Bring The Stars & Galaxies Inside With These Home Planetariums
& Star Projectors
Since the dawn of man, nothing has captivated humans like the cosmos above. Even to this day, the universe holds a lot of mystery, beauty, and intrigue. Unfortunately, most people aren’t able to experience the joy of sitting out in the darkness and enjoying the view of twinkling stars. Light pollution makes that picturesque view nothing more than an expanse of black.
Luckily, there are some ways that you can enjoy the wonders of the universe in your own home! The best star projectors can turn any room in your very own home planetarium! These simple devices splash stars and celestial bodies onto the ceilings and walls, creating a unique environment you’ll never want to leave.
Whether you’re looking to add some whimsy to your child’s room or you simply want to enjoy the cosmos for yourself, star and galaxy projectors offer a lot of benefits.
They provide you with a crystal-clear recreation of the night sky. Set one up to get some perspective of the size of our universe. Or, use one to study constellations and planets with your kids. No matter how you choose to use it, a star projectors let you enjoy the beauty beyond our planet in your very own home.
Star and galaxy projectors have been around for decades. Thanks to advancements in projection technology, these devices are more feature-rich than ever. To help you find the right projector for your home, here are some of the best the market has to offer.
We have browsed the internet and have come up with what we feel are the best star and galaxy projectors on the market for a variety of uses.
Our Top 3 Best Star Projectors
1st - EncaLife Star Projector
Overall Rating: 5/5
In terms of star and galaxy projectors, the Encalife is a high-end projector at a relatively low price point. Value for money and quality of projection is incredible.
#2 - Ambience Galaxy Projector
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
A small and compact star projector packed with loads of features. We rated this product highly and consider it the best when it comes to value for money.
#3 - Laser Stars Twilight
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
High quality - premium star projector that projects beautiful, laser generated projections of stars, galaxies, nebula and space clouds.
Best Star Projectors Comparison Chart
A Quick Chart To Compare All Of The Best Star Projectors for Adults, Parties, Events and Chilling Out
| Photo | Product Name | Type Of Projection | Rating out of 5 | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alexa & Google Assistant - App Controlled Star Projector from Encalife | Constellation, Nebula & Galaxy Projection. | No rating as of yet | $$ |
 | Constellation, Nebula & Galaxy Projection. | 5.0 | $$ | |
 | Parrot Uncle Laser Twilight Stars Hologram Projector | Constellation, Nebula & Galaxy Projection. | 4.0 | $$ |
 | Uncle Milton 3D Star Planetarium Projector | Constellation, Stars & Planets Projection. | 3.4 | $ |
| Sega HomeStar Black Planetarium Star Projector | 60k Stars & Shooting Star function. | 4.0 | $$ | |
| MiiKARE Star Projector | Natural Aurora effect | 4.3 | $$ | |
| Uncle Milton Death Star Planetarium Pro Kit | Projects more than 10k stars | 3.8 | $$ | |
 | Nashika Real Home Planetarium ASTROTHEATER | Our galaxy as well as planet Earth, the sun, and the various moon phases. | 3.4 | $$$ |
One of the best selling star projectors and the first to feature Alexa and Google Assistant integration, the Encalife Star Projector is quite possibly the best in class product this year. This technologically advanced star projector is ideal for a range of uses…
– Helping your kids get off to sleep
– A handy night light for children’s bedrooms
– A stress reliever for adults and teenagers
– Use for relaxation, meditation or Yoga
– A soothing aid for anxious pets such as dogs or cats
In terms of star and galaxy projectors, the Encalife is a high-end projector at a relatively low price point. Value for money is off the scale for the features you get with this projector. Quality in both construction and star projection is hard to beat. It offers excellent durability which is great for this type of product as it will get dropped and knocked, especially around children. It has the ability to project 16.7 million colors as well as various light show settings and all controlled via voice or app.
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Our verdict:
Exceptional value for money and jam packed with features that you would get with a much more expensive star projector. The projection is high quality and set up is really easy. Well worth the money for a product that will last for years and years.
