Sponsored by the International Planetarium Society, the International Day of Planetariums - formerly known as the International Day of Planetaria - is a day set aside each year to inform the public about what planetariums are and why they exist. It was now discussed and decided in IPS to move this day to May 7th, beginning from 2024. In the anniversary year, on May 7th, 2024, we will thus celebrat
e the “birthday of the planetarium” for the first time on this date, which will be the 99th birthday of the planetariums. The 100th birthday will of course follow on May 7th, 2025, which will at the same time be the conclusion and “main event” of the Centennial. On May 7th, 2026, the 101st birthday will be celebrated, and so on in the subsequent years, as an annual “Planetarium Day”. In those subsequent years, this day will have the function to draw public attention to the planetariums through joint activities of all planetariums on this day. Since being organized in Italy in 1991, the IDP has spread to countries around the world. The goal of IDP is to increase that number by informing as many people as possible that planetariums exist and that learning about the stars, space exploration, and astronomy is an enjoyable life-long activity. Planetariums that charge an admittance fee are encouraged to open their doors to the public at no charge. Mobile domes can decide on reaching a group in the population which normally wouldn't be able to hire its services. Goals of the International Day of Planetariums:
to celebrate a birthday for the planetariums, matching the creation of the first one in 1923;
to inform the public about planetariums: what they are and why they exist;
to educate the public about the problem of light pollution;
to promote international exchanges and collaborations between planetariums of different countries;
to highlight the important work of the International Planetarium Society.
