The Donald E. Bianchi Planetarium is operated by CSUN's Department of Physics and Astronomy. It is named after the founding dean of our College of Science and Mathematics, who was instrumental in obtaining the funds for Science Buildings III and IV and the Planetarium. The late Dr. Adrian Herzog was the first planetarium director, and the design concept is his.
With the support of Dean Edward J. Carroll, Jr., the planetarium began offering regularly scheduled public shows for the first time in 2002.
At the heart of our 105-seat star theater lies the Spitz-512 Star Projector, capable of recreating the night sky on our 40-foot dome with accuracy and brilliance. Over 2,000 stars, the five visible planets, and all of the apparent motions of the sky come alive overhead in a unique and relaxing environment. The Bianchi Planetarium is also equipped to support large format image projection and captivating digital sound.