Imagine stepping into a planetarium where the universe unfolds with unprecedented clarity, revealing celestial wonders in ways never seen before. The Prague Planetarium, one of Europe’s oldest and most significant institutions of astronomical education, is undergoing a revolutionary transformation. Led by Martin Fuchs, the planetarium is installing Europe’s first full LED dome, ushering in a new age of immersive astronomy experiences.

To understand the significance of this transformation, we sat down with Martin Fuchs, Creative Director of the Prague Planetarium, to discuss how LED technology is redefining immersive storytelling and why this shift represents the next phase in a century-long evolution of cosmic simulation.

This article explores the role of planetariums from the Space Race to today, the technical breakthroughs in LED domes, and how Prague is leading the way in reshaping the future of planetariums.

From the Space Race to the LED Revolution: 100 Years of Planetariums

The Birth of the Planetarium

Planetariums have played a vital role in humanity’s exploration of the cosmos. 2023 marked the 100th anniversary of the modern planetarium, originating from the first mechanical projection system developed by Zeiss in 1923. These early planetariums used mechanical models to simulate the night sky, providing a new way to explore astronomy without looking through a telescope.

The Space Race, Public Perception, and the Expansion of Planetariums

In the 1950s and 1960s, as the USA and USSR competed in the Space Race, planetariums became essential tools for public education.

In the Eastern Bloc, planetariums were built as educational centers to showcase the Soviet Union’s achievements in space, such as Sputnik 1 (1957) and Yuri Gagarin’s historic spaceflight (1961). Soviet planetariums were designed to inspire young people to pursue careers in aerospace and engineering.
In the Western Bloc, the United States and Western Europe expanded planetariums as part of a broader push for STEM education. The goal was to encourage more students to enter scientific fields, particularly after the Soviet Union took an early lead in space exploration.

Planetariums worldwide saw a boom in funding and attendance, solidifying their place as key educational institutions. In both the East and West, these facilities became crucial for garnering public enthusiasm for space exploration, helping to justify enormous government investments in space programs.

Governments understood that in order to maintain long-term financial support for space exploration, they needed to engage the public. Planetariums became a direct channel for showcasing national achievements, encouraging scientific curiosity, and fostering a sense of collective ambition toward space travel.

The Role of Planetariums in Promoting Space Investments

Inspiring the Next Generation – By showcasing space missions, planetariums inspired young audiences to pursue careers in engineering, astrophysics, and aerospace technology. Many astronauts and space scientists have credited planetariums as their first introduction to the wonders of space.
Strengthening National Pride – In the Soviet Union, planetariums regularly hosted exhibitions on the success of the Luna and Vostok programs, reinforcing public confidence in space supremacy. Similarly, in the United States, planetariums highlighted NASA’s Apollo program, culminating in the 1969 Moon landing.
Public Justification for Space Budgets – With space budgets increasing dramatically during the 1960s, planetariums played a role in demonstrating to taxpayers that these investments yielded tangible results, from satellite communications to global positioning technology.
Bridging the Knowledge Gap – As space missions became more complex, planetariums served as crucial tools in explaining advanced concepts such as orbital mechanics, zero gravity, and deep-space exploration to the general public.
Community Engagement and Mass Media Partnerships – Many planetariums partnered with schools, television networks, and news outlets to broadcast live space events, such as rocket launches and planetary flybys, further embedding space culture into everyday life.

These efforts ensured that enthusiasm for space exploration remained high, helping to sustain political and financial backing for decades to come. The legacy of this strategy can still be seen today, as modern planetariums incorporate new technologies to maintain public interest in upcoming lunar missions, Mars explorations, and the search for exoplanets.

From Projection to Full-Spectrum Immersion

For decades, planetariums relied on optical-mechanical projection systems, like those manufactured by Zeiss and Spitz. These systems created stunningly accurate depictions of the night sky but were limited in their ability to display dynamic, immersive content.

With the rise of digital projection in the late 20th century, planetariums began to transition to fulldome digital video, allowing for more interactive experiences. This paved the way for today’s revolutionary LED dome technology, which eliminates projection altogether in favor of direct light-emitting panels that create an ultra-realistic experience.

Prague Planetarium: From Historical Institution to Modern Innovation

The Prague Planetarium was founded in 1960 during the height of the Space Race and has served as one of Europe’s premier institutions for astronomy education and scientific engagement.

Over the years, the planetarium has upgraded its projection technology multiple times, with the latest transformation being the most radical yet: switching to a full LED dome.

