What Zeiss-Planetarium Jena does

Zeiss-Planetarium Jena is operated by STERNEVENT GmbH, a privately held German limited liability company registered in Jena at Am Planetarium 5. The entity runs the venue that markets itself as the world's longest-running large-format projection planetarium, seating 260 in a dome equipped with FullDome 360° immersive projection, a mobile planetarium unit, and a centenary operating history entering its 100-year milestone in 2026. The business was temporarily closed for renovation and reopened on July 15, 2026, anchoring programming around the 20th international FullDome Festival.

Name

Zeiss-Planetarium Jena

Legal name

STERNEVENT GmbH

Website

https://planetarium-jena.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

STERNEVENT GmbH operates the Zeiss-Planetarium Jena, the world's oldest large-format projection planetarium, running 260-seat FullDome shows, concerts, school programs, private events, and a mobile planetarium service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Planetarium and Immersive Cultural Venue Services

NAICS

Museums (712110)

akta.pro primary industry

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)

Keywords

• Planetarium shows
• Fulldome projection
• Astronomy education
• Immersive dome events
• Cultural venue rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Jena

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Event Tickets: Ticket sales for public planetarium shows, concerts, and special events. Tickets are sold online with QR code verification and at the box office.
2. Group Bookings: School groups, travel groups, and corporate bookings with reserved seating and special pricing from 15+ participants.
3. Private Event Rental: Venue rental for private celebrations, corporate events, dinners, and special occasions including the 'Mondscheindinner' (moonlight dinner) and 'Sternpatenschaft' (star sponsorship).
4. Gastronomy: On-site food and beverage service through Bistro im Planetarium and Restaurant Bauersfeld.
5. Gift Vouchers and Merchandise: Sale of gift vouchers and shop articles at the box office.
6. Annual Passes: Multi-visit tickets and season passes for regular visitors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Zeiss-Planetarium Jena operates a 260-seat FullDome projection planetarium in Jena, Germany, delivering immersive astronomy shows, full-dome films, concerts, club nights, yoga sessions, and themed cultural events under a digital dome projection system. It also hosts educational programs for school groups, family programs, a mobile planetarium for off-site visits, private event rentals, on-site gastronomy, and ancillary experiences such as star sponsorships and an optical museum.

Product overview

Zeiss-Planetarium Jena operates as the world's oldest large-format projection planetarium, offering immersive full-dome star shows and cultural events. The core product consists of planetarium presentations featuring state-of-the-art digital projection technology under a dome ceiling. The portfolio includes regular film screenings (Filmticket), live concerts with 360° projections (Concert Shows), music club events (Clubnight), educational programs for schools (Bildungsprogramme), and family-friendly presentations (Familienprogramme). Special offerings include the unique Yoga In The Dome experience, Star Trek themed evenings, and the annual FullDome Festival showcasing international 360° content. Complementary services include dining at the on-site Bistro and Restaurant Bauersfeld, star sponsorship gifts (Sternpatenschaft), moonlight dinners (Mondscheindinner), event hosting for celebrations, a mobile planetarium for external visits, and access to the Optical Museum. Tickets are sold online with support for multiple payment providers including PayPal, Klarna, and credit cards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Planetarium Shows Full-dome immersive planetarium presentations displaying stars, constellations, and astronomical content in the dome projection theater for general visitors.
• Filmticket (Full-Dome Film Screenings) Full-dome film screenings combining cinematic presentations with dome projection technology.
• Concert Shows Live music concerts with immersive 360° full-dome video projection accompanying performances.
• Clubnight Electronic music events under the planetarium dome with synchronized visual projections.
• Yoga In The Dome Yoga sessions held under the planetarium dome with synchronized visual projections and music, advertised as unique in Germany.
• Mobile Planetarium Transportable planetarium brought to schools, events, and other off-site locations for educational presentations.
• Bildungsprogramme (Education Programs) Educational programs for schools covering astronomy, space science, and related topics with group pricing.
• Familienprogramme (Family Programs) Family-friendly planetarium shows suitable for children and adults.
• Sonderveranstaltungen (Special Events) Special themed events including Star Trek evenings, lectures, and cultural presentations.
• FullDome Festival Annual international festival featuring 360° films, talks, concerts, and club events centered on dome projection technology.
• Sternpatenschaft (Star Sponsorship) Gift program allowing individuals to symbolically name a star, creating personalized celestial gifts.
• Mondscheindinner (Moonlight Dinner) Dining experience combining meals with planetarium star shows.
• Feiern im Planetarium (Celebrations) Private event hosting for birthdays, company events, and celebrations in the planetarium venue.
• Bistro im Planetarium On-site bistro catering service for planetarium visitors.
• Restaurant Bauersfeld Full restaurant service adjacent to the planetarium for dining events.
• Optisches Museum (Optical Museum) Optical museum exhibit showcasing historical optical instruments and technology.
• Gutscheine (Gift Vouchers) Gift vouchers available for purchase for planetarium visits and programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 260 seats available for events with limited capacity creating exclusivity

