Battery type and power
Some projectors use rechargeable batteries, others rely on constant electricity supply. If the electricity supply is intermittent in your region, you should go for a rechargeable battery planetarium. Most of these projectors rely on AC adapters that can be plugged inside a wall outlet. You can also use a USB cord to connect with an adapter and supply power to your projector. The issue with most USB projectors is that they can be too short and your projector must stay closer. Alternatively, you should invest in getting a longer cord to connect your projector. A projector that runs on a rechargeable battery should last for about 10 hours before the next recharging. This means you can easily use a good projector with a rechargeable battery several nights before charging again.
3. Timer Setting
Not all projectors come with a timer setting, but it is a desirable feature you should consider. Timers ensure that you use your projector even as you sleep but also helps you conserve power while you sleep. You can set your timer to a specific period when your device will automatically stop working. The timer setting could range from 15 minutes to several hours. Once the timer reaches its limit, the planetarium projector will shut down automatically. Projectors designed for parties and similar purposes do come with timer settings of up to 5 hours. These models help you keep your party going for several hours.
4.The Lighting Modes and Options
You should consider the lighting modes for personal purposes. For instance, you don’t want a lighting mode that may disrupt your sleep. At the same time, you want a lighting mode that will brighten your party. You should consider a planetarium projector that can change focus and projection angle for different lighting effects. Make sure you go for a projector with as many lighting modes as you can find, it will help you personalize your projector to suit your preferences.
5. The Display Options
Most projectors do come either as still or rotating display. The projector with the still display will have still images and that may not be fun for most users. The rotary display has images that can move in different angles. The rotary display will move images from one part of the room to another. The rotating display will also bounce images across the ceilings and walls while it moves them. Rotating displays are quite fun, especially for the kids and younger adults. You may want to find a projector that has both still and rotating display options for flexibility.
You may also want to go for a rotating display because there are lots of whimsical. With constellations and stars of different sizes and different planets, you want to see movements along the milky way. Kids will also want to see astronauts, shooting stars, meteors, and spaceships moving across the ceilings and walls.
6. Ease of Usage
The overall use of your preferred projector is one of the most important things you should know before purchasing it. You may want to go for a projector that is easy to set up. If you can’t find a pre-assembled projector then you should check a product that comes with a manual. Complex projectors may become more complicated when they get damaged, hence you should be careful.
11 Best Home Planetarium Projectors Reviewed
The following are the top best home planetarium projectors, you may want to consider right now;
1. Sega Toys Homestar Flux
It comes in a satin black color and it is quite a portable option for the small to medium size homes. It is an ideal home entertainment device.
– Specifications
- It comes in satin black color.
- Projects 60,000 HD objects.
- 5-watt power rating.
- Warm LED technology.
- Multi-level glass lenses
- Very quiet disc rotation
- Extras include a USB cable plus 2 discs and 30 optional star discs.
- Weighs 3lbs.and measures 7.5 x 7.5 x 9 inches in length, width and height respectively.
– Features
The projector was updated in September 2018 and remains one of the most advanced Flux models to date. It comes with a very smooth focus dial and the rotational movement of the discs will help you see the movement of the sky around you. You can project around ceilings and walls measuring between 4” and 10”.
2. Can You Imagine Laser Twilight Stars Projector
This is the perfect way to bring the night stars and the sky into your home space.
– Specification
- Green laser and holographic technology
- Adjustable laser stars.
- Easy installation
- Plug and play with adapter included.
- Measures 11 ¼ x 9 ½ x 8 ½ inches in height, width and length respectively.
- Made from predominantly plastic material with electronic components.
– Features
This device offers several surprises, for instance, it sends shooting stars occasionally. It offers very great brightness and more value for its price. It weighs just 3.5 pounds and very light enough to be positioned in any part of the room. This is the best planetarium projector because it is one of its kind and quite rare in the market.
3. BlissLights Sky Lite
This is an amazing professional planetarium projector because of its relative ease of operation. It projects some drifting sky objects like stars instantly after setup. The corded electric power source ensures your projector stays connected as long as there is a power source.
– Specifications
- Operates on Direct laser diodes
- Button controls
- External white color.
- Weighs 1.65 lbs.
- Measures 9.6 x 8.3 x 3 inches in height, length, and width respectively.
- 120 Volts electrical power rating.
– Features
This device projects very bold and vivid colors that cannot be rivaled by block-offs. It also generates a soothing aurora ambiance that makes it highly desirable. The button controls allow you to adjust the brightness and the Start/stop rotating motion to end the rotation of the laser device. It is easy to maintain a projector that provides instant transformation within a confined space.
