Planetarium

In 1967, Sky-Skan was creating innovative special effect projectors for planetariums. Since then, it has continued to be devoted to planetariums and education through visual tools. Creating scientifically accurate products that are easy to use and modify is at the core of our identity.

Sky-Skan’s headquarters in Nashua, New Hampshire (near Boston) is supported by global offices in Germany and Australia and by regional representatives around the world.

Sky-Skan offers research, theater design, professional development, graphics production, show distribution, and its renowned hardware and software engineering groups. While remaining a small company, Sky-Skan is able to serve a world-wide customer base while staying dedicated to serving planetariums and dome theaters that educate and inspire audiences. Sky-Skan’s Definiti® theaters immerse audiences in other worlds.

Presenters use our technology to transform a simple show about the solar system into a fantastic voyage through space, take audiences inside a tree’s leaves to discover an incredible micro-sized world, and dive from the cosmos straight into a coral reef.

With Definiti, imagery and sound completely surround the audience as they journey to the edge of the known universe and back again. Definiti theaters are powered by DigitalSky® software and offer the largest collection of scientifically accurate data sets available for fulldome.

We understand how vital good numbers are, and we would accept nothing less.

Sky-Skan’s history spans six decades. The planetarium experience is no longer built around the Earth-centric night sky shows of the past, but our goal remains the same: use innovation to bring our customers powerful new tools to tell their stories on the giant dome screen.

1960-70s 1967: Sky-Skan is founded by John Paris, who created “special effects” projectors. These projectors augmented planetarium shows with special visuals.

1984: Sky-Skan moves to Nashua, New Hampshire. As fulldome shows become more complex, the company launches SPICE Automation, revolutionizing the control of the ever-growing number of theater special effects, slide projectors, lighting, and other units.

The 90s brought exciting new technologies in video projection and production. By the end of the decade, Sky-Skan’s SkyVision projection systems could bring audiences on pre-recorded full-motion video tours to the International Space Station and beyond. We added a range of show production tools and began distribution of creative content.

2000-10s In the past decade DigitalSky software has revolutionized the industry with the ability to fly audiences, in real time, to any place known to science. With astounding visual projection and new theater advances, today’s Definiti theaters can whisk audiences into a cell, out to view the Milky Way, or through an abstract art environment created live in the theater. Today, fulldome possibilities are limited only by the imagination. The first 3D planetarium. The first planetarium at sea. The first 8K planetarium. All our “firsts” are because we’re always pushing to give our customers even more. We ask our global customer base what they need, and then we tap into our decades of experience and talented people and we go and built it. We’ve been doing this since 1967.

Design, Management and Consultation :

Fulldome theaters present unique architectural and engineering challenges. We’re here to help you meet them. For your next project, tap into Sky-Skan’s decades of fulldome experience. Our in-house architecture, project management, and engineering staff has the skills, tools, and desire to make your project fit your budget and live up to your dreams.

Services : • Theater Design • Project Management • Consultation

Fulldome Theater Products:

Everything you need for your fulldome theater—whether it’s a new project or an upgrade. Our Definiti theaters are built for quality and longevity.

Products • Projection Systems • Fulldome Software • Sound • Cove/Theatrical Lighting • Seating/Interactive • Theater Automation • Domes • Custom Exhibits

Content Distribution and Production :

We distribute more than 120 show titles, supported by a world-class delivery system. Our staff can help you choose the best shows for your needs and get the content on your dome with the assurance it will look its best, no matter who installed your system. We also have one of the top production teams working in fulldome for your custom content needs.

Services • Show Distribution • Show Production • Custom Content Creation

Support and Professional Development :

Customers choose Sky-Skan because they know that we’ll be there for the long term—just ask one! Our talented professional development staff provides dedicated support, including training on-site, in groups at major industry events, or online. We want each customer to make the most of their theater.

Services • On-site Training • Range of Support Options • Hardware/Software Upgrades • DigitalSky Academy User Group

Innovation is at the core of who we are. The desire to push the boundaries and create the products our customers want is what drives us. It’s why we lead the industry and why our customers choose Sky-Skan when they want the best.

Our passion for innovation is why we create specialized products, such as our digital manual panels. We design them specifically for our Definiti theater systems, using only the highest quality components. Every panel begins with custom-machined aluminum, moves through painting and silk screening, and is then installed at the customer’s site.

We put this kind of care and commitment to quality into our entire line of custom products and installations.

If you need the best, sometimes you’ve still just got to do it yourself. We build products to meet standards so high we often have to take matters into our own hands—literally. Our Definiti HD lens 3D filter switching mechanism, for example, is machined in-house from aluminum and assembled by hand.

he result? Ultra-smooth and silent transitions from 2D to Definiti 3D at the touch of a button.

