Ever wondered what being an astronaut is like? If you have, cool gadgets like a star projector can help simulate that experience for you!

Star Projector Uses

The basic purpose of a star projector is to light up a room in such a way that it looks like you’re surrounded by constellations. Star projectors are very versatile. They can be used to soothe small children or can help illuminate a party (depending on the one you get). Some star projectors can even play music! With many capabilities, it is easy to assume that a star projector may cost you a pretty penny, but our list shows that this is not always the case!

Star Light Projector Final Words

You can get a great star projector within your budget to help fulfill your astronaut desires, amuse the children, or to simply add decor to your room or event!

1. Homestar Classic

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Why we like: This star projector displays a brilliant view of the night sky with an immersive 3D effect.

This is a definitive home planetarium system. It uses discs to display the images on your ceiling and walls. That means if you get bored of what’s included in the box, you can always buy more spectacular slides to view. The stars look great, but the room will need to be rather dark in order to appreciate their beauty. Unfortunately, that means it doesn’t make a very good classroom tool, especially if the room has windows. This star projector was developed in collaboration with Ohira Takayuki, who is respected for his work on professional planetarium systems. A lot of scientific quality has been put into this projector.

The Homestar Classic is spherical, aside from the supporting frame. It comes with a variety of convenient controls, including 15, 30, and 60-minute timer options. The sphere rotates and you can adjust the direction of rotation. Make sure you adjust the lenses, you’ll need to do a bit of set up to ensure the stars are clear. Though this product is more expensive than some others on our list, if you’re looking for a star show for you and your friends to enjoy, and want a projector from some of the most trusted names in the industry, this could be the product for you.

2. SOAIY Soothing Aurora LED Night Light Projector

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Why we like it: This projector rocks a modern style and has speakers, making it a great item for parties.

At this point, you may be wondering if we’re ever going to get to some products for you, the adult. Fret not, this SOAIY aurora projector has innovative features and respectable styling. Technically, it projects something more akin to the Northern lights than stars, but it gives the same atmospheric feel. This updated version includes more features than ever before. It can be set on a 1 hour, 2 hour, or 4 hour timer. You can also use it without a timer. It comes with 8 lighting projection modes and you can choose what colors you want it to display. It will function as a night-light if you leave the protective dome on, but the dome can be easily removed to transform the atmosphere into a spectacular light show.

One of the best features of this product is the built-in speaker. Just pass the aux cord and you can play your favourite music while surrounded by fascinating colors. This makes it the perfect addition to parties or to a romantic dance with your partner. The product includes a remote that allows you to easily adjust the timer, light colors, light brightness, and music volume, besides turn it on and off. Another great aspect of buying this product is SOAIY’s wonderful customer service. They’re extremely responsive to questions and concerns and they’ll even replace your projector if anything should go wrong in the first year. Our only warning about this product is that the rotary gears can sometimes wear down and squeak. But considering it will function while stationary and it comes with a 1 year warranty, this product is more than worth your money.

Recommended Read: Best Karaoke Machines for Kids

3. Star Light Rotating Projector by MOKOQI

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Why we like it: Affordable and versatile, this updated product has many handy settings.

If you’re looking for an extra cool night light for your kid, this is it. The lamp has a neat egg shape and comes in either black or white. The star cover is removable, so if you want to use it as an ordinary night light for any reason, you can do that. There are two ways to power it. You can either use the USB connection, or do it the old fashioned way with 4 AAA batteries (not included). The lamp projects light via 4 LED bulbs, which are colored red, green, blue, and white.

You might be worried about the lights being too bright to use with small children. The lights are soft and the cover makes the light even softer. The projector has 5 buttons, which change the color combinations and adjust the timer, rotation. This is a very customizable star projector. One minor downside is that it doesn’t work apart from the timer. This isn’t too much of a problem since you can set the time for over 16 hours. A bigger problem is that the lamp eats through batteries pretty quickly with the rotation on. However, with the USB power option, you can bypass this problem. Overall, this is a great option if you’re looking for something to calm your children to sleep. It’s affordable, customizable, and is the best selling new arrival for its category on Amazon.

4. Star Theater Pro by Uncle Milton

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Why we like it: The projector displays high quality images of the heavens, and you can buy discs for it, giving you a broad viewing selection.

This black globe has a professional, sleek look to it. The way it operates is quite different from the products we’ve previously listed. It utilizes discs and rotates celestial pictures on the ceiling. Two discs are included in the box with one of the earth, moon, and sun and another picturing a field of stars. Though the included discs are nice, you can purchase more scientific ones from other providers. This is a handy option, especially if you plan on using the Star Theater Pro as an educational tool. It will work with any kind of ceiling, but unless the ceiling is domed, the edges of the picture will be blurred. However, the blurring is very slight and shouldn’t bother most people.

This is a higher grade star projector, but thankfully, the main sphere can be swiveled into almost any position, allowing you to set it up wherever you want. It also includes a relaxing planetarium CD, though the star projector itself can’t play music. You can set a power-off timer in addition to adjusting the focus with the help of buttons located on the sphere. The Star Theater Pro can run off AA batteries, or you can use the included AC adapter. Though it is a bit expensive, we believe you will get a lot of enjoyment out of this product, especially if you acquire some more slides.

5. Stuffed Owl LED Star Projector by Bubzi Co.

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Why we like it: This is the perfect thing to help your child get sleep. Not only does it display calming stars, it also plays soothing sounds.

If you’re looking for a snuggly star projector that can play soothing lullabies, look no further. The product listing uses the term “shusher sound machine” (is shusher even a word?), which has a bit of an ominous tone. Thankfully there is nothing ominous about this owl. It is perfectly cute and safe. The entire body of the owl is soft, except for the hard plastic circle in the owl’s chest that emits light. The owl can play music. A LOT of music. It has 10 songs programmed into it, which consists of classic lullabies, nursery rhyme tunes, and bird and heart beat noises .

The owl is easy to wash considering all the features it has. Just remove the plastic center piece, and the rest of the owl can be hand washed in cold water. It would be a nice touch if it were machine wash safe, but unfortunately, it’s not. The sound will automatically turn off after 30 minutes, but you can adjust the volume to your taste. Some customers have noted the sound quality isn’t very high, but this is a young kid’s toy, and we doubt they’re going to complain. We found most children are more interested in the lights than the music. Speaking of lights, the projected stars will cover most the ceiling. The plush body of the owl also provides great cushioning for the electronics, so it’s hard to break. If you want something to entertain and soothe your children, this is a great buy.

6. Cloud b Twilight Turtle Classic Nightlight Soother

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Why we like it: This starry and cuddly turtle is sure to be a great addition to any nursery.

This adorable nightlight star projector delivers a delightful optical experience. With this kid-friendly device, you can quickly convert the ceiling of any dark bedroom into a bright, starry night sky. Wildly effective at making children feel more comfortable each night, this light comes with more than a basic star projector’s features.

A built-in timer ensures this star projector does not stay on all night, shutting off after 45 minutes to help children and adults alike enter deep sleep without distractions. A total of three separate color options give the projections a special look and feel depending on your preferences. Amber, green and blue comprise the available choices. Transforming your nursery with this projector is easy and enjoyable.

7. StarBee Projection Light

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Why we like it: Cute and simple, this bee-shaped projector is a great addition to any nursery.

This is a very straightforward projector. Shaped like a bee, it’s bound to brighten up your nursery. Little star cutouts in its back allow light to shine forth. We’re featuring the yellow and black edition, but Galaxy Beetlestar also sells some more whimsical color pairings. It has a convenient touch sensitive on/off switch and automatically turns off after 45 minutes, which is ideal for use with infants. The lights will shine in three different colors: orange, green, and blue. It operates off of 3 AAA batteries. It’s an efficient light, and should last for 60 nights before you have to change the batteries.

While it is energy efficient, the light isn’t very bright, meaning you won’t see any stars unless the room is quite dark. This hampers its usefulness for naps. Additionally, the bee doesn’t double as a stuffed animal because it is made from hard plastic. It is a cute bee, but not a cuddly bee. Thankfully, this does mean that it is drop resistant, so if your child tosses it around, it should still work. Another benefit of the plastic is that it makes cleaning the star projector easier.