Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Official website of the State –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On November 5, 1929, the first planetarium in the USSR opened in Moscow—one of the largest in the world, a true "optical science theater." It became the 13th planetarium in the world and remains a center of scientific education and a magnet for Muscovites and visitors alike.
Proletarian, proletarian, come into the planetarium.
The story began in 1927, when the Presidium of the Moscow City Council decided to create the first Soviet planetarium in the capital. The projector was commissioned from the German firm Carl Zeiss, and the building's design was entrusted to the young architects Mikhail Barshch and Mikhail Sinyavsky, who chose the constructivist style. The egg-shaped building became a symbol of the era's technological optimism.
The opening took place on November 5, 1929. The first lecture, with an artificial starry sky, delighted the public—Vladimir Mayakovsky dedicated a poem to the event: "Proletarian, proletarian, come into the planetarium…"
First among equals
By the mid-1930s, eclipses, auroras, and comets were already being shown here—spectacles unmatched by any other planetarium in the world. The first astronomy club opened there, and the Stratospheric Committee operated there, where the first Soviet liquid-fueled rockets were developed—the future foundation of the legendary KB-7.
During the war, the planetarium continued to operate: it taught astronomy to military personnel and hosted visiting lectures at military units and hospitals. After the war, an astronomy platform was built—the largest in Moscow. From 1960 to 1975, future cosmonauts held astronavigation classes here.
New life among the stars
The planetarium's rebirth took place on June 12, 2011, after a major renovation: the building was raised six meters, and a Small Star Hall and a 4D cinema were added.
Today, the Moscow Planetarium is a unique scientific and educational complex with observatories and an astronomy site, equipped with the latest scientific and technological advances. It is one of the top ten most visited museums in the capital and continues to open the way to the stars for generations.
Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: November 5, 2025.
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