Covid-19 closures 2020-2021 (≈ 2021)
Digital programs *Space Academy @Home* and *Planétarium@Home*
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Hélène Courtois - Astrophysician
Planetarium godmother, cosmography specialist
Michel Tognini - Astronaut (ESA)
Sponsor of Planetarium, former spationaut
Origin and history
The Vaulx-en-Velin Planetarium was built in 1995 as a scientific outreach tool focusing on astronomy, astrophysics and space science. Municipal equipment, it is positioned as an interface between research and the general public, with the mission of democratizing knowledge about the Universe. Its success is enhanced after renovations in 2013, including an exhibition space of 1,200 m2, then in 2017 with the addition of an 8K digital simulator and an astronomical garden with an observatory.
The heart of the Planetarium is its 15 metre (152 seater dome), equipped with a SkySkan Dark Matter 8K projection system and a 360° spatial sound, offering total immersion. The sessions, facilitated by scientific mediators, cover various themes, while permanent and temporary exhibitions explore the history of the Universe, space missions (such as Rosetta or Mars Curiosity), or artistic collaborations (exhibitions XYZT or Entre//Monde).
The Astronomical Garden (3,600 m2) completes the offer with an educational course and an observatory allowing the study of the Sun during the day and stars in the evening. The Planetarium also offers workshops, monthly conferences with researchers, and events such as the Biennale Eggs of Astro (since 2009). During the Covid-19 pandemic, he adapted his activity with digital programs (Space Academy @Home, Planetarium@Home) to maintain the link with the public.
Ranked 9th most frequent equipment in the Lyon agglomeration (90,000 visitors/year), the Planetarium collaborates with scientific (CNRS, ESA, CERN) and cultural institutions (Cité de l'Espace, Musée des Confluences). It is sponsored by Astrophysician Hélène Courtois and astronaut Michel Tognini, strengthening its anchor in scientific research and mediation.
The temporary exhibitions, renewed annually, address various themes: lunar exploration (Moon Experience), astronaut life (Astronauts), or regional geology (500 million years and one day). These projects are often based on partnerships, such as the Cité de l'Espace pour Vaisseau Terre (2022) or the Geoparc du Beaujolais for the 2024 exhibition.