4. Night Lights for Kids, Star Projector
This best home planetarium projector is arguably the best for young boys and girls. It comes with a timer to ensure that you decide when and when not to use the projector.
– Specification
- 4 different colored lights.
- Noiseless night light.
- Shut off timer.
- Glossy finish
- 4 AAA batteries.
- LED bulb
- Plastic material construction.
– Features
The 4 different colors of lights are capable of projecting starry sky appearance around the confinement of a room, thus improving imagination and creativity. The timer feature is one of the best parts of this device. The maximum time you can leave the projector on is 995 minutes, hence it can work all night.
5. In My Room Star Theater Tabletop Planetarium Light Projector
This is one of the most stylish tabletop planetarium light projectors you should consider. The visuals from this projector are so real and you can listen to the content of its audio CD to familiarize more about its mode of operations.
– Specifications
- Ceiling mount only.
- 1.3 lbs.
- web code for image download.
- Audio CD for guidance.
- Hand-held Meteor-maker.
– Features
This device is capable of projecting hundreds of stars, planets, and other celestial objects on ceilings and walls, thus covering a very wide area. The device is very accurate with the season and time of the day.
6. Sega Homestar Original Black
According to home planetarium projector reviews, this product is one of your best options. It projects up to 60,000 stars even at a wider reach.
– Specifications
- Shooting star feature.
- Projects up to 60,000 stars.
- 3-watt LED technology.
- Comes with timer, focus, and adjustable angle.
- Weighs 1.8 pounds.
- 2 realistic discs.
- Original black color.
- 1 AC adapter plus a manual.
- Measures 6.5 x 6.3 x 5.9 inches in length, width, and height respectfully.
- A projection distance of 59-90 inches. 106” of projection area diameter.
– Features
In addition to the 2 realistic discs accompanying this projector, a poster is also included that offers more than 30 extra discs. There is a newly added feature of 4 realistic high-resolution discs. The 4 new high-resolution discs are; Norther hemisphere, Day earth and moon, Warped Andromeda, and Night earth and moon.
7. Smithsonian Optics Room Planetarium
For having double projectors, this could probably be your planetarium light projector. Being one of the best-rated planetarium projectors online, this product has lots of reviews than most of its main competitors.
– Specification
- Rotating star patterns.
- 24 High Definition space images.
- Up to 50 different image combinations.
- Recommended for ages 8 and up.
- 1-star background slide.
- weighs 1.85 lbs.
- Black color.
- Measures 10 x 7 x 10 inches in height width and length respectively.
- 4 AAA batteries needed.
- Operates on the LED light.
– Features
For its dual functioning capabilities, this projector brings an unending nighttime sky into your home. You can also choose from diverse images of planets, astronauts, nebulae, space crafts, and many other celestial bodies.
8. Homestar Classic
Homestar classic from Sega toys is another highly-rated projector you should consider. It projects up to 60,000 celestial bodies on the ceiling and walls of your home effectively.
– Specifications
- Motor function or operation.
- weighs 2 pounds
- Timer for shutting off.
- Adjustable projection angle and focus
- Measures 5.94 x 6.26 x 6.57 inches in width, length, and height respectively.
- Navy blue color.
– Features
This is the first projector product to be jointly created by two manufacturers. It has also been enhanced with advanced features including the timer and focus adjustment. With random timing, you can focus the projection angle alongside the focus adjustment easily. This projector is recommended for the 15year old and upward.
9. Uncle Milton 3D Star Theater
This projector was nicknamed the ever wonder package for some reason. it comes with amazing features that make it unique. It is one of the best 3D projectors you can find around now, it comes in a shiny glossy finish with plastic body design.
– Specifications
- 3D glasses
- Focus dial
- one 3D star theater
- 1 base
- 1 manual instruction.
- Glossy black color.
- Requires 4 AAA batteries.
- Weighs 1 pound
- Measures 5.5 x 5.7 x 5.5 inches in length, height, and width respectively.
– Features
Transfer your home into a 3D planetarium with this amazing projector. The device does the job of other planetarium projectors by projecting planets, stars, and constellations in 3D within your room. Learn the unique stories behind the making of constellations with this package. This projector is recommended for young kids ages 8 to 15 years.
10. Nashika real home planetarium
A very stylish black Astro-theater is an amazing home star projector for your home. It is a Japanese product with great flair.
– Specifications
- Set up for 365 days a year.
- Black color.
- 60-300 cm circular projection range.
- projection angle and focus adjustment of 0-90 degrees.
- More than 9,000 images projected at once.
- The distance requirement between the projector and wall or ceiling surface is 50-200 cm.
