Hi all,

I’m starting a project to launch the first mobile planetarium in the Geneva region. Neither “Suisse romande” nor “France voisine” as a planetarium (fixed or mobile), and it’s time change that!

I started this project with “we make it” crowdfunding company.

If you are curious about it you can click on this link (in french):

https://wemakeit.com/projects/le-planetarium-du-genevois

And below is the translation for non-French speakers:

Why?

Observing a “real" night sky is an exciting experience. Sometimes this activity is not possible: time constraints or bad weather may prevent access to the stars.
A planetarium is the solution to these issues, as it can represent realistically the sky for a place and a date when the "real sky" cannot be observed.
It also allows travel through time and space. From your seat you can look at the Geneva  sky, the sky of the Atacama Desert or see the sky as it was in Egypt during the construction of the pyramids.
It can also allow you to orbit around the Moon, check out the satellites of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn or visit distant galaxies ... everything becomes possible!

For who?

For everyone! This planetarium, funded by the public is for the public. The idea of the mobile planetarium is to simply share scientific knowledge (and fun) to the greatest number: schools, events around science, entertainment venues ...
If you cannot go see the stars, the stars can come to you!

How?

The skies as if you were there:
the advantage of a planetarium is to reproduce the sky in the most realistic way. This includes the position and motion of objects in the sky, but also the feeling of being under the celestial sphere reproduced thanks to the shape of the dome.
Digital projection, endless possibilities:
with a full hd videoprojector you can discover the sky and admire the most beautiful astronomical images, see animations and shows for planetariums or movies with the best picture quality.

The budget

Projection equipment is already acquired.
Project funding will allow the purchase of a 4m diameter inflatable dome with a capacity  for twenty people and meets all EU safety standards.
 
If funding for the project exceed the amount requested, the additional money will be invested in one of the following ways:
• Better spec dome: it may be higher for a better view of the sky, larger for more space for the public and bigger display or lighter which would use a less powerful and quieter fan.
• A more comfortable planetarium: better seats for a more enjoyable experience planetarium.
• More content: the planetarium shows are expensive and this would be an opportunity to buy one or more of them.

Thanks and see you for some astronomical events!

Maxime from Astro Léman