The optical planetarium "M-1" developed by GOTO INC in the late 50s has been certified as a "Mechanical Heritage * " for 2023 by the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.

This projector is Japan's first full-scale mass-produced and commercially available optical planetarium projector and is a Morrison-type projector that incorporates a unique planet-shelf mechanism.

Starting with the unveiling of the first model at the Tokyo International Trade Fair in 1959, many deliveries were made both domestically and internationally through 1970, and it was recognized as the basis for the worldwide recognition of Japanese planetarium equipment.
The same type of projector (right photo) delivered to the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology in 1965 (right photo) is still in operation today.

* Mechanical heritage
The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers has accredited "Mechanical Engineering Heritage", a historical heritage mainly related to mechanical technology, with the aim of carefully preserving historical mechanical technology-related heritage and passing it on to the next generation as a cultural heritage.

[Photo Description]
The photo of the M-1 projector of the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, which has been certified as a mechanical heritage, does not have the sun, moon, and planet projectors (the cylindrical parts above and below the projector), but the M-1 model has the planet projectors above and below as shown in the photo.

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING HERITAGE NO.117 Goto Planetarium Type M-1.

The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.