Why is this such a big deal? Because Prague is setting the stage for a future where planetariums become completely immersive, interactive environments rather than passive projection spaces.

Martin Fuchs: The Visionary Behind Prague’s LED Transformation

At the center of this transformation is Martin Fuchs, the Creative Director of the Prague Planetarium. Fuchs has a diverse background in astronomy, multimedia production, and immersive storytelling. Since joining the planetarium, he has led efforts to modernize the facility and integrate the latest technology into its programming.

Fuchs’ mission is to push the boundaries of what planetariums can do, using LED domes to create entirely new kinds of educational and entertainment experiences.

“This is more than an upgrade. It’s about transforming planetariums into immersive spaces that can transport audiences anywhere in the universe.” — Martin Fuchs

What Makes LED Domes Revolutionary?

LED domes differ from traditional projection domes in several key ways:

Higher Brightness: LED domes can be used in daylight conditions, unlike projectors that require darkness.
Deeper Blacks & Contrast: Unlike projection domes, which scatter light, LEDs offer perfect contrast ratios.
Unlimited Color Range: Full LED domes provide stunning color accuracy and depth, making images look more lifelike.
No Need for Bulbs or Calibration: Projection domes require frequent maintenance, but LED domes are self-illuminating and long-lasting.

These improvements allow planetariums to create visually stunning cosmic journeys that are more immersive than ever before.

The Expanding Trend of LED Planetariums Worldwide

Málaga Planetarium: Spain’s Largest LED Dome

While Prague is leading Europe in the LED planetarium transformation, Málaga is not far behind.

The Málaga Planetarium, set to be Spain’s largest, is currently under development. With a 27-meter diameter and 8K LED dome, it is designed to host both scientific and cultural experiences. The planetarium will feature cutting-edge educational programs that rival those of Prague, showcasing the growing trend of immersive astronomy experiences across Europe.

This project solidifies the global momentum behind LED planetariums and highlights the competition among institutions to create the most engaging and realistic cosmic simulations.

Other Leading LED Domes Around the World

The MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, a cutting-edge 16K resolution LED dome for entertainment, demonstrating how immersive technologies are shaping modern media.
Tokyo’s Konica Minolta Planetarium, among the most advanced LED planetariums in Asia, featuring real-time cosmic simulations.
DomeX LED Planetarium, in the USA features an 8K resolution display with 67 million individually addressable pixels, providing an unparalleled immersive visual experience.

These projects indicate that LED domes are rapidly becoming the gold standard for modern planetariums.

Conclusion: A Universe of Possibilities, 100 Years in the Making

From the first Zeiss projectors in 1923 to Prague’s cutting-edge LED dome, planetariums have undergone a century of evolution. The simulation of the cosmos has never been more advanced, and Prague is leading the charge toward the next generation of immersive space education.

Experience the Revolution for Yourself

The Prague Planetarium’s LED transformation is set to be completed in 2024. If you want to witness the future of astronomy education firsthand, a visit to Prague is a must.

For those interested in Spain’s emerging LED dome experience, keep an eye on Málaga’s upcoming planetarium, as it promises to be another milestone in the evolution of immersive education.

The future of planetariums is brighter, clearer, and more immersive than ever before—and it’s only just beginning.

Interview with Martin Fuchs – Prague Planetarium

Martin Sambauer: Martin, thank you for this interview, which we would like to share with our Fulldome community on social media. You are Martin Fuchs, Creative Director of the Prague Planetarium, according to your LinkedIn profile. What does a Creative Director at a planetarium do?

Martin Fuchs: Well, first of all, thanks for having me. It’s a pleasure. The title of Creative Director is always a bit ambiguous. In general, my responsibility is content creation for the planetarium. This includes the production of Fulldome shows as well as printed materials for promotion, flat movies for observatories, and other related content. Essentially, I am a producer, but the journey to this role has been quite long.

Martin Sambauer: Are you an astronomer, or how did you become a Creative Director?

Martin Fuchs: It’s a long story. I have been passionate about astronomy since childhood. When I was 14, I started attending astronomy classes. Eventually, I became a volunteer at the Astronomical Observatory in Prague, which is part of the same organization as the planetarium. My official employment contract dates back to 1991 when I was 15, and I have been here ever since. While working at the observatory, I studied computer science and computer graphics. After spending a year abroad in Germany, I returned with some savings and decided to take on a job I would truly enjoy. The observatory needed someone with technical skills for tasks like computer maintenance and show design, so I joined them. I remained at the observatory until 2018, doing everything from welding and drilling to designing exhibitions, interactive installations, films, and astronomy lectures for schools. In 2019, when the observatory director became the director of the entire organization, he brought me along to the planetarium, and that’s when my Fulldome career truly began.

