A galaxy projector is a small device which casts images/videos such as moving stars, nebulae, or galaxies onto ceilings or walls. Designed to recreate the night sky or outer space indoors, they work well in any averaged sized dark room. Galaxy projectors are used for many reasons, primarily for relaxation, décor, atmosphere, or children's bedrooms.
This guide has been made to explain how these projectors work, the different types available on the market and which features to look for.
How Does a Galaxy Projector Work?
Pretty much all galaxy projectors made for public use work on a simple principle: there is a light source which passes through something that shapes the light and then is projected onto a surface.
Light source - Inside the projector there will either one, or many light sources. Most of the time these are LEDs which are efficient, last much longer than traditional bulbs, and generate less heat. To generate the spectacular nebula colours (blues, purples, greens etc), different coloured lights are used in conjunction with each other.
The lens (or filter) - As light passes through the lens (or textured layer/patterned filter) an image is created. A filter with many tiny holes can produce an array of sparkling stars while a layered or pattern filter can create a swirling, cloudy effect of a nebula. In other cases (like our planetarium projector), a disc is used which holds a printed or etched image of a specific galaxy or star formation and sits in front of the light - with the lens focussing it into a picture.
Movement - Most projectors have a movement effect which makes the space vista come to life, usually by rotation. An internal motor is used which slowly turns the lens or light housing at a very slow, constant speed so the projected image or pattern shifts slowly around the room - giving that super-calming effect.
All in all, you end up with an incredible, atmospheric display on your ceiling or wall that is brought to life with shifting movements and gradual colour changes. Sometimes people use projectors as calming lighting effects for bedrooms rather than the star displays - which just goes to show how versatile they can be.
Types of Galaxy Projectors
Given how versatile these projectors are, you will usually find many different types and it's important to pick the right one. The categories and types often overlap so make sure to thoroughly review any product page first to ensure it meets all of your requirements.
Novelty/Shaped Projectors
These types of projectors often feature a decorative body such as an astronaut, planet, or pretty much anything else that can be moulded into a fun shape! As the shape is often a large part of the appeal, they work very well as gifts for children and tend to be easier to operate with not as many functions as some of the larger, more expensive projectors. Our astronaut projector is a perfect example here.
Planetarium Projectors (Disc Based)
Similar to how a planetarium works, interchangeable discs are used and each disc holds a different image or view. Some examples might be a view of the starry night sky, a set of constellations or nebulae, or perhaps the planets of a solar system.
To change the image, you’ll need to select a different disc, taking out the previous one and replacing it with a new one each time for a new experience (you can use each disc more than once). These disc-based planetarium projectors are much more educational, as they feature more recognisable and educational views of space rather than just an abstract light show or something to imitate space or the night sky. Our Cosmos Planetarium projector is a great example of this approach.
App-Controlled Projectors
As the name implies, these projectors will always connect to a phone with usually very limited physical controls on the projector itself. They’ll connect using Wi-fi or Bluetooth and the biggest benefit with using an app to control your projector, is that you usually get a much wider array of customisation and options.
For example, the brightness, effects, speed, and colour, can all be customised from a simple app display. The biggest appeal therefore is the huge number of displays you can have, for example, if you’re looking for a very specific colour or effect, there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to find it on the colour spectrum located within the app. Because of this flexibility, It appeals to a very wide range of people who are looking for the space effect or aura in their room. The Galaxy Projector Halo of ours is an app-controlled projector.
Star, Nebula, and Aurora Projectors
This group of projectors are usually defined by their effects rather than the actual functional design or internal features of the projector itself (such as timers, brightness etc.). If you’re looking at star projectors, you’ll usually find that they focus on scattered points of light with some colour customisation options.
Nebula projectors will usually create clouds of colour, possibly among a starry night sky. You may also come across Aurora projectors which are slightly rarer and these imitate the rippling bands effect of the Northern Lights. Many of these general purpose projectors will blend either two or three of these key effects together.
Common Features to Look For
As Galaxy projectors can vary a lot in terms of what they offer, there are some features that are very popular and come up often. Below, we will cover these features and describe what each one of them does.
Timer: This one is fairly self-explanatory; it switches the projector off automatically after a set time. Sometimes, If the projector has physical button controls, you will have fixed time options, say two or four hours. Other projectors which have an app generally allow you to set a custom time This is to ensure it doesn’t run all night needlessly.
Remote control: This lets you change the settings from across the room without having to get up every time you want a change. It’s convenient, but the remote control is very easy to lose!
App control: As mentioned above under app-controlled projectors, this is where you’d need to download an app onto your phone (and therefore no longer risk losing a remote!) that will give you access to a greater range of customisation options such as colours and effects.
