5 Mobile Planetarium Uses: 360° FullDome Projection for Events

This blog post is an invitation to explore the world of mobile planetariums, specifically focusing on the revolutionary 360° Projection experience that transcends ordinary boundaries. Buckle up for a journey where the curved fulldome surface becomes a canvas for immersive storytelling adventures that unveil the wonders of our cosmos – and, where mobile planetariums emerge as catalysts for transformative entertainment and educational learning experiences!

The Lawrence Hall of Science
Star gazing in the Lawrence Hall of Science planetarium dome

In the realm of educational and entertainment innovations, mobile planetariums stand as portals to limitless possibilities as we unravel a Fuller view of the Universe!  From public venues to educational institutions, we explore five compelling uses – making them an ideal platform for public venues, science centers, museums, schools and traveling planetariums.


Imagination knows no bounds when the canvas is the vast expanse of the universe. As Victor Hugo aptly stated ― “There’s Nothing Like a Dream, to Create the Future.”


To Inspire You! – We’ve put together 5 Time-Tested Uses for Mobile Planetariums

I. Public Venues – Creating Digital Projection Stories under Dome Skies

Turn your imagination into reality and tell your story in a big way! From celestial scenes to fantasy worlds projected onto the dome’s curved surface, digitally mapped displays open up a whole new world of story-telling. Space Update.com is just one of several useful sites event organizers find to be a helpful resource when planning projection programs under dome skies.

projection dome, jeep projection dome, 360 degree projection dome, 360 projection dome
The four-minute film was projected onto the interior of the dome, which placed viewers in the driver’s seat of a Wrangler. Photo Credit: Inspira Marketing Group & Lumin and Forge

II. Educational Science Centers – Dome Skies, an Oasis in Earth & Space

Innovative Science Centers discover that they can leverage mobile planetariums for educational purposes with immersive technologies and inquiry-based strategies. Seeding the ground for young minds, domed skies offer ideal platforms to teach ecosystem science and earth stewardship. Bring that field trip to your neighborhood with an immersive, engaging show that capture’s and draws students into a rich, stimulating deeper-learning environment. Stellarium is a free open-source planetarium resource that anyone can run from their pc.

Full immersion in a VR Projection Dome
Photo Credit: Lumen & Forge

III. Museums – Mobile Planetariums to Engage Your Audience

Museums have the capacity to impact a broad audience with state-of-the-art digital theater systems. Fulldome projection offers an exciting opportunity to bring a wide range of engaging topics to audiences. One resource you’ll will want to consider is ePlanetarium videos. Trailer previews can be accessed directly from ePlanetarium YouTube by clicking on a video, then clicking on ‘View Widescreen’.

Planetarium Dome

IV. Schools – Teaching Earth Science & Astronomy

Are you an educator looking for an engaging program that will get students to unplug from their phones long enough to show them that there’s a big world and universe out there, just waiting to be explored? A mobile 360° fulldome projection planetarium could be the ideal platform to accomplish this mission.

Take your students on a journey through the cosmos with dynamic learning tools – such as, the American Astronomical Society’s Worldwide Telescope.

Planetarium Dome at Lawrence Hall of Science

V. Traveling Planetariums – Earth Science, Astronomy Shows & Education

Let’s dive into the celestial realm and discover how these portable marvels redefine the way we engage with Earth science, astronomy, and beyond. Traveling Planetariums open opportunities to take your audience on a journey into the vastness of our Solar System. Should you feel encouraged to share with a broader audience, this might open up other possibilities for you to take your show on the road e.g., NASA funding opportunities.  

You might be interested in learning more about how you can bring inspiring shows to communities everywhere by becoming a certified professional through Space Foundation.org. To further inspire you, the University of Washington published a 12-page DIY guide, that you might find useful, as well. 

40ft Projection Dome

Key Takeaways for Mobile Projection Planetariums

Immersive & Interactive

You’re sure to captivate your audience with a variety of vibrant programs designed to deliver an immersive and interactive collective experience. With today’s user-friendly fulldome projection mapping technologies and software, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that an opportunity awaits those who dare to dream big dreams.

It’s been proven that the curved surface of fulldome projection theaters and planetariumsoffer a realistically-dimensional display space for interactive entertainment and education. This platform is now being recognized by ever expanding research into 3D Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and Highly Immersive Virtual Environments (HIVEs).

Won’t break the bank!

Mobile planetariums are easy-to-set-up on a variety of turfs. Freestanding Planetariums typically come in prefab sizes to accommodate your venue and budget. The good news is that they can be set up for one-tenth the cost of a conventional planetarium.

An insurance policy in itself!

Don’t settle for less than a dome’s geodesic-engineered strength. There are ongoing reports of the geodesic dome being the only structure left standing in the aftermath of Nature’s unpredictable extremes. A geodesic-engineered mobile planetarium is an insurance policy in itself!

Here’s why: Geodesic domes are composed of inter-connected triangles that lend them superior structural strength. Father of the modern geodesic dome, Buckminster ‘Bucky’ Fuller, demonstrated the difference in strength between rectangles and triangles by applying pressure to both structures – the triangle proved to be twice as strong and remained rigid, while the unstable rectangle collapsed.

120ft Coachella Projection Dome
HP Antarctic Immersive Projection Dome at Coachella

Domes are the strongest, lightest and most efficient means of enclosing space yet known to man.” R. Buckminster Fuller

You might like to know… that Buckminster Fuller won an award from the American Architectural Society for inventing the strongest structure known to man. Citing this well-documented information, accompanied by a good set of engineering blueprints facilitates with getting building departments to approve your plans.

Powder Coated Frames & Patented Projection Lining System

Powder coating eliminates the headaches of on-site painting, such as humidity, temperature fluctuations, human error, uniformity and precision associated with individual spray-gun speed and pressure application. State-of-the-art powder coated frames are available in a variety of colors.

Dome Frame Colors

From Mobile Planetarium to Permanent

If you’re looking for either, a portable or permanent planetarium installation, Pacific Domes patented negative air-pressure projection lining system offers a fully immersive 360° viewing environment. No need to worry – providing a seamless experience, seams disappear under high-tech projection conditions!

Planetarium Dome - Pacific Domes
Lawrence Hall of Science planetarium dome

In Conclusion: It’s All About the Immersive-Interactive Collective Experience!


Projection Domes Brochure - Pacific Domes

We aim to Inspire You!

Want to learn more about our Mobile Fulldome Projection Planetariums?