Tour of the City

On March 22nd 1927 the old Planetarium was opened to the public by representatives of the municipal corporations. In the concrete dome of the planetarium, having a diameter of 25 metres and entirely draped with linen cloth above three metres, the north and south star formations from any point on the earth's surface could be simulated. The Planetarium could seat 514. The dome was damaged during World War II., however in 1953 the decision was taken not to reconstruct the Planetarium and the projection equipment was sold and the building pulled down.

Towards the end of the 1970s the idea was mooted as to whether Mannheim should build a new Planetarium. Despite many obstacles, the Planetarium was officially opened on December 1st 1984. The new dome, constructed using many segments, has a diameter of 20 metres and can seat 280 people in comfortable, upholstered swivel chairs.

At the heart of the Planetarium lies the dumbbell-shaped projector, weighing 2.5 tons and with a height of 5 metres, on its hydraulic lifting platform: the only one of its kind in Germany apart from those in Stuttgart and Hamburg. It is able to project 9,000 stars of the northern and southern firmament as well as the sun, the moon and the planets, in all their complex motions, onto the domed ceiling. Since 1997 laser show interludes are possible. Since its opening in December 1984, 1.5 million visitors have passed through its doors.

This is a satellite picture which shows Europe at night.

Address: Planetarium Mannheim 
Wilhelm-Varnolt-Allee 
68165 Mannheim 
Tel.: 0621 415692
 www.planetarium-mannheim.de