Adjustable brightness: Depending on what mood you’re looking for and which room it’s in, this setting can be important. It will allow you to set the display to be softer (great for falling asleep to in the bedroom) or much brighter, if the room is lighter/a much livelier setting.
Rotation speed: This controls how quickly the pattern drifts across the walls. Slower speeds generally feel more relaxing and are good for falling asleep to, while faster ones feel a bit more dynamic and usually better for fast-paced settings such as a party.
Colour modes: This will allow you to choose the colour. It may be a single colour, several colours combined or a combination of colours and effects.
Bluetooth or built in speaker: Not everyone wants to set up Wi-fi with their projector, Bluetooth can become incredibly helpful if you’re using an app-controlled Galaxy projector. The speaker can be used to play either white noise or an educational script explaining what’s currently being shown. Scripts are most often found in planetarium projectors and can be a great way to fall asleep.
Focus adjustment: This simply allows you to adjust the focus of the projector to ensure the stars look sharper or softer depending on the setting and generally helps the image fit the different room sizes.
Remember that not every projector needs every feature, carefully consider what you’re looking for and what you really want. Find the model that suits your needs and remember that simpler models and settings usually keep things easier while more advanced ones give more control, but they can take longer to set up.
What Are Galaxy Projectors Used For?
Galaxy projectors can be used in a wide variety of settings, which explains just why they’re so popular here in the UK.
Children’s bedrooms: Many parents and carers of young children use them as a gentle night light which help give the room a magical feel. This allows them to fall asleep easily due to the gentle lighting and movement. Projectors which have customisability options such as brightness and colours do very well here, and of course, the novelty designs are very popular.
Sleep and relaxation: Projectors that have slow movement, soft colours, and brightness can help create a very calm environment in the evenings. Many people dream of falling asleep under the stars and some of our projectors are able to fulfil this fantasy. In addition, some of our projectors have speakers built in with the ability to play white noise or nature tracks, but people often just pair the projector with quiet music or a wind down playlist. This signals that it’s time to rest and helps you go to sleep easily.
Gaming and streaming setups: Gamers and streamers use projectors as background lighting to create a mood or ambience that fits their persona. Projectors which are highly customisable and that allow you to adjust the colours, brightness, or images do very well here.
Parties and gatherings: Projectors with livelier colours, higher brightness, and faster movement work very well as backdrops for parties. Birthdays, sleepovers, or get togethers are a perfect fit as they add that extra little bit of ambiance.
Décor and ambiance: Some people just use them to change the mood of a certain room like a living room or a bedroom. A projector does a very good job of making a plain ceiling feel more interesting and more magical than if it was just a plain wall. Customisable settings mean you can always just change the projector to suit the mood you want for the room.
Learning and curiosity: as mentioned above under the different types of projectors, disc models (for example the planetarium projector) usually include an educational audio track which helps explain what each image is showing. As these images are based on real star formations, they help both children and adults recognise certain constellations and planets.
Good things to know before buying one
Here are a few general points and tips to help you get the most from your Galaxy projector.
Darkness is important. All of our projectors use light to display stars, constellations etc, and therefore all of our devices work best in a dim or dark room. If it’s placed somewhere in bright daylight, or somewhere with another significant light source, the projected image will look faint and washed out.
This means it won’t be as effective or atmospheric as you (or us!) would like. It’s also important to set the projector up in the right area of the room, this will affect how well it fills the room and how sharp the image is. We will cover this separately in a future blog post.
Keep it away from liquids. Like most small electrical devices which aren’t waterproof, a Galaxy projector should be kept well away from liquids, fluids, and damp areas in general as this can cause damage to the internal circuit and also pose a safety hazard.
Check the light source. Some older projectors use traditional halogen bulbs; these tend to be inefficient and will need replacing regularly - meaning it’s more expensive and less convenient to run.
Most projectors that we offer use LEDs which are the best option as they rarely need replacing and they are very energy efficient. Keep in mind that some also use lasers, be sure to look at a manufacturer’s guidance here to ensure you follow the best safety practises and keep the beam away from people’s eyes.
Follow the instructions. All projectors will come with some form of instruction booklet or product manual, which will cover the power supply, ventilation, safety, and suitable services. These will vary between models so be sure to read through the manufacturer’s manual before setting up your projector and switching it on.
Conclusion
To sum up, a galaxy projector is a great and easy way to turn any room into something magical and captivating, whether it be a simple starry night sky or an incredible nebula bursting with colour.
You may be looking for a great novelty design like an astronaut projector or something more educational like a disc-based planetarium projector, either way, they all work by shining shaped and moving light onto a flat surface to create a calm, atmospheric effect. Take a look at all of the Galaxy projectors we have on sale today and let us know if you have any questions.