#2 - Top Choice - Encalife Galaxy Star Projector
No matter what mood you’re in, the StarLite projector has you covered! This small desktop projector is sporting an impressive 21 light modes! These modes run the gamut from tranquil to exciting. Choose a multi-colored mode to cycle between hues of red, green, blue, and white. Or, stick to one color and make adjustments to the speed. The choice is yours!
Overall, the projector is quite versatile. Not only are you getting multiple lighting options, but you can also adjust brightness levels and set up a timer. It’s a great option for young kids who need a bit of illumination. The lasers are bright enough to fill the space with whimsical color. But, it’s soft enough to help anyone drift off to dreamland!
On top of all that, the projector is hiding one flexible little feature. There’s a wireless speaker built right in! Use any Bluetooth compatible device to stream music directly to the speaker. Alternatively, you can use the USB interface to play music directly off of a removable hard drive.
Whatever the case may be, the projector has all the capabilities you would expect from a high-quality speaker. You have simple control buttons to cycle through your song collection and adjust the volume. The device even comes with a remote control. The remote works to manipulate both the lighting system and the speaker, so you can get the perfect vibe without even touching the device.
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Our verdict:
The StarLite galaxy project is an excellent room accessory with a lot to offer. Thanks to its versatile design, it’s a good choice for young kids, adults, and everyone in between.
#3 - Top Choice Premium - Laser Stars Twilight Projector
One of the best sellers in terms of star and galaxy projectors, the Parrot Uncle Star Hologram projector is a quality product in both construction and star projection. It offers excellent durability which is great for this type of product as it will get dropped and knocked, especially around children.
This high quality indoor star projector is definitely up there with the best on the market and has a Laser Twilight Star Hologram Projector which has three different modes to choose from. These consist of constellations, stars and nebula, which f you don’t already know is a combination of both stars and clouds. There’s quite a few different star patterns that project is various directions and movements, as well as a rather stunning nebula scene which is quite something!
You can easily control the brightness of the light source to suit you mood, so if you want a brighter and more vivid laser show, the you can crank up the brightness. If you require a more chilled out laser show, the you have the ability to dull the light, especially if you want to fall asleep with the stars.
Switch this on in a dark room and watch the amazing star light show in all its galactic glory. There’s a timer on it which cuts out automatically after 4 hours so you don’t waste energy unnecessarily.
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Our verdict:
Overall this star projector is a solid purchase. Not as good as the Encalife Star Projector, but still great value. The main benefit of this star projector is that you’ll never get bored of it There’s so many star show features . This model is ideal for meditating, relaxing, romantic nights in, parties and can help your kids drift off to sleep.
#4 - Uncle Milton Death Star Planetarium Pro Kit
Who doesn’t love Star Wars? The Uncle Milton projector is the perfect collector’s item for any Star Wars fan. The body of the device is molded to look like the infamous Death Star from the films, so it’ll look great even when you’re not using it.
The kit comes with three high-resolution image discs. The most basic is the Earth’s night sky. It’s similar to the disc you get with Uncle Milton’s In My Room Star Theater Pro Home Planetarium. You can see over 10,000 stars displayed on your wall or ceiling. However, this kit also comes with some extras you don’t get with the brand’s other high-quality projectors. If you’d rather step into a galaxy far, far away, you can only do that with this model! The second image disc displays the Galaxy from the Star Wars franchise. The third disc depicts the action of the Battle of Yevin!
This high quality indoor star projector is definitely up there with the best on the market and has a Laser Twilight Star Hologram Projector which has three different modes to choose from. These consist of constellations, stars and nebula, which f you don’t already know is a combination of both stars and clouds. There’s quite a few different star patterns that project is various directions and movements, as well as a rather stunning nebula scene which is quite something!
You can easily control the brightness of the light source to suit you mood, so if you want a brighter and more vivid laser show, the you can crank up the brightness. If you require a more chilled out laser show, the you have the ability to dull the light, especially if you want to fall asleep with the stars.
Switch this on in a dark room and watch the amazing star light show in all its galactic glory. There’s a timer on it which cuts out automatically after 4 hours so you don’t waste energy unnecessarily.
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Cons:
Our verdict:
Don’t expect the system to fill the entire room. The system uses LED lights that are projected from one singular point. Luckily, you can adjust the angle of projection to fill as much of the room as possible. Plus, there’s an automatic rotation feature to keep the images moving.
