7 best planetariums on Earth
I recently went in search of Earth’s most amazing planetariums. From Chicago to Stockholm, I found that stargazing isn’t just for school field trips and wine tastings. In fact, I highly suggest finding the nearest observatory and allow yourself to be awed by the visual beauty and vast knowledge that awaits you. For the adventurous traveler, locate a planetarium on the other side of the world and discover why learning about the stars is a powerful lesson regardless of language barriers.
To help jumpstart your journey, I've put together a list of the best planetariums on Earth.
L’Hemisféric, City of Arts and Sciences – Valencia, Spain
Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences is an ultra-modern architectural wonder and the city’s largest tourist destination. The entertainment-based complex is made up of eight buildings, including an interactive museum, an open-air oceanographic aquarium, and a huge garden that is home to thousands of indigenous plant species. But the highlight of this scientific epicenter lies in the IMAX cinema and planetarium at L’Hemisféric. With a transparent roof and a walking path outfitted with translucent glass panels, The Hemesferic is the perfect place for an escape into the Universe. Designed by Santiago Calatrava and constructed in 1998, the building resembles a giant eye and is known as the “eye of knowledge.” Yes, it’s that brilliant.
Adler Planetarium – Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded in 1930, The Adler was the first planetarium in the United States. During the 1990s, the planetarium was given numerous expansions and renovations, resulting in four galleries, a large terrace and a virtual reality theater. The Adler’s Astronomy department publishes groundbreaking research for not only the general public, but for the world’s scientific community as well. And to add an extra layer of interactivity to sky watching, the Doane Observatory is the largest telescope available to the public in the Chicago area. If you’re still not impressed, the planetarium offers yoga classes and Adler After Dark—complete with inspiring visuals and stiff drinks.
Royal Observatory – Edinburgh, Scotland
The original observation deck at the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh (ROE) was built in 1894 and includes copper domes on both the East and West Towers. In 1930 the ROE installed the Cassegrain reflector, which still remains on site as part of the visitor centre exhibition and a piece of living history. The current telescope, a twenty-inch reflector, is used for undergraduate teaching and research by the University of Edinburgh, which has been a staple of this location since 1785. The ROE makes this list due in large part to its history and turn-of-the-century architecture. But don’t be fooled by its lack of futuristic technology, the Visitor Centre is well worth an afternoon tour to learn about the historical significance of this unique observatory.
Le Planétarium – Vaulx-en-Velin, France
At 4,000 square meters, Le Planétarium de Vaulx-en-Velin is a sprawling wonderment of learning, understanding and leisure. Recent renovations introduced a History of the Universe exhibit, a panoramic room and the immersion room, which boasts a 360-degree dome screen for the ultimate viewing experience. There are also scientific workshops that apparently allow students to build a rocket or launch a satellite. The Planetarium’s line-up of astronomy classes surpasses anything in Europe, with children’s sessions that include astronomers dressed in coyote costumes and a virtual space flight that’s fun for the whole family. Regardless of age or interests, this modern complex is sure to impress.
H.R. MacMillan Space Centre – Vancouver, Canada
The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre was founded in 1968 and its mission is to ask visitors to open their minds to space exploration and the mystical beauty of the Universe. The Space Centre encourages a litany of public programs and learning events. And while the local school programs keep this staff busy, the GMS Observatory offers viewings of meteor showers that rival any planetarium on the globe. The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre is a non-profit located in Vanier Park and is supported by some of Vancouver’s most influential businesses and foundations. If you’re looking for one of the most interactive and educational planetariums in North America, look no further.
Hayden Planetarium – New York, New York, United States
No list of the world’s best planetariums is complete without New York’s Hayden Planetarium. The Rose Center for Earth and Space is part of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and its crown jewel is the Hayden Planetarium, which features exhibitions that bring the frontier of astrophysics to the general public. Located in the cultural and technological hub of New York City, the Hayden Planetarium stimulates visitors with programs that cover everything from the romance of the stars to astronomy lectures by scientists who push the boundaries of their field. Lectures by the museum’s director, world-renowned scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson, sell out months in advance. Next time you’re in Manhattan, stop by Hayden to earn a deeper appreciation of the magnitude of the Universe.
Cosmonova – Stockholm, Sweden
Located within the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm is the IMAX cinema known as Cosmonova—the largest planetarium in Sweden. Founded in 1819 by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the museum was designed by architect Axel Anderberg and in 1916 the observatory was topped with a dome that still stands nearly a hundred years later. The planetarium itself focuses more on documentaries and visually compelling educational films than it does on stargazing, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a ton of interplanetary knowledge to be had. Cosmonova’s digital 3-D films and digital planetarium will draw you deep into an intergalactic adventure that is well worth the price of admission.