Are you looking for the best home planetariums and star projectors in 2024?
Then we’ve got you covered. 🙂
We’ve prepared the best home planetarium for adults, kids and for various price points. You will also learn
- What are start projectors and home planetariums?
- What are the different types of star projectors?
- What makes a good star projector?
- Our top 5 tested home planetariums
- What is the most realistic home planetarium available
Below is the navigation within this article. It will follow you around the right side of the screen so you can easily jump within the article without scrolling.
Comparison Table with All Planetariums
Even though most large cities almost anywhere in the country, in most states, have planetariums, and you might even have gone to one yourself, imagine having your own home planetarium! You and members of your family can turn these products into learning experiences. They are far more interactive than the newspaper star maps from your youth. Everyone can enjoy learning about constellations, planets and other spectacular stellular phenomena.
And then, there is the possibility to just employ these magnificent projections as a relaxation tool. Imagine coming home from a stressful day away. Eat a light dinner, have a fresh and crawl between the sheets while listening to brain wave music as you drift off into the universe. This is not a dream. This is a dream made real. Not only real, but accessible!
Below are out top recommendations from all the products available on the market. (the list is updated regularly)
Top 5 Star Projectors and Home Planetariums
- Best Home Planetarium
- Sega Homestar Flux Home Planetarium (direct link to best price)
“Simply an amazing gadget to have. The stars look very real!”
- Sega Homestar Flux Home Planetarium (direct link to best price)
- Second Best Home Planetarium as a lower cost
- Sega Homestar Classic Home Planetarium (direct link to best price)
“I have been using my Sega Homestar for years now. I love it! Each year I get new discs.”
- Sega Homestar Classic Home Planetarium (direct link to best price)
- Best Pick Budget
- Budget Galaxy Projector (direct link to best price)
“Great star projector as a great price.”
- Budget Galaxy Projector (direct link to best price)
- Best for Kids
- Smithsonian Planetarium for Kids (direct link to best price)
“Our 6-year old loves this planetarium we got for him.”
- Smithsonian Planetarium for Kids (direct link to best price)
- Best Galaxy and Nebula Projector
- LaView Star Projector (direct link to best price)
“This star projector is what every home needs!”
- LaView Star Projector (direct link to best price)
SEGA FLUX – Best Overall Planetarium For Adults
If you are looking for some of the most realistic star projector and home planetarium, look no further. The SEGA Flux is what you are looking for.
- Project 60,000 twinkling high definition stars onto your rooms ceiling or wall
- Christmas 2021: Order till Friday December 17 and usually receive in time.
- Leading brand with 5-watt warm white LED technology
- Advanced multilevel glass lenses for brilliant projection
- Quiet disc rotation, USB cable, 2 discs included and more than 30 optional star discs and all new scenic disc motives available for purchase
Sega Homestar Original Home Planetarium (Second Best Option)
We’re covered the Sega Homestar Classic so we will only add the most important details along with the most frequent question addressed by people. It’s the second option because it’s missing the features that the newer model the FLUX has, such as USB power cord for portability with a power bank, and a more powerful 5W LED projection light. Other than that you still get all the benefits of the FLUX only with a reduced price tag.
- Sega Toys Homestar Original Planetarium
- Christmas 2021: Order till Friday December 17 and usually receive in time.
- Leading brand with 3-watt white LED technology, timer, adjustable angle and focus
- Attention: Also look for brighter and better Sega Homestar FLUX
- 2 realistic discs and poster included – 30+ optional discs available for purchase
Pros
- Over 60,000 stars (that’s a lot)
- 2 Disc and Poster Included
- Expandable with more than additional 30 discs available for purchase
- Interchangeable discs with the newer Flux if you ever want to upgrade
- Very silent – in fact you can’t ever her the motor
- Timer (15/30/60 minutes)
- Falling Star Feature – very popular with adults and kids alike
Cons
- Complicated to add it to a power bank, so it’s slightly less mobile than the Flux version
- Less crisp star projections
A Japanese inventor, Takayuki Ohira, a well-known expert and hands on planetarium professional, created this home planetarium system. He is also known for making the Megastar Cosmos, which is the world’s most advanced planetarium and even mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records. It is safe to say that this is a quality product.