#5 - MiiKARE 2 in 1 Night Light / Star Projector
Here’s a unique projector that can create all kinds of effects. It uses LED technology to produce a very bright light. On top of the LEDs, there’s a crystal-cut curved lens. This lens bounces light throughout the room and creates a stunning Aurora effect.
There are also several lighting and color options. Change the color to create a different ambiance! You can use blue to make your room look like it’s underwater. Or, you can cycle through the colors to create a disco room. The choice is yours.
In addition to putting on a light show, this projector has a built-in speaker. The speaker isn’t the most powerful in the world. But, it’s great for a nighttime lullaby or white noise therapy. You can connect the projector to your smartphone or tablet to stream wirelessly. There’s also a MicroSD slot for convenience.
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Our verdict:
This Star Projector has lots of features and offers great value for money. All though it's packed with features, some of them are of a low quality, but you get what you pay for at the end of the day. Overall it's a good star projector at a good price.
#6 - SEGA HomeStar Black Planetarium Star Projector
Want a projector that can provide a realistic star-gazing experience? Check out this unit from Sega. It is modeled after the technology used in professional planetariums. This isn’t a projector that’s going to splash a few dots of lights on your wall. In total, it can display 60,000 stars!
That’s not all. The Homestar Classic projector comes with two separate discs. The included discs provide a realistic depiction of the night sky in both the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere. You can purchase additional discs as well to view planets and celestial bodies. There are over 30 compatible discs to choose from.
LED technology is used for brightness. The Homestar Classic has a decent projection distance. It’s best in the center of the room where the walls are 59 to 90 inches away. Setup is a breeze and you have a couple of different adjustments available. This includes a timer, shooting star function, and a rotation system.
Here’s exactly what you get in the box with the Sega Homestar:
1 – Sega Toys Homestar Original black indoor star projector
2 – Realistic discs of northern hemisphere with and without constellations
1 – Double sided poster (skymap) of northern and southern hemisphere 17″x26″
1 – Manual
1 – AC adapter
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Our verdict:
High quality, powerful and most advanced star projector on the market. If you have the money then its well worth buying.
#7 - Omegon Star Theater Pro Planetarium - For Adults & Kids
This sleek and elegantly designed star theater projector is a very popular purchase among people who want a high quality night sky projection show. It comes with high-quality lenses that give off a near perfect focus of star projection which is perfect should the room that you’re using it in has irregular or asymmetric walls and ceilings. You can easily manually focus the lenses should you require a more bespoke setting.
When you turn it on, you will see how good this optical planetarium projection system actually is!. The stars and galaxy projections come alive due to the vividness and contrast of the projection, which makes it high enough quality to be used by star wars fans, trekkies, space enthusiasts and people with a passion for astronomy.
It’s powered by a normal domestic electricity supply and is highly portable due to its compact design. The light source is high-quality and strong with ultra-bright white LED lights.
There's a disc tray at the back where you can insert different star projection discs. The discs can be exchanged quickly and easily - just one touch and your journey through the cosmos begins. The star projector has a motorized sky rotation to realistically display the rotation of the sky.
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Our verdict:
Looks good, well built and has very good projection distance. Despite this, the Omegon isn't as good as some of the cheaper star projectors that we have covered in this buying guide.
#8 - Nashika Real Home Planetarium ASTROTHEATER
The Astrotheater projector is a Japanese import with a ton of great functionality. Like most star projectors, this device can throw thousands of stars on your ceiling or walls at once. The included disc shows you a realistic depiction of the night sky in the northern hemisphere.
One cool thing about this projector is that you can set it to a specific date! Adjusting the film disc allows you to see the stars and constellations for any day of the year. It’s a great way to see what the night sky looks like on your birthday!
The projector also comes with a couple of other films. They include images of our galaxy as well as planet Earth, the sun, and the various moon phases.
This is a relatively simple projector. It’s powered with a standard AC adapter and has basic button controls on the front.
