National Geographic Star Planetarium

I have very few memories of frolicking in the great outdoors as a young child. Having been raised in the suburbs I developed a fond appreciation for concrete and shopping malls early in life. When I was old enough to do so, I joined the National Guard which provided me ample opportunities to experience nature, usually by sleeping outdoors in the rain, on rocks, swarmed in mosquitoes. Once I left the Guard I vowed never to sleep outdoors again. Camping and gazing at the stars were permanently removed from my agenda. When I saw the National Geographic Star Planetarium at my local retailer I dropped twenty bucks with the hope that this device could supplement my limited background in astronomy and teach my child something I could not.Star Planetarium allowed us to bring the outdoors indoors, sort of. This miniature planetarium consists of a small plastic globe that is covered with many constellations, each outlined in familiar connect-the-dot fashion. When the battery powered globe is illuminated in a dark room it casts shadows on the ceiling and walls portraying the night sky with each star displayed as a black dot. The name of each constellation is printed near the clusters of stars. The globe sits on a small base which allows you to turn a handle, revealing the night sky as it slowly drifts by each evening. The set comes with a small light pointer and an accompanying audio CD.  

My 3 year old was mesmerized by something so new and different in his room. Although he did not completely grasp the stories behind the constellations he really enjoyed the show. We used the pointer to create shooting stars, each garnering a wish as it streaked across the ceiling and down the wall. It was great fun and truly heartwarming to hear the things my son wished for.  That alone was worth the purchase price.

There are drawbacks. To read the printed names you must position the projection globe exactly right to make the printing legible. In my son’s room this meant holding the system on top of my head. Before you open the box be warned, the battery compartments are held shut with a very small screw. You’ll need an eye-glass repair screwdriver to open them. The set comes with one replacement bulb and requires 5 AAA batteries that are not included. On the plus side, no assembly is required.

In a time when many people have access to plasma screens and high definition television sets, lighting up this system is akin to watching a presentation that utilizes an overhead projector. It is decidedly low tech; on the same technological level as the flashlight driven hand shadow theatre. At bedtime my son was a little disappointed when I told him he could not sleep with the set on all night. He liked the idea of sleeping under the stars. Perhaps someday soon I need to take him camping to allow him a look at the real thing.