Pushing the limits of the Portable Planetarium

Presentation theme: educational advancements in planetariums

The common image of a portable planetarium is a small cloth pressurized dome where school children sit on the ground and listen to a presenter or watch a fulldome film. However, with the development of larger domes with creative new designs, and bright high-resolution projectors that are smaller and more affordable, portable planetariums have the tools to succeed in diverse new environments. Portable domes can now access the content and equipment to welcome diverse private clients and public audiences, provide a user experience that can rival fixed domes, and still maintain the advantages of a portable system. 

Astronomy in Action is pushing the limits of portable domes, and in this presentation we will highlight the use of our largest portable planetarium in high volume festival settings, with some of our unique clients, and in a ticketed tour of local communities. We will provide insight into our strategies and learnings regarding partnerships, guest experience, ticket sales, and financial sustainability.

Image © Arena Berlin