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Konrad-Adenauer-StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2026Non-profit political foundation organizing 'Democracy Needs Science' event at the planetarium with Prof. Dr. Harald Lesch speaking on the relationship between science and democracy, followed by panel discussion.
• Various Concert Artists (YASS, NORÐIR, Peter Heppner)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMusic artists performing live concerts at the planetarium, creating unique events that drive ticket sales and attract new audiences.
• Dr. André MüllerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExternal speaker specializing in linguistics (including Klingon language from Star Trek) who presents special themed evenings like 'Star Trek Abend' events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Deutsches Technikmuseum: Major German technology museum in Berlin featuring extensive astronomy and space exhibits. Comparable as a science/technology heritage institution with significant education and tourism audiences, particularly for school groups and families interested in space and astronomy.
• Deutsches Museum: One of the world's largest science and technology museums based in Munich, offering exhibits on astronomy, space, optics, and physics. Comparable as a German science-heritage institution focused on public STEM education and immersive exhibits, with overlapping audience segments (families, school groups, tourists).
• NEMO Science Museum: Prominent interactive science center in Amsterdam with exhibits on physics, astronomy, and technology. Comparable as a science education destination focused on engaging immersive experiences for families and school groups across Europe.
• La Géode: Large-format immersive cinema at the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie in Paris, featuring 360° film screenings on science and nature topics. Comparable in its use of immersive dome/full-dome projection technology for science and nature film content aimed at general audiences and school groups.

Direct peers

• Adler Planetarium: Iconic U.S. planetarium in Chicago operating immersive dome shows, astronomy education programs, and special events. Directly comparable in product offering (fulldome shows, concerts, school programs, private event rentals) and historic brand positioning as a heritage planetarium destination.
• Hayden Planetarium: Renowned planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, offering immersive space shows and science education. Comparable in its combination of cutting-edge dome projection technology with museum-grade educational programming and a strong heritage brand.
• Tycho Brahe Planetarium: Major European planetarium in Copenhagen operating full-dome shows, IMAX theatre, and educational programming. Comparable in being a heritage European planetarium with diversified programming across astronomy, music shows, and cultural events.
• Bochum Planetarium: Long-established German planetarium with a full-dome theater offering astronomy shows, music shows, and educational programming. Directly comparable in mission (science communication via dome projection) and German cultural-venue positioning, serving as a regional competitor for school group and family audiences.
• ESO Supernova Planetarium and Visitor Centre: Modern European planetarium and visitor center at the European Southern Observatory headquarters in Garching, Germany. Directly comparable in its use of state-of-the-art fulldome projection technology and focus on astronomy education and immersive content for general audiences.
• Hamburg Planetarium: One of the largest and most established planetariums in Germany, operating a major dome theater with immersive astronomy shows, concerts, and educational programming. Directly comparable to Zeiss-Planetarium Jena in terms of offering mix (astronomy shows, science education, cultural events) and target segments (families, schools, tourists).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zeiss-planetarium-jena

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zeiss-Planetarium Jena