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Best Star Projectors For Babies & Children
Get your children nice and settled for bed time a lot quicker and a lot easier with these star projectors for kids. They really are a god send for parents. Check out our best star projectors for babies and kids list and see which one would suit you!
| Photo | Product Name | Type Of Projection | Rating out of 5 | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
STAR BUY!! | Calm Knight - Star Projector and White Noise Sound Machine | Stars & Moon projector + white noise machine | 4.0 | $$ |
| Lizber Night Light LED Star Projector | Stars and moon projector | 4.0 | $ | |
| GLISTENY Star Color Changing Night Light Projector | Rotation stars and moon projector | 3.8 | $ | |
| Cloud B Twilight Constellation Night Light Projector | Static stars projector night light | 4.5 | $ | |
 | Galaxy Clock by MomKnows. Soothing Night Sky Star Projector | Colored stars projector | 4.1 | $$ |
| KINGWILL Star Night Light Projector for Kids | Stars and moon | 4.1 | $ | |
| Luckkid Baby Night Light Moon Star Projector | Colored stars projector | 4.5 | $ | |
| BNL Star Night Lights for Kids | Galaxy Constellation | 4.1 | $ | |
#1 - Top Choice Calm Knight – Star Projector and White Noise Sound Machine
This is our star buy for children’s star projector / night lights. Not only does it look great, but it also performs really well as a star projector and as a white noise calming night light for kids. It’s the first projector night light that has a built in auto-cry detection, which is super useful if you have children that wake up a lot at night and need soothing back to sleep. It automatically turns on when it detects crying from your child and helps them get back to sleep without you having to get out of your nice warm bed.
The CalmKnight star night light projector is also a lullaby and white noise machine. Not only do you get the moon and the stars, but you can also switch on a lullaby to send your kids off to a comfortable and soothing night’s sleep. Again, this amazing feature automatically turns on when your child starts to cry.
You get 10 lullaby sounds which include Minuet, Brahm’s Lullaby, Are You Sleeping, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Home Sweet Home, Mary Has a Little Lamb, American Patrol, Oh My Darling + More!
It can run on both a battery and power option and is perfect for taking away with you on holiday, as its very portable. All in all, this is a top notch indoor star projector for your children to drift off to sleep with.
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Our verdict:
An excellent aid for parents who can't get their kids to sleep. The cry detector is a great feature and the design of it appeals to kids too. Well worth the money.
This projector lamp isn’t going to provide you with realism. That said, the cartoonish starry sky it creates is wonderful for helping kids sleep peacefully! The blue, yellow, and white lights are comforting. You can choose to keep it on a static color or set the device to cycle through the different options.
The simple dome cover of the lamp slowly rotates throughout the night. Unlike other projectors, the rotation is quiet enough to help your child fall asleep. The slow and steady movement is hypnotizing, making it a great choice for babies, young kids, and even teens wanting to create a relaxing environment.
The KINGWILL projector is easy to use and comes with a couple of different power options. You can use three AA batteries if you want more flexible placement. Alternatively, you can connect the included USB cable to an adapter. It measures only two feet in length, so make sure that you’re close to an outlet!
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The Luckkid night light lamp is one that can grow with your child. It’s a simple machine that uses several LED bulbs. There are separate LED bulbs for green, yellow, red, and blue. These lights combine to create a wonderful spectrum of color at night! You can set the system to shine one specific color or choose between the many different modes for something more exciting.
The outer layer of this projector is a clear plastic dome. The dome protects the cartoonish planetarium projector film underneath. When your child doesn’t want to see stars in their room anymore, you can remove this film and use the device as a simple colored night light!
Controlling this machine couldn’t be easier. While there isn’t a remote, the button controls are easy to understand. One button control white light. The second lets you change colors and light modes. Finally, the third button turns the rotation system on or off. It’s as simple as that!
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This small projector can provide beautiful lighting effects to suit your mood. This doesn’t just show the stars! It comes with six different films. Swap them out to create a different effect. You can view zodiac constellations, a still meteor shower, and nebula clouds. The remaining films are not star-focused. But, they’re still fun either way. The films depict sea creatures, dinosaurs, and a birthday message.
Controlling this projector is easy thanks to the remote control. With a few button presses, you can choose different color modes, turn on rotation, and set the timer.
