Cosm, a manufacturer of immersive LED display technology and experiential media, has supplied its CX System LED dome for the Dorrance DOME, a planetarium at Arizona Science Center, in the City of Phoenix, which opens to the public on October 18. The 18m diameter, 8K+ resolution dome is designed to provide significantly higher brightness, contrast, and resolution than traditional planetarium projection systems, making the venue one of the most technologically advanced planetariums in North America.
The upgrade aims to offer visitors immersive science and astronomy presentations, combining live, interactive content with custom and licensed shows on the visually striking LED dome. The system’s brightness is reported to exceed that of typical planetarium domes by over 100 times, enabling clearer and more vivid imagery across the entire surface.
The technology is expected to broaden the Science Center’s capability to engage audiences of all ages with educational and entertainment content, reinforcing its role as a hub for STEM learning and community engagement.
Guy Labine, the Hazel A Hare president and CEO of Arizona Science Center, said: “The reimagined Dorrance Planetarium will become a must-see for anyone who visits Arizona. It will be an amazing asset to expand and augment our ability to educate and inspire our visitors.”
The reimagined planetarium will also mark a new chapter in the Arizona Science Center’s 40-year history of STEM education. Originally opened in 1997, the Dorrance Planetarium has welcomed more than 2m guests and now aims to set a global standard in immersive science experiences.
Kirk Johnson, chief operations officer at Cosm, said: “We are honoured and excited that Arizona Science Center selected Cosm and our LED CX System for the renovation of The Dorrance Planetarium. Dating back to 1997 when Arizona Science Center selected Digistar II to power its planetarium, our work together has always been in the pursuit of creating inspiring and impactful audience experiences.”
The Dorrance DOME’s LED CX System places it alongside other venues, including Prague Planetarium and the Jane & John Justin Foundation Omni Theater at the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History, that have also adopted Cosm’s technology.
