Where is the biggest planetarium?

Blast Off to Wonder: Chasing the Biggest Planetarium on Earth

Planetariums! Aren’t they just the coolest? Seriously, who doesn’t love settling into those comfy seats and getting whisked away on a mind-blowing tour of the cosmos? For years, these theaters of the stars have been dazzling us with immersive journeys through space and time. But have you ever wondered where you can find the absolute biggest planetarium experience? I know I have! And the answer might just surprise you.

Forget the U.S. or Europe for a sec. The heavyweight champion of planetariums, the one officially crowned by Guinness World Records, is actually in… Japan! Yep, you’ll find the world’s largest planetarium at the Nagoya City Science Museum in Nagoya.

Now, when I say “largest,” I’m talking about the dome itself. This bad boy boasts a hemispherical dome that measures a whopping 35.02 meters (that’s nearly 115 feet!) in diameter. Picture this: a nearly perfect sphere of a building, soaring 39.2 meters (around 129 feet) into the sky, with the planetarium nestled inside, suspended about 11.4 meters (37 feet) above the ground. Pretty impressive, right?

This cosmic wonder opened its doors on March 19, 2011, after a major glow-up. Inside, 350 lucky visitors can settle in and prepare for liftoff. The magic happens thanks to some seriously high-tech gear: customized Universarium IX model projectors from Carl Zeiss AG (Germany) and a dome crafted by Konica Minolta Planetarium Co., Ltd (Japan). It’s a truly collaborative effort to bring the universe to life!

Okay, so Nagoya takes the crown for dome size. But hold on, there’s another contender! The Shanghai Astronomy Museum, which just opened in July 2021, is the largest planetarium in terms of building size, sprawling across a massive 39,000 square meters. Talk about space! The museum’s design is super cool, too, featuring three interconnected circles inspired by the orbits of planets and stars. Inside, you’ll find exhibition spaces, an observatory, and even a solar telescope. It’s like stepping into a sci-fi movie!

And the planetarium love doesn’t stop there! Here are a few other stellar spots worth checking out:

• Planetarium No. 1 in St. Petersburg, Russia: Boasts a massive 37-meter dome.
• Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium at Liberty Science Center in New Jersey, US The biggest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, with a 27-meter dome. I’ve heard amazing things about this one!
• Birla Planetarium in Kolkata, India: Famous for its huge seating capacity – it can hold a staggering 630 people.

You know, it’s easy to think you need to travel halfway across the world to experience a planetarium, but the truth is they come in all shapes and sizes. From those massive, permanent installations to the portable, inflatable domes that pop up at schools and community centers, there’s a little piece of the cosmos waiting to be discovered close to home.

So, whether you’re a die-hard astronomy geek or just looking for a unique and unforgettable experience, make a beeline for one of these incredible planetariums. Trust me, it’ll leave you with a sense of wonder and a renewed appreciation for the sheer vastness of the universe. Who knows, maybe I’ll see you there!