In four years, Planetarium Noosphere has become one of the most innovative and popular science and education centers in Ukraine. Having opened its doors to the first visitors, the institution has become not only a place to learn about space, but also a unique space for inspiration, research and discovery.

From modern exhibitions to interactive programs, from full-dome films to social initiatives, this article will tell you how the planetarium has changed over time, what innovations have been introduced, and what achievements and important projects have made Planetarium Noosphere a center for scientific, cultural, and social development.
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Innovations for visitors: a new level of interaction

In four years, Planetarium Noosphere has become an important platform for innovation. A modern exposition with unique zones that have no analogues in Ukraine has become one of the main highlights of the institution. The Mars and Lunar zones, which take visitors to the expanses of the mysterious red planet and the only natural satellite of the Earth, the VR zone, where you can go on a virtual journey through the solar system, as well as the Ukraine in Space zone, where guests can learn more about Ukrainian astronauts, Ukrainian constellations, and significant space events in which Ukraine participated, make the institution not only an educational platform but also a center for the preservation of cultural heritage.



Updated exhibits, interactive elements, changing scientific exposition and gamification have turned a visit to Planetarium Noosphere into an exciting journey for both children and adults. Each guest can explore gravity at various space objects, create the terrain of their own planet using a terraforming simulator, learn about the interesting features of the exhibition area accompanied by a lecturer, and watch a full-dome movie or cartoon in the Star Hall in 4K format.

Creating full-dome movies: the only ones in Ukraine

One of the most striking achievements of Planetarium Noosphere was the creation of its own video production studio, which produces full-dome films and cartoons, as well as creates full-dome content for music and thematic programs. 

This allowed us not only to produce popular science films based on unique scenarios created by the Planetarium Noosphere's science and education department, but also to develop the full-dome film industry in Ukraine and represent our country on the international stage.

Over the past four years, Planetarium Noosphere has created 9 full-dome films, each of which opens a new perspective on space:

• “The Cradle of Stars: From Atoms to Life”
• “Views of the Universe through the eyes of the Hubble Telescope”
• “Space cruise”
• “Space Weekend: a new home”
• “Beyond the horizon: the great space cleaning”
• “Our space address”
• “Ukrainian space”
• “Stars: a look into infinity”
• “Following the leading star”

For 2 years in a row, the films have been presented at international full-dome film festivals such as The Jena FullDome Festival (Germany), Fulldome Festival Brno (Czech Republic), Macon Film Festival (USA) and Astrofilm (Slovakia). The full-dome films Our Space Address and Ukrainian Space, which are unique for Ukraine in terms of digitalizing cultural heritage, gained special attention from international audiences.

Interactive programs and educational courses for children

Planetarium Noosphere is a place where every visitor, regardless of age, will find something interesting. The interactive programs, during which you can not only have fun, but also learn the basics of astronomy and natural sciences, as well as get answers to the most fascinating questions about the Universe, are created with age-specific features in mind. For the youngest visitors, 4+ programs are available, for young travelers and adult space explorers - 8+, 12+, and 16+. 



In addition to interactive programs, Planetarium Noosphere hosts thematic programs for visitors of all ages, which allow them to understand in more detail certain astronomy topics: from the planets of the solar system to explanations of complex astronomical phenomena.

For the youngest explorers of the universe, Planetarium Noosphere has developed a unique educational STEAM course in astronomy called Space Summer Holidays, where children learn the basics of astronomy in the form of a game, watch constellations and planets, and full-dome cartoons in the Star Hall.

Social initiatives and international cooperation

Planetarium Noosphere implements a number of social initiatives aimed at popularizing science and supporting society. 

One of the key initiatives is free interactive programs for schoolchildren in Dnipro, which was launched on December 1, 2023, in cooperation with the Department of Humanitarian Policy of the Dnipro City Council. Thanks to this initiative, city schoolchildren have the opportunity to explore the exposition area accompanied by a lecturer, interact with interactive exhibits, learn a lot about space, and watch a full-dome cartoon. 



In addition, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Planetarium Noosphere, together with the Department of Humanitarian Policy of the Dnipro City Council, has introduced the practice of space retreats for internally displaced persons, which helps to reduce psycho-emotional stress, unlock perception by engaging different types of senses, and awaken the emotional sphere, thus restoring mental health.



Planetarium Noosphere is a socially responsible project that has become an important space for popularizing science and supporting the community. We are proud that in 2024 alone, more than 15,000 schoolchildren and IDPs visited us for free sessions. These are not just numbers - these are thousands of children and adults who were able to touch the world of science, feel the beauty of the universe and find inspiration. We are glad that we can contribute to the development of society.

The practice of space retreats has no analogues in the world and has aroused great interest of the International Planetarium Association (IPS): On July 22, 2024, at the invitation of the IPS, the Space Retreat program was presented at the IPS 2024 International Conference in Berlin and Jena (Germany).

In addition to the unique space retreat program, Planetarium Noosphere actively represents Ukraine and the city of Dnipro at international events, contributing to the strengthening of cultural ties and the development of international partnerships. One of these events was the Dnipro Days in Cologne festival, where Planetarium Noosphere presented the Dnipro Space exposition, which allowed guests to immerse themselves in the world of virtual reality, play the exciting digital game Ukrainian Space created by Planetarium Noosphere, and watch the full-length films Ukrainian Space and Beyond the Horizon: The Great Space Cleanup. At the end of 2024, Planetarium Noosphere was awarded a certificate of appreciation from Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov for its significant contribution to the popularization and worthy presentation of the city's contemporary culture.
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New space surprises ahead

For Planetarium Noosphere, these four years have been a path of continuous development, inspiration and discovery. During this time, the new science and education center in Dnipro has become a real meeting place for science, culture, and emotions. And this is just the beginning. There are still many new opportunities, innovations, and attractions ahead. 

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“We thank our visitors and partners for their trust and support! It is thanks to you that we can continue to move forward and be inspired by new achievements. You are our main motivation for reaching new horizons,” summarized Yulia Prybytkova, Executive Director of the Aerospace Museum Center for Culture and Education of Youth (Planetarium Noosphere).

We are looking forward to new opportunities, achievements and, of course, new exciting journeys into the boundless space!