Our customers are small schools and major universities, science centers and theme parks, special venues and international expos. Each wants one thing: to give their visitors the very best. They—and their audiences—are the reason we are passionate about fulldome. Their goals and mission statements become ours, and our success is measured by every smile, every gasp of delight, every sold-out show.

Theater Design

Sky-Skan’s theater design department has designed dozens of theaters in the past few years alone. Our team has years of experience in theater layout, seating and sightline planning, equipment integration, and sound and lighting design. As the industry leader in innovative dome theater solutions, Sky-Skan’s skilled staff of engineers and planetarium professionals can ensure a unique and progressive solution to theater conceptualization, design, and systems integration.

Fulldome Video

Our long standing presence in the dome theater market has allowed us to see and develop the need for full dome video technologies as a vital tool in future show and production development. Our full dome video systems are a first-of-their-kind production tool supported by the largest ever-growing library of content available. The quality of our star fields and video is second to none.

Audio Systems

Sky-Skan’s expertise in sound system design for domed theaters is evident in some of the most prominent planetariums in the world, which enjoy high-fidelity reproduction of program soundtracks through our systems. Special emphasis is placed on system design and development, allowing for both directional control and provisions for a pleasing diffuse sound field. Automated and manual audio mixing components allow users to select and route audio sources to any combination of program channels.

Video Production

Sky-Skan pioneered the development of commercial astronomical video simulations, creating a series of special effects video discs in the 1980s and 90s. In addition, custom visuals are produced according to customer specifications. We have worked in all aspects of program production, including science research, storyboard development, script writing, soundtrack production, scientific illustration, special effects, photography, control hardware and programming, as well as complete shows. Recent customers include the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., The Eugenides Foundation in Athens Greece, The Queen Mary 2 Ocean Liner, and La Isla Magica Theme Park in Seville, Spain.

Theater Control

Since its introduction in 1985, SPICE Automation has become the media control system of choice for the world’s planetariums and space theaters. It offers a wider range of media control than any other system, and includes slide, effect, audio, video, servo device (including star projectors), lighting, and motor control.

Theater Lightning

From house lighting to ambient dome tour spotlighting to advanced cove lighting systems, Sky-Skan has designed and installed hundreds of variations over the years. We understand that lighting is not only a practical aspect of the theater – it becomes an effect in its own right. Whether cove lighting, theatrical lighting, aisle lighting, or one of the multitude of other types, we’ve virtually done it all. Sky-Skan not only designs and supplies lighting systems, but also provides automated and manual controls for analog, relay triggered, and DMX512 controlled systems.

Fulldome theaters present unique architectural and engineering challenges. We’re here to help you meet them. For your next project, tap into Sky-Skan’s decades of fulldome experience. Our in-house architecture, project management, and engineering staff has the skills, tools, and desire to make your project fit your budget and live up to your dreams.

1. Sony SXRD recognitionfor “developing the planetarium market.”

2. IPS Technology and Innovation award.

3 .NH High-Tech Council Product of the Year awardfor Definiti 3D 8K.

4. ARCHI-TECH AV Innovation awardfor Technology Consultancy to the California Academy of Sciences.

5. US Small Business Administration Exporter of the Year award.

6. Guinness World Recordsfor two customer installations: Macao, China, “HighestResolution 3D Planetarium” and Nagoya, Japan, as the world’s largest planetarium.

Glenn Smith : Sky-Skan Europe, Managing Director

Glenn’s team brings Sky-Skan’s products and services to Europe. His group has worked on many award-winning special venue projects and exhibits, including several World Expo installations.

Jack White :Sky-Skan Oceania, Director

As well as managing sales and service for the Oceania region, Jack brings his media production skills to many of Sky-Skan’s creative projects, including directing fulldome shows.

Steven T. Savage :President

Before purchasing Sky-Skan in 1984, Steve worked with many of the legends in the planetarium world. Today, he leads Sky-Skan’s team of engineers and creative visionaries in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the immersive theater market. This drive is the secret behind Sky-Skan’s decades-long success, and is why the company has introduced so many revolutionary products.

Steve has a passion for the dome environment and its ability to change minds, to inspire young people, and to visualize complex data. To do this work, theater operators need the best tools. Steve’s commitment to giving them those tools is why Sky-Skan never stops innovating.

With more than 350 sites, our customers span the globe. We support them through three offices in the United States, Germany, and Australia. Our trusted partner organizations cover sales and support for specific regions. Users can collaborate through the Digital Academy, meet for training and professional development, and learn online using the DigitalSky Academy website.

At Sky-Skan, we provide the highest level of products, service, and support to all of our customers, no matter how remote. We service installations from the Queen Mary 2 cruise liner to the small island of Kavaratti in India, and from World Expos to international universities.

We have the talent, drive, and commitment to keep our users’ systems working at their peak performance, even years after installation.

Will you be the source of the next great innovation? Contact us to see how we can exceed your expectations.