– Features
The favorite time to set this planetarium projector up is between 7 pm and 3 am the next day. You can set this device up every day throughout the year without losing its efficiency. Efficient focus adjustment and projection angle ensure great user-experience. It is capable of producing a constellation of 9,000 illustrations of the earth plus a 35 milky way. The distance of your ceiling or wall from the projector must be between 50 – 250 cm.
11. Can You Imagine Laser Twilight Stars Projector?
This is the perfect way of dragging the night stars and the sky into your room.
– Specifications
- Green laser holographic technology.
- Two-settings
- Plug and play.
- Key-hole slot in the base.
- Metallic silver color
- 4-hour auto shut-off.
- weighs 1 pound.
- Measures 2 x 2 x 2 inches in length, width, and height respectively.
– Features
This device creates thousands of formations in the sky and most especially stars that will transform your inner room. There are two settings on this device, one will help you drift the clouds and the other will help you create a very clear night sky. These settings provide added varieties.
What Are The Benefits Of Purchasing Home Planetarium Projector?
There are several benefits of purchasing home planetarium projectors, these are;
They entertain the family
Having yourself and family inside a room with celestial images surrounding you can help you entertain your family. Kids will surely want to ask questions during this bonding time and you can use the visuals to provide answers. You can also use these projectors to keep your kids busy indoors.
They educate
A planetarium projector is one of the easiest ways of educating yourself and family about the solar system and celestial bodies. It is an opportunity to be familiar with the formation of the milky way and how the stars were born and how the planets revolve in their orbits.
They create fun for gatherings
Do you want to add more fun to your parties? Simply switch off those boring white lights and turn on your planetarium and see how vibrant colors transform the mood there. Planetarium projectors are popular in many parties and disco clubs today because they create an extraordinary mood that people love to cherish.
They improve health by boosting sleep
Researches have shown how many ambient lights can contribute to a night of healthy sleep. If you find it difficult to sleep, perhaps improving lighting conditions may be your best way to fight the problem. Even those who find it difficult to sleep in the dark can add some colorful spice and they can fall asleep quickly. The mere starring at the ceiling and walls, while the planetarium is on, can help you fall asleep.
They can be incorporated into your daily routine
Perhaps the most desirable feature or benefit of having a planetarium [projector is that it can be easily incorporated into your daily lifestyle. It wouldn’t interrupt or disrupt your regular schedules, just switch it on whenever you need it.
How To Use Home Planetarium Projector Perfectly
You don’t have to spend years in training to become an astronaut when you can use your planetarium projector. This device will give you some amazing victuals to learn everything you should know. The earlier planetariums had paintings on a surface, inside a dome and your brain can only imagine you are in a virtual universe. The development of modern projectors brought celestial objects into reality with the movements of such objects.
The traditional star ball planetarium projectors rely on mechanical star ball projectors and are limited to showing planets and stars.
To use your home planetarium please take the following steps;
Step 1: Place the planetarium in the right place
Make sure you follow the distance guidelines in the manual that comes with your planetarium. Ideal there should be a minimum of 6 feet from the position of the device to the wall or ceiling surface. Make sure the planetarium does not tilt or fall from the position it is placed.
Step 2:
Make sure the projector is set to face the center of the ceiling or wall. Whether you are using a stationary or rotating planetarium projector, it is important to have the projector set in the center of focus to ensure that it delivers the best result.
Tilting the projector to one side more than the other may produce awkward positioning of the images.
Step 3: Make sure you set the timer
To conserve power, you need to make use of the timer whenever you use your projector. The timer could be set at 5 minutes to more than 1000 minutes depending on the type of projector. If you plan on using the projector until you sleep, you may want to set the timer an hour before sleep so that it automatically switches off while you are deep in your sleep.
Step 4: Protect the Planetarium Projector
Just like any other device, the planetarium projector must be well maintained to make it last. You must protect the device from falling off any surface. Keep in mind that most planetarium projectors are made of fragile plastic materials on the outside. You should consider proper storage for the device, especially when not in use. Projectors must be protected and take away from exposure to moisture, dust, and other things that can weaken the lenses of the laser.
What Are The Types Of Star Projectors?
Star ball projectors are planetarium projectors that are also considered the traditional projectors made from metal spheres. The Star ball projectors also have a bright electric lamp within that gives of shining light through the lenses that surround the lamp. The lenses in the star ball planetarium are used in representing the planetary bodies like the stars inside the main dome. Modern star ball projectors ow focus light from the laser into the planetarium dome to recreate the night sky that can be seen from the earth.