Martin Sambauer: That’s quite a journey! The Prague Planetarium has made an important decision to build the first LED dome in Europe. Is that correct?

Martin Fuchs: Yes, absolutely. We are confident that we will be the first in Europe. This project has been in development for years. Initially, we aimed to be the first in the world, but things evolved quickly. Nonetheless, we will definitely be the first in Europe and among the top 10 globally.

Martin Sambauer: How did this decision come about? What was the background?

Martin Fuchs: The decision was mainly driven by our director, Jakub Roř, and myself. We are both enthusiasts who love new technologies and great innovations. We first saw an LED dome presentation in 2018 in China, right at the factory where the LED panels are manufactured. It was an incredible experience, and from that moment on, we thought about how to bring this technology to Prague. Since our planetarium was due for a major renovation—our equipment had been in use for decades—we felt this was the perfect opportunity to introduce LED technology.

Martin Sambauer: Can you explain how an LED dome differs from conventional projection domes?

Martin Fuchs: In one word: completely. The main difference is that the LED screen is black. In traditional projection-based planetariums, the dome surface must be reflective, which means light scatters everywhere, reducing contrast and color vibrancy. With LED panels, black areas remain truly black, and light is emitted only where needed. This results in an unparalleled level of contrast and image clarity.

Martin Sambauer: How will this impact storytelling in Fulldome shows?

Martin Fuchs: It fundamentally changes storytelling and production. Traditionally, planetarium films have been designed with a dark color scheme because bright scenes can cause excessive light reflection in projection domes, reducing clarity. With LED domes, we can now work with brighter and more colorful scenes without losing quality. This opens up new possibilities for storytelling and artistic expression. For example, we can now accurately depict bright environments, such as the neutrino observatories in Antarctica, which would have been difficult to present convincingly with traditional projection systems.

Martin Sambauer: Do you expect an increase in audience numbers with the new LED dome?

Martin Fuchs: We certainly hope so! If we are investing in the only LED planetarium in Europe and our audience numbers remain unchanged, that would be a failure. Our current visitor numbers are already good, but we anticipate growth as the new technology attracts more people.

Martin Sambauer: Do you have a strategy in place to promote the new dome?

Martin Fuchs: Yes, absolutely. We are already working on a PR campaign to promote the planetarium’s reopening and the future programs. The challenge is not just to build the planetarium but also to market it effectively to the public.

Martin Sambauer: How long is the renovation process, and is it comparable to building an entirely new facility?

Martin Fuchs: In some ways, it is even more difficult than constructing a new building from scratch. Our planetarium dates back to the 1950s and is classified as an architectural monument. We cannot alter the building structure significantly, which has made integrating the new technology quite challenging. The entire project, including the tender process, has taken over two years. Since we are the first to implement an LED dome in a planetarium, there was very little prior experience to guide us, making everything from legal contracts to technical implementation more complex.

Martin Sambauer: What is the budget for the project?

Martin Fuchs: As a publicly funded institution, our budget is transparent. The entire renovation, including new power lines, air conditioning, seating, and stage renovations, is approximately €10 million.

Martin Sambauer: Do you think more planetariums in Europe will adopt LED technology?

Martin Fuchs: I am absolutely sure that most major planetariums will transition to LED within the next 20 years—assuming our project and similar ones succeed. Of course, there are risks involved. As early adopters, we might encounter unforeseen issues, but if the results are as impressive as we anticipate, LED technology will become the future of immersive projection in planetariums.

Martin Sambauer: You have visited many LED domes around the world, including the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas. What are your key takeaways from these visits?

Martin Fuchs: The biggest difference between LED domes is not the hardware itself—most LED panels are manufactured in China and are fairly standard. The real distinction lies in how the software processes and delivers the image to the screen. Handling imperfections in the LED surface and optimizing image quality through software is crucial. This was a major factor in selecting our supplier. The MSG Sphere is an entirely different kind of venue, designed primarily for concerts and large-scale shows, whereas our focus remains on education and scientific storytelling.

Martin Sambauer: It sounds like a groundbreaking project. Thank you for sharing your insights!

Martin Fuchs: Thank you for having me. It was a pleasure!