Clients query: Does it have to be placed in the middle of the room to cover the entire ceiling?
Answer: The angle can be adjusted. If the room is very large, it may not cover the entire ceiling. In a regular room, 15’W x 20’Lx 10’H, the ceiling is covered and the image continues half way down the walls. Pretty Good! If the maximum area is larger than 12’, simply use 2!
Best Budget & Most Affordable Home Planetarium
- 【12 in 1 Planetarium Projector】 The Upgraded Galaxy projector provides 12 kinds of film, providing a especial experience of a romantic starry night.
- 【360° Rotation and No Noise】 The Star projector runs noiselessly to create a comfortable sleeping environment. A 360° rotating scene can be projected onto the ceiling, walls, and floor. All-round starry sky atmosphere.
- 【Adjustable Focus and Timing】The star night light can fine-tune the focus by rotating the focusing head for clear imaging. With 1/2 hour timing, automatically shuts off after four hours, so there is no need to worry about wasting.
- 【Material】 The Galaxy projector for bedroom is made of ABS material, which will not cause any Influence to the surrounding environment. The light emitted is also extremely soft.
- 【Gift】 Star Galaxy night light is an gift for kids and friends. Suitable for birthdays, Christmas, dates, bedroom, and many other occasions decoration. Star projector for bedroom creates a romantic atmosphere for you.
Smithsonian Optics Room Planetarium and dual projector science kit Black/Blue
This sounds wonderful, but the reviews reveal as many likes as dislikes. The best that can be said is that this is very useful for young or beginning astrologers. Use this in conjunction with National Geographic Kids First Big Book of Space, by Catherine D Hughes
There’s No Place Like Space; All About Our Solar System, by Tish Rabe
Great for kids
50 different image combinations
Very affordable
Auto shutoff/electric times
Makes as a great gift for children 8+
BlissLights Sky Light
The BlissLights Sky Light is an interesting little laser projector that can project a field of drifting blue stars against a transforming blue nebula cloud. Their designed projection is patent protected, so you will only get it with this projector.
The projected colors are very bold and vivid and they help create a relaxing atmosphere in any room it is used.
The main feature of this projector is that is projects an amazing blue nebulae (cloud) as well as stars. You have the options to project just the stars, just the nebulae or both as the same time. It also has the option of choosing to cycle through the light effects and the lights are dimmable. There is also a built-in 6-hour timer for projecting the stars and beautiful nebulae while falling asleep.
The it’s price range, the BlissLights Sky Light is probably one of the best options on the market, however in this price range you have to expect the stars to look less realistic and another downside to this specific projector is the lack of a remote control.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Blue nebulae cloud and blue rotating start
- Very intense projections with powerful lights
- Makes a great gift for children and adults alike
- Great track record from reputable seller
Cons
- Not that many given the price point and it’s intended use
Dark Skys Home Planetarium DS-1
When it comes to the most number of start being projected than the DS-1 from Dark Skys should be your primary option. It’s also important to mention that that power comes with a larger price tag then it’s competitors but still affordable for people who want nothing but the best.
It also comes with some hidden features such as the ability to use it as a desk lamp and the ability to mount it on a wall. Both can come handy if you are short on space.
Over 4 million stars
Random shooting star feature
Interchangeable discs
Quality Lenses
Wall mount available
Dark Skys DS-FX Home Planetarium
The Dark Skyes FX is a great little home planetarium that is built to last. It’s the little brother of the DS-1 model from Dark Skys that’s one of the best home planetariums on the market with over 2 million star projections, but that means it also comes with a larger price tag.
So if you want the best of both worlds, a robust planetarium from a company that cares in delivering excellent products as well as having an affordable price tag then the DS FX is a planetarium you should consider.
Besides the great and clear projections is offer is also comes with a rechargeable battery meaning it can be charged and taken with you on trips or other places where having a power source is an issue.
Great little design that the kids love
Clear and powerful projections
Interchangeable discs
