Smolyan Planetarium

Smolyan Planetarium in Smolyan, Bulgaria, is the largest planetarium in the country and one of the largest in Europe.

About Smolyan Planetarium

The planetarium's centrepiece is a star-room 12.5 metres in diameter, where a planetarium projector reproduces an artificial night sky along with the motions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and other astronomical objects. Alongside the star-room, the facility includes an observatory, a library, and conference halls, and it offers more than 70 different lecture shows in its Star Hall for visitors of all ages.

History

The planetarium opened on September 6, 1975, and has since welcomed more than 2.8 million visitors over its more than 42 years of operation.

Location & getting there

Smolyan Planetarium is located in the city of Smolyan, in the Rhodope Mountains of southern Bulgaria. Use the map and directions button on this page to plan your visit.

Visiting Smolyan Planetarium

The planetarium runs regular lecture shows and events for visitors; checking its official website before travelling is the best way to confirm current show times and any special exhibitions.

See your named star from here

Alongside its planetarium shows, Smolyan's observatory can be used to point a telescope at the exact coordinates of a real star, including one named through Star Register. Browse the star catalogue to find a named star's position in the sky.