SKYMASTER ZKP 4 with LED illumination

Brilliant white stars for small-dome planetariums

Launching the fiber-optic SKYMASTER ZKP 4 Small-Dome Planetarium meant no less than a revolution for friends of a sky projected by an optical-mechanical star projector. Carl Zeiss presented a completely new design of such a machine for small and medium-sized domes. The brilliance of the stars surpassed all expectations, and people queuing up to see them had to put up with long waiting times. Now Carl Zeiss is about to set up a new performance record with SKYMASTER ZKP 4. Finally, LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are available as light sources, which are not only bright enough for star projection but also provide the necessary evenness of lighting.

The result: The new ZKP4 sky is 2.5 times as bright as the earlier one, and the stars are white! With a color temperature of 6500 K, Carl Zeiss for the first time accomplishes a completely white starfield that is even more realistic than it has ever been produced by earlier small planetarium models. No question that the brighter stars will retain their natural colors. Matching planet projectors will also feature LED light sources. In addition to the high light yield and the natural colors, LEDs have another notable advantage: Their service life of far more than 10,000 hours cuts maintenance costs.
SKYMASTER ZKP 4 with the new LED illumination is conceived for domes with level horizons and 6 to 15 m in diameter. This model is the ideal optical-mechanical companion to team up with Carl Zeiss fulldome systems, such as powerdome®SPACEGATE and powerdome® VELVET.

Added functions, easy operation

The fourth generation of the ZEISS Small-Dome Planetarium offers a great many new functions. Sun, Moon and all planets are positioned with topocentric accuracy. A built-in elevator allows the machine to be lowered to clear the auditorium center for unvignetted projections from the periphery, and limitless azimuth rotation expands astronomical presentation capabilities (options). The new control system and the smart operating concept makes controlling this planetarium machine really easy and great fun, indeed. The astronomical software controls not only the mechanical projector but also the digital planetarium integrated in Carl Zeiss powerdome fulldome systems - with optical and digital skies not merely coupled, but welded to each other.