GOTO INC is proud to announce the delivery of the CHIRON III Hybrid Planetarium System at the James S. McDonnell Planetarium, located within the Saint Louis Science Center in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

This installation marks a historic milestone—64 years after GOTO’s original L-1 projector was installed as the facility’s very first planetarium projector in 1962. Occurring in 2026, the year of GOTO INC’s 100th anniversary, this accomplishment serves as one of the most exciting highlights of our centennial year.
The official opening ceremony took place on July 18, 2026, where GOTO INC President Nobutaka Goto attended and delivered a congratulatory address.

The centerpiece of this major renovation is a state-of-the-art hybrid projection system. GOTO’s flagship optical CHIRON III main projector and independent planet projectors operate in seamless synchronization with Cosm’s Digistar system through advanced hybrid technology.
CHIRONⅢ is the world’s first optical projector capable of displaying all 9,500 individual stars with accurate relative sizes and natural colors, and the installed unit features an incredible 1-billion-microstar Milky Way projection capability. Also within a compact 48 cm diameter star ball, it boasts versatile features including selectable star magnitudes and a digital shutter system that allows precise control over the projection area. This is the first delivery of the CHIRON III model in the United States.
Additionally, four stacked Sony VPL-GTZ380 video projectors equipped with GOTO INC fisheye lenses deliver breathtaking digital imagery, captivating audiences during both hybrid and fully digital presentations.

Through this extensive, months-long renovation, the James S. McDonnell Planetarium upgraded not only its projection equipment, but also its dome screen and sound systems. Now transformed into a world-class, cutting-edge facility, the planetarium takes an exciting first step into a new era.

Website；
James S. McDonnell Planetarium（Saint Louis Science Center）

Media links；
KMOV (Channel 4)
KTVI/KPLR (Channel 2 and 11)
Blog post

For more detailes；
CHIRONⅢ