Planetarium dome in Białków covered with a 3D printed lunar topography shell.

Planetarium in Białków

A giant 3D print of the Moon’s real surface prepared from topographic data.

Astronomy education at architectural scale

The Białków planetarium was created as part of the revitalization of a historic astronomical center. The key element of the project is a composite dome whose exterior was covered with a 3D printed representation of the Moon. The result combines education, accurate projection conditions, and a strong spatial experience.

Key project highlights

  • Real topographic data

    The model was based on 22 GB of lunar surface data captured at 56 meters per pixel by the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter.

  • A 4.5-meter dome

    Using that data, we prepared a hemisphere matched to the geometry of the composite planetarium dome so the object would work both inside and out.

  • 116 printed parts

    The model was divided into sections sized for the large-format printers available at the time, which made production and installation manageable.

  • Intimate projection space

    Inside, the dome forms a compact planetarium where nothing distracts from the show and the neutral surface supports crisp projection.

  • An exterior that teaches as well as impresses

    After the screening, visitors can study a faithful physical interpretation of the Moon’s topography, reinforcing the educational value of the installation.

Large 3D printed lunar surface panels prepared for installation on the planetarium dome.

Large-scale 3D printing

The model was divided into 116 parts sized to match the capabilities of the large-format printers available at the time.

Installation of printed lunar surface segments on the structural frame of the planetarium dome.

Piece by piece

Because the installation space was limited, the dome had to be assembled directly on site.

Team members checking the fit of the planetarium dome segments during test assembly.

A moment of truth

Trial assembly allowed the team to verify the fit of all elements in the final geometry of the dome.

Close-up of the joints between printed Moon surface segments during hand finishing.

Mind the gap

Every element required precise placement and manual refinement along the seams.

Exterior view of the finished planetarium dome with the Moon’s topography rendered in relief.

A lunar helmet

Work on the outside of the dome also had to remain faithful to the underlying topographic model.

Surface finishing on the planetarium dome after the outer lunar panels were installed.

Skimming the surface

The final stage focused on cosmetic finishing and preparing the object for handover.

Completed planetarium dome inside the educational facility before opening to visitors.

Ground control to Major Tom

A final look before the new space began hosting shows and educational sessions.

Three-dimensional interpretation of the Copernicus crater created from lunar data.

Copernicus rising

The planetarium project became the starting point for further pieces inspired by the topography of the Moon.

Decorative lamp and design object inspired by the Moon’s surface developed after the planetarium project.

To become a lamp

The know-how developed for the dome also led to more universal objects, including lamps and moonwall panels.