Segatoys HomeStar Pro Planetarium

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:07 am

oxygn wrote:Hi would you need a dome shape like room or tent to see them properly? wouldn't our normal rooms distort the projection?

What is the difference compared to the star theatre 2 n home star planetarium from segatoys? thanks alot

OT: Besides the above mention, anyone has a home planetarium to recommend?

Hi I have the Segatoys HomeStar Pro Planetarium. It can project 10,000 stars... you can actually use a binoculars to resolve the stars.

Also, it rotates automatically and have timer settings to shut off. There is a shooting star function that allows random timing shooting stars, but sadly, comes from the same location. However, note that it is not that bright, and best used in an enclosed room without windows or with windows that have good blinds. Light pollution from surrounding lights does affect the stars visibility...so make sure the room is like 'Mersing' condition.

It is a good education tool, and nice accessory for the house.

ragelin · Post by **ragelin** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 9:34 am

hi what about the spec?

Hi canopus lim how much does it cost for Segatoys HomeStar Pro Planetarium any idea where can i buy it

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:57 pm

Spec?

It cost about 400 plus SGD. I bought it online.
What the package provide is:
1. Northern constellation (10,000 stars with milky way) disc
2. Northern constellation with the constellation lines disc
3. Moon disc

The projector works like a OHP projector. You put in the disc (which is a plastic plate with all the details inside) and the projector, magnifies and project the image to the wall. It automatically rotates the disc, and thus you can see the constellations rotating about the earth's axis.

There are 3 timers and it will switch off after the set time. The planetarium can be adjusted in rotation to project the stars at different angles. There is a nice shooting star function that project shooting stars at random intervals (but at the same location).

All I can say that the projection is nice in a dark room and the shooting star function is cool. However, Real stars seen in a dark locations are better. Well, this planetarium is better than seeing clouds in Singapore.

I bought mine from this website:
http://toys.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00109

zackae · Post by **zackae** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:26 pm

so you can actually like for example see a bigger orion nebula with binos at home pointing at the ceiling?

mymoon · Post by **mymoon** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 2:26 pm

zackae wrote:so you can actually like for example see a bigger orion nebula with binos at home pointing at the ceiling?

and err...can track "nebulas" and "stars" with a telescope too [smilie=cute.gif]

cheers

ian0138 · Post by **ian0138** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:08 pm

I also have this cool toy..... i got this from a local vendor, also at $400+ (with the Southern Hemisphere disk included)

Be wary, the build of this item are really built like a toy, and does not give the robust feeling. I have my power adapter fail within a month but the vendor got it replaced.... so if you are buying from oversea, do make sure they have good warranty policy ...

shipping cost wise

Never try with a bino yet but can't imaging lying on my bed, using a bino pointing at my bedroom ceiling hunting for shooting star :O

Enjoying clear sky in my bedroom everynight

Post by **acc** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:23 pm

ian & canopus, how would you rate or describe the realism of the projected image?

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:16 am

I would think it is quite realistic in that the Milkyway is nicely done and the stars are quite sharp and position of the stars seem correct (I never compare with star charts..). However, the unrealistic part is that the stars don't 'sparkle' and are not brilliant in colour. It cannot sparkle as it is through projection with a uniform source at the back of the disc and the LED source is not that bright.

I would say the shooting star is realistic. It is very nice but comes from the same location. If I am free, I would think of improving the planetarium to enable the shooting star to come from different directions.

I have been to Griffith observatory at LA (featured in the Transformer movie and Yes Man movie) and their professional planetarium is rather realistic in the stars they can twinkle and are point like..but that projector optics was not good..horrible distortion!

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:19 am

zackae wrote:so you can actually like for example see a bigger orion nebula with binos at home pointing at the ceiling?

Uh.. it project stars and not nebulae. So, don't expect to see 'picture like' nebula, galaxies etc. It is to simulate an observer looking at the stars without optical aid. However, since there are so many stars, it is possible to use a pair of binoculars to resolve the stars.

ian0138 · Post by **ian0138** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:41 am

To me, it's seems just too perfect when the star seems dead... don't sparkle (like Canopus mention), I have a real life experience before in Cameron highlights on a rare night when the sky is so clear and still, it seems almost dead to me, they just don't sparkle...both are almost exactly the same
The unrealistic part is the stars projected does not have different in magnitude, only in sizes. Even then, it so hard to identify the constellations, at times I would just switch on a little light to wash away the smaller stars like a light pollution, so only the brighter stars show... of course then there is a disk with the constellation lines drawn