The rotating star projectors
As their names suggest, these are star projectors with rotating laser image projection. They also come with different lighting modes that make them suitable for customization. There are multiple controls on rotating star projectors and they can be set to work for almost 1000 minutes especially in the night. Rotating star projectors are great because you can see the movements of stars and other images in real-time.
The Stationary Star Projectors
These are different from the rotating planetarium projectors and as their names suggest, they are stationary in design. Though they may not provide rotating images, these types of projectors do come with a higher number of projected images. They also come with the on and off switch and some controls to personalize your experience with the device.
Disadvantages Of Home Planetarium Projectors
There are few reasons why planetarium projectors may be of disadvantages to you, these include the following;
You may have to change batteries quite often
This may be your number one reason for not getting a planetarium projector. Poor electricity supply may force you to recharge some batteries more frequently and the barriers become weaker as the maximum charging cycles are reached.to avoid this problem you may want to go for the planetarium projectors that rely on AC adapters to charge directly from the power source.
Some planetarium projectors don’t come with timers
Perhaps you should also consider the fact that some projectors may not come with basic features like timers. Without a timer, you can’t vary the time of the day you can use your planetarium.
Exposure to lasers can damage your eyes.
Most planetarium projectors rely on laser lights to project images to ceilings and walls. It is important to stay away from direct laser lights as they can damage sensitive eye tissues even with few seconds of exposure. Though the lasers are contained within the projectors, you should avoid starring directly in front of the projector, rather you should allow the projector project images on walls or ceiling.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
The most frequently asked questions about planetarium projectors are answered below;
Where Should my Planetarium Projector be Placed?
The center of a room is perhaps the best place o place your planetarium projector. Check the manufacturer manual to see if there is enough space to accommodate the device. Most of these projectors will recommend a minimum space of 5-6 feet to the wall or ceiling. If you don’t adhere to the space rule, the images may appear blurry in most cases for lack of room for full display.
Can a Projector be Used Against Any Wall?
Though you can use your projector against any wall or ceiling you need to keep some things in mind. The projectors will work best on walls with clear and light colors. Patterns on your wall or ceiling may interfere with the display of images. Floral wallpapers on the wall for instance may interfere with the sharpness of displayed images. The best wall to use is the one painted in plain white. You may not see images properly on walls painted in black.
Do Kids and Adults Use the Same Projectors?
Though kids and adults may use certain projectors together it pays to check the age-rating. Most age-related ratings are included because the projectors fit perfectly into the education and entertainment needs of the age group. You should not choose a projector rated for below 8 years for 11-18-year-old users.
You may want to upgrade from one age-group projector to the other as kids grow up. Adult projectors are suitable for adults above 22 years of age regardless of their age groups.
Does Number of Images Projected Matters?
Experts will recommend that you go for the planetarium projector that provides the greatest number of images. Fortunately, there are planetarium projections that can provide up to 60,000 different images of different galaxies, planets, and stars. Some projectors will provide images of astronauts, shooting stars, meteors, and the milky way. Some manufacturers will provide you with links to download more images from their websites. For kids, the number of images projected may mean a lot to kids still learning. Adults don’t need to have projectors with hundreds of images. Keep in mind that the more images on a projector, the likely the higher the cost.
Is a Rechargeable Projector Better than The Plug and Play?
In some situations, a rechargeable projector may be a better option than the non-rechargeable projector. This does not mean a rechargeable projector is more useful or better than non-rechargeable options. If you live in an area with intermittent power failure, perhaps you should get a projector with a rechargeable battery.
If your electricity supply is stable, a plug and play may be the better option. Remember that some manufacturers may not include rechargeable batteries and that could cost you more on the long tun.
What Types of Planetarium Projectors are Available?
There is a wide range of planetarium projectors in the market today and the difference is mainly in the way thy project images. Common types include Laser projectors, 3D projectors, and Holographic. Some projectors are known for using combined options such as laser and holographic. You can also find single or multiple projector planetariums. You should keep in mind that the 3D projectors are less common but more expensive than the regular laser and holographic projectors. Though they are more expensive, 3D laser projectors tend to offer more entertainment and colorful images than the laser projectors. You should read the product reviews above to make the right choices.
Conclusion
This piece of content has given you an insight into what it takes to choose the right planetarium projector home. You should take note of the main factors that differentiate these products from one another even if they belong to the same category. Secondly, you should never compromise good quality at a low price. If your room is larger than the average size room, perhaps multiple projector planetariums will be your best choices. Alternatively, you may want to go for a projector with a wider angle reach if you can’t afford a planetarium with multiple projectors. Make sure you have a correct or rough estimate of your home before making a final choice.
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