Reporter: Rocío Castañeda / Photos: Israel Vera — October 15, 2026
Since January 2, 1967, the "Luis Enrique Erro" Planetarium has opened the doors of astronomical knowledge to Mexican society, bringing together families, school groups, and generations of young space enthusiasts.
With nearly 60 years of history, the iconic "Luis Enrique Erro" Planetarium of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) stands as a landmark in public science communication. It has brought astrophysics and cosmic exploration to audiences of all ages while witnessing major astronomical events for humanity.
Inaugurated in 1967 as the first public planetarium in Mexico, the venue—named in honor of renowned Mexican astrophysicist and IPN visionary Luis Enrique Erro—fulfills its mission daily: making science accessible through its flagship Digital Immersion Dome, featuring cutting-edge projection technology and over 200 seats engineered to experience space on Earth.
Inside the 20-meter-diameter hemispherical dome, visitors enjoy immersive shows that journey through the cosmos, explore distant stars, and examine archaeoastronomy, sparking scientific curiosity across generations.
Every space within the architectural complex, located at IPN's "Adolfo López Mateos" Campus in Zacatenco, demonstrates that science delivers profoundly transformative experiences.
For the "Luis Enrique Erro" Planetarium, sharing scientific knowledge in an engaging, accessible, and affordable manner is fundamental. Its visual projections are concise, scientifically rigorous, and narrated in language tailored for children, youth, and adults alike.
The facility's current outreach strategy focuses on strengthening ties with young children to plant the seeds of scientific passion early in life.
"The goal is for young visitors to realize they don't need to be professional astronomers to engage with science, ensuring that curiosity stays with them into adulthood," noted Dr. Fernando Montes Carrillo, Head of IPN's Directorate for Science Outreach and Technology (DDiCyT).
To this end, the IPN Planetarium’s Digital Immersion Dome offers a varied schedule from Tuesday through Sunday (10:00 AM to 6:00 PM), featuring productions such as Solaris, 3, 2, 1 Lift-off!, and Me, Earth (recommended for ages 5 and up); The Human Body (ages 8 and up); Mayan Archaeoastronomy and Mexica Archaeoastronomy (ages 9 and up); as well as Phantom of the Universe and The Celestial Palace (ages 11 and up).
Fact of Interest: The venue honors astronomer Luis Enrique Erro, an IPN founder and key catalyst for Mexico's modern scientific infrastructure.
Featured in the current schedule is the short film 5000 Eyes (premiered in 2024), which details the creation of the largest 3D map of the Universe in human history through an international collaboration of over 500 scientists. The initiative aims to deepen understanding of dark energy—one of modern physics' greatest mysteries. Directed by Claire Lamman of Harvard University and produced by the Fiske Planetarium at the University of Colorado, the documentary involved 70 research institutions across 25 countries.
Furthermore, Dr. Montes Carrillo explained that the planetarium produces original content, including Solaris: An Adventure in the Solar System and Saturnin (a series of animated educational shorts).
As a witness to historic space events, in October 2025, the IPN established Mexico's first live amateur radio link to the International Space Station (ISS) directly from the planetarium. During the live transmission, student delegates spoke directly with astronaut Zena Cardman, commander of the NASA-SpaceX Crew-11 mission.
Its mission to bring astronomy closer to society also drives active participation in Mexico's annual "Night of the Stars" (La Noche de las Estrellas). Notable guest speakers have included NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore, who shared his experiences from 464 cumulative days in orbit with the Polytechnic community in May 2026.
Beyond its architectural significance, the complex houses exceptional artistic and historical features, such as the perimeter mural Astronomy Through History by master artist Adolfo Delgado. Located in the main lobby, this artwork—unique in Mexico and among the most prominent in Latin America—depicts humanity's evolving understanding of the heavens from ancient civilizations to the space age.
Adjacent to the main dome lies the Constellations Building (Edificio Constelaciones). Its Astronomy Hall offers an interactive museum tour combining hands-on exhibits, historical artifacts, high-fidelity replicas—such as NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour—and flight simulators.
When first inaugurated in 1967, the Planetarium featured a state-of-the-art Carl Zeiss Mark IV optomechanical projector. Over its six-decade history, the facility has undergone continuous technological overhauls to maintain its status as an educational benchmark.
Currently, the Secretariat of Research and Postgraduate Studies (SIP), through the DDiCyT, is executing a major technological renovation of the hemispherical theater. The installation of a novel digital projection system and immersive spatial audio will position it among the most advanced university planetariums in Latin America.
Engineered by Digitalis, the streamlined system architecture utilizes a unified server and dual high-resolution projectors to deliver superior image clarity, operational reliability, and ease of maintenance. The implementation of this state-of-the-art 8K immersive platform will allow the planetarium to showcase complex scientific phenomena with unprecedented detail.
As part of its physical expansion, the venue recently opened Casa Tierra (Earth House). Featuring an interactive spherical projection display with a capacity for 40 visitors, the hall allows guests to study planetary atmospheres, climate systems, and Solar System dynamics interactively.
Outdoor facilities and hands-on workshop spaces have also been modernized to accommodate nearly 8,000 monthly visitors—a figure that exceeds 15,000 during peak holiday periods.
Fact of Interest: The IPN Planetarium served as a primary public observation hub during historic solar eclipses, including the total solar eclipses of July 11, 1991, and April 8, 2024.
Reflecting this sustained community engagement, the "Luis Enrique Erro" Planetarium recorded over 48,000 visitors to its Digital Dome between January and June 2026. In 2025, the facility welcomed 152,482 total visitors, while its Mobile Dome—a portable hemispherical projection unit for outreach tours—reached an additional 10,730 people across remote communities.
At the core of the venue's enduring prestige is its dedicated staff, whose daily commitment ensures a memorable educational experience for every guest.
"We invite everyone to discover the 'Luis Enrique Erro' Planetarium and its new interactive halls, where cosmic knowledge is shared in a welcoming way for all audiences," stated Dr. Fernando Montes. "For nearly six decades, this institution has served as a gateway to the Universe—a space where science inspires, sparks imagination, and invites us to better understand our place in the cosmos."
Stay tuned for the official grand reopening as the IPN prepares to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its iconic planetarium!
INSTITUTO POLITÉCNICO NACIONAL
D.R. Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN). Av. Luis Enrique Erro S/N, Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, Zacatenco, Alcaldía Gustavo A. Madero, C.P. 07738, Ciudad de México. Conmutador: 55 57 29 60 00 / 55 57 29 63 00.
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