One thing we like about this model is the versatile power options. It comes with a USB cable, which you can plug into any standard adapter. Alternatively, you can AA batteries. With batteries, it’s easy to place the projector in the center of the room to get the best effect possible.
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The LED star projector from LUXONIC has everything you would want for a kid’s room. Not only does it fill the room with stunning ambient light, but it also has a music player built right in.
There are a couple of ways to stream music. You can connect wirelessly via Bluetooth to push music through the speakers. Or, you can connect a device physically through the versatile USB port. This port is also used to charge the internal battery, which is a nice touch that improves flexibility.
When you connect your music, the light will respond to the sound coming through the speaker. The lights flash with the beat of the song or the sound of your voice!
The star light projector is pretty basic. You’re not going to be able to identify any constellations! However, it’s beautiful nonetheless. Like other projectors on this list, a crystal-cut dome covers the LED bulbs. This dome bends light to create some interesting patterns.
As if that weren’t enough, you have a spectrum of color options to choose from. Cycle through all the colors to create a fun light show for parties! To help soothe your child when the sun goes down, stick to more muted colors for a calming effect.
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One of the best sellers in children’s’ constellation projectors, the Cloud B Twilight is ideal for a baby’s nursery or in a child’s bedroom as their very first star projector. It’s designed in the shape of a sleepy turtle, which can be cuddled and held by the child in their bed.
This star projector night light completely transforms a child’s bedroom or nursery from a scary dark room into a beautiful, relaxing star gazing fest. It also plays lovely relaxing lullabies to accompany the stunning star show projected on the ceiling and walls. It’s the perfect night time sleeping helper for your little ones.
The Cloud B has three completely different color settings, blue, green and amber which can easily be changed by one press of a button. It projects wonderful stars and nebula all over the ceiling and walls to give a visual wow to your kids while they settle down to bed. There’s also an automatic sleep function that will be activated in 45 minutes to help you save battery power.
As for batteries, you will need 3 AA sized batteries to power the star projector. Here’s some peace of mind for you…this product has been recommended for use by paediatricians.
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Things to Consider When Buying a Star and Galaxy Projector
There’s no shortage of star projectors to choose from these days. Browse through Amazon and you’re bound to find hundreds of options. So how do you sift through your choices to settle on the one that’s right for your home?
Projectors come in a range of styles. Some are simple while others are capable of replicating constellations perfectly. To settle on a projector that’s right for your home, keep the following considerations in mind.
Projection Technology
The first thing you should consider is the technology used to bring the cosmos to life! This is an important consideration because it has a huge impact on the overall price of the unit.
If you’re on a budget, you can go with simple bulb-based projectors. These projectors harken back to the early days of in-home planetariums. They use simple bulbs to cast shadows on your walls and ceiling.
Generally, this type of projection technology isn’t the best if you’re serious about mapping out the stars. Standard light bulbs simply aren’t powerful enough to create a ton of detail. That said, bulb-based projectors are great if you’re looking for a starlight night lamp for kids. It offers great ambiance and casts a soothing light throughout the room.
Now, if you’re looking for something a bit more robust, you can go with a laser projector. As you might have guessed, these units take advantage of laser light to create a galaxy in your room. Because lasers are so precise, you can get a ton of great detail with these projectors. Laser star projectors do come with a higher price tag in most cases. But, they are your best bet if you want to see constellations and specific celestial bodies.
Realism and Style
Speaking of detail, how realistic do you want your projections to be? You can easily find projectors that are catered to both adults and children.
Child-focused star projector night lights take a lot of creative license when it comes to galaxy depictions. That’s not necessarily a bad thing! These devices are built to act as a night light for kids. They’re not meant for serious star gazing!
You can get units with different colors, fun shapes, and more. They create stunning lights shows that can help your child feel inspired as they drift off into sleep.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, you have the serious home planetariums. These units are fully capable of helping you learn more about the cosmos. Perfect for budding astronomers, they provide a realistic display of the stars above. This means that you can spot constellations, see distant planets, nebulas, and more. Some even use the Earth’s rotation to show you what stars are above you at the time of viewing.
Display Modes
On your search, you’re likely to come across units with several display modes. These modes create different lighting effects to suit your needs.
For example, a basic static projection is best for studying the stars. The image is still, allowing you to examine constellations and other celestial bodies. Meanwhile, a rotating display mode takes the Earth’s rotation into account. The stars will slowly move across the room, making it look the night sky on a time-lapse!
Some projectors also have animated functions. They can create distinct shapes, such as planets or nebulae clouds. Many have a shooting star function as well. This creates eye-catching shooting stars that dart across the room!
Size
Here’s something that many don’t consider! Depending on how feature-rich the projector is, these devices can get quite large. Larger systems are best for use in a living room or large theater room.
If you plan on keeping the projector in a child’s bedroom, you’ll need something small and compact.
Projection Distance
Projection distance and size go hand in hand. This specification refers to the distance the unit can project those images without sacrificing quality. High-end models might have adjustable distance settings, which is great if you want to bring your device to other rooms.
Generally, laser star projectors have the most capability. The laser diodes used are strong enough to fill an entire large room while still keeping the images crisp.
Power Options
Your galaxy projector will need some power to make those images! You can find units that are powered by batteries or standard outlet plugs. The latter tends to be more reliable. But, it does limit you in terms of placement. Whether the plug connects to a standard outlet or the unit uses a USB cable and AC adapter, you won’t have much versatility when it comes to placement.
Battery-powered units offer more flexibility. However, you have to remember to provide fresh batteries! There are several options on the market that use standard AA or AAA batteries. Some also have internal batteries that you charge with a USB cord.
In addition to paying attention to the power source, look out for different power modes. This is especially important if your projector is serving as a night light for your child. A timer or auto shut-off feature can help save power after your child drifts off to sleep.
Extra Features
Some star projectors have some cool and convenient extra features you might want to take advantage of! For projectors built for kids’ rooms, you may encounter models with built-in speakers. They can sing a lullaby for your child to help them get to sleep better!
You might also see devices with different colors and remote functionality. These systems allow you to create the ambiance you’re after. Thanks to the wireless remote, you can get the perfect settings without having to touch the machine at all.
These extra features aren’t going to affect the core functionality of your star projector. But, they can make it more exciting and convenient to use.
Your Cosmos Star Projector Questions Answered
We get various questions on a monthly basis regarding the star projectors that we feature on this page. So I thought I would set up a FAQs on star projectors to help you, as a consumer, to make a better decision on what star projector to purchase.
Q1. What would you say is the best star projector for a baby or nursery?
A. Without a doubt the best star projector for a baby is the CalmKnight star projector. I have featured this model within this guide and have sung it’s praises, mainly because its a really high quality yet affordable product. It has some brilliant features to help you as a parent and your baby to get a good night’s sleep.
You might also want to consider the KingWill star projector. It’s a star projector / night light and a rotating night light as well. You can also put it on a timer, so it will turn off after a set amount of time.
Q2. What is the best star projector to buy for teenagers?
A: When kids get a bit older, they seem to want more features, more wow and more special effects to impress their friends when they come over for sleepovers. Probably the best star projector for teenagers would be Sega Homestar as it’s robust ( can withstand the knocks and drops it might experience in the hands of clumsy teenagers ) and it has an impressive range of star projection scenes.
Q3. Can I leave a star projector on all night?
A: Yes. All star lights can be left on all night, but I would recommend you turn them off after use, as you don’t want to use up electricity unnecessarily.
Q4. What’s the difference between a Star Projectors and A Cosmos Projector?
A: Very little. Stars are part of the Cosmos. The Cosmos is our observable universe. People sometime refer to a star projector as a Cosmos projector. Maybe if there was a projector that projected the whole universe, then you could call it officially a “Cosmos Projector”.
Conclusion
Who said that you have to go out to the middle of nowhere to appreciate the cosmos? With the best star projector, you can enjoy all of the galaxy’s wonders from the comfort of your own home.
These devices can create a stunning light show that completely transforms the feel of a room. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an amateur astronomer or you have a kid who needs some comforting light at night. A high-quality projector will display an awe-inspiring show every time.
Don’t take our word for it! Pick up one of our recommended picks and see how beautiful these projectors are for yourself!