Spherical mirror: a new approach to hemispherical dome projection

Planetariums and smaller personal domes can provide an immersive environment for science education, virtual reality, and entertainment. Digital projection into domes, called 'full dome projection', can be a technically challenging and expensive exercise, particularly for installations with modest budgets. An alternative full dome digital projection system is presented here that is based upon a single projector and a spherical mirror to scatter the light onto the dome surface. The approach offers many advantages over the fisheye lens alternatives, results in a similar quality, but at a fraction of the cost