100 Days of Planetarium

Celebrate the Centennial of the planetarium with us from 28 January to 7 May 2025!

The stars and the countless secrets of the Universe have always fascinated us humans. Years of observing the stars, planets and the Moon with the naked eye resulted in the first solar and lunar calendars. Sailors learned to use the Pole Star and constellations to safely navigate to their destination. Telescopes have revolutionised the way astronomers look at the stars and view the world, but the wonders of astronomy have not been so accessible to the public for very long. It was only the invention of the first planetarium projectors and the subsequent opening of the first planetarium that brought the stars to Earth for everyone to grasp.

We are celebrating the planetarium's 100th birthday with you for a period of 100 days. Our countdown ends on 7 May, 2025, exactly 100 years after the first planetarium in the Deutsches Museum in Munich opened its doors in 1925.

Our special programme takes you on an unusual journey. Discover how planetariums, as a gateway to space, not only inform many people, but also inspire and become a diverse event location.

 

Special programme at ESO Supernova

  • Temporary exhibition The Stars were just the Beginning
    Join us on the exciting journey through the history of the planetarium. In our temporary exhibition you will not only find information about the invention of the first planetarium projectors and the diverse history, but also learn more about the contemporary role of planetariums.

    Location: ESO Supernova, Void (Ground Floor)
    Period: 29 January to 11 May, 2025. During ESO Supernova opening hours.

  • Extended opening hours monthly on Fridays
    Why not start your weekend with a visit to the ESO Supernova after work on a Friday evening. During "100 Days of Planetarium", the ESO Supernova will stay open until 20:00 on the first Friday of each month.

    Dates: 7 February, 7 March, 4 April, 2 May (First Friday of each month)

  • Special showings in the planetarium
    During the “100 Days of Planetarium” promotional period, we will show you some planetarium shows that you will not find in our regular programme. You can book tickets for these performances now for 6,50 euros. Most shows will consist of a live part in German, but a limited number of headsets (only 18) are available at reception to hear the English translation of the film.

    Opening event of 100 Days of Planetarium:
    Wednesday, 29.01.2025, 18:30: 100 Years of Eternity (Minimum recommended age: 12) - (Show with live presentation & film) - German

    Evening showings on Fridays:
    Friday, 07.02.2025, 17:00: Oasis in Space (Minimum recommended age: 9) - (Show with live presentation & film) - German
    Friday, 07.02.2025, 18:30: 100 Years of Eternity (Minimum recommended age: 12) - (Show with live presentation & film) - German

    Friday, 14.02.2025, 18.30: Valentines-Special (Minimum recommended age: 12) - (Short films) - German

    Friday, 07.03.2025, 17:00: Mayan Archeoastronomy (Minimum recommended age: 8) - (Show with live presentation & film) - German
    Friday, 07.03.2025, 18:30: The Planets 360 (Minimum recommended age: 10) - (Show with live presentation & music film) - German

    Friday, 04.04.2025, 17:00: Space Opera (Minimum recommended age: 10) - (Art/music film without live presentation) - English
    Friday, 04.04.2025, 18:30: The Spring Night Sky (Minimum recommended age: 9) - (Live presentation) - German (no tranlsation available)

    Friday, 02.05.2025, 17:00: The Planets — Extended version (Minimum recommended age: 8) - (Film without live presentation) - German
    Friday, 02.05.2025, 18:30: 100 Years of Eternity (Minimum recommended age: 12) - (Show with live presentation & film) - German

  • Public talks in the planetarium
    At various lectures in the planetarium you can not only learn a lot about the Universe, but also about the many uses of the planetarium as an event location. There is no translation available for public talks.

    - Thursday, 06.02.2025, 19:00: Frauen in der Astronomie 2025  (Tickets are for free, reservation is necessary) - German
    - Thursday, 13.02.2025, 19:00 Uhr: Kosmisches Kino - Measuring the Universe (6,50 Euro) - German
    - Thursday, 06.03.2025, 19:00 Uhr: The Overview Effect – How Space Exploration transforms our view of Earth (6,50 Euro) - German
    - Thursday, 13.03.2025, 19:00 Uhr: Kosmisches Kino - Beasts above and below the horizon: Do sardines dream of stars? (6,50 Euro) - English
    - Thursday, 10.04.2025, 19:00 Uhr: Kosmisches Kino - Who choreographs the stellar ballet in the centre of the Milky Way? (6,50 Euro) - German
    - Wednesday, 7.05.2025, 19:00 Uhr: 100 years of Planetarium - 100 years of astronomy (6,50 Euro) - German

  • Music in the planetarium
    In addition to the two musical planetarium shows The Planets 360 and Space Opera, you can also experience live music under the dome of the ESO Supernova during our “100 Days of Planetarium”.

    Friday, March 21, 2025, 19:30: Kid Empress - Concert in the Planetarium

  • Children's programme in the ESO Supernova
    In addition to some special demonstrations in the planetarium, such as Mayan Archeoastronomy, there will also be a free hands-on activity for children.

    Location: ESO Supernova, Void (Ground Floor)
    Period: 5 March to 7 March (carnival holidays), 24 April to 25 April (Easter holidays)

  • Online programme
    If you've ever wondered how our presenters prepare for a show or how the planetarium's technology works, then you should follow ESO Supernova on Instagram. In various videos we will take you behind the scenes of our planetarium during the “100 Days of Planetarium”.

  • Lotteries
    During the “100 Days of Planetarium” you can look forward to a number of lotteries. Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram so you don't miss any information!

 

More information

Centennial of the Planetarium

2023 marked the 100th anniversary of a great invention: the planetarium. In 1923, the Carl Zeiss company completed the first planetarium projector; in 1925, the first public projection planetarium opened in Munich. The International Planetarium Society (IPS), the Gesellschaft Deutschsprachiger Planetarien e.V. (GDP) and the Carl Zeiss Foundation are celebrating these events with the “Centennial of the Planetarium”.

About the GDP

The Society of Germanophone Planetariums e.V. (GDP) is an association of planetariums, their employees, and people interested in planetariums, mainly from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but also from other countries, with the aim to promote the cooperation of planetariums in German-speaking countries. The society was founded in May 2011 and is recognized as a non-profit organization.

About the IPS

The International Planetarium Society Inc. (IPS) is a worldwide association of planetarium experts with more than 600 members from 42 countries around the world. It represents schools, colleges and universities, museums, and public institutions of all sizes. The primary goal of the IPS is to promote the exchange of ideas among its members through conferences, publications, and networking.

About the Carl-Zeiss-Foundation

The Carl Zeiss Foundation has set itself the goal of creating scope for scientific breakthroughs. As a partner of excellent science, it supports both basic research and application-oriented research and teaching in the STEM disciplines (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology). Founded in 1889 by the physicist and mathematician Ernst Abbe, the Carl Zeiss Foundation is one of the oldest and largest private science-funding foundations in Germany. It is the sole owner of Carl Zeiss AG and SCHOTT AG. Its projects are financed by the dividend distributions of the two foundation companies.

 

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