The Modern Hybrid Planetarium

Whether you are looking to build a new planetarium, renovate, or upgrade your existing ZEISS projection systems, we can help you discover the right combination of digital and opto-mechanical tools to suit your needs. ZEISS can create hybrid displays by pairing their digital displays with any of the current model star projectors, including the UNIVERSARIUM (M. VIII, M. IX) and SKYMASTER (ZKP4, ZKP3C) systems. By joining both the Fulldome and opto-mechanical systems under a unified control system with UNIVIEW, ZEISS creates a powerful tool for your staff to use when educating and inspiring your visitors.

From a tablet, smartphone, or a computer at the control console, presenters can tap a button in the UNIVIEW web interface to control various features, functions, and motions, run a lesson about an astronomical concept, or simply start the show. Overlaying digital displays with the crisp stars of the ZEISS sky, the two systems work together, creating a more comprehensive visualization than either system could do on their own…all accessible by your fingertips.

Use each system for what it does best. Digital displays handle didactic functions such as grids, constellations, and various markers, while the star projector can project a far more brilliant and crisp night sky with sharp, bright stars and planets.

For those who prefer the tactile feel of the classic star projector, the ZEISS console provides a wealth of features, all able to be performed with key presses and knob turns. Nothing is easier than reaching over, grabbing a dial and rotating the night sky later into the evening. The digital projection locks to the motion of the star projector, overlaying relevant data while you perform a live start talk for your visitors.