Morelia Planetarium

🪐 A Journey to the Stars in the Shape of a Comet 🚀

If you thought Morelia was all about churches and quarry stone, look up. Next to the Convention Center (CECONEXPO) stands a futuristic structure that looks like it landed from space: it's the Morelia Planetarium “Lic. Felipe Rivera”.

Inaugurated on September 29, 1975This place is a classic for families in Morelia and a jewel of optical engineering that has withstood the digital age.

🔭 The German Heart: The Mark IV

What makes this planetarium special is not just its size, but the machine at its center: a projector Carl Zeiss Mark IV, a marvel of German engineering designed by Walther Bauersfeld. Unlike modern digital projectors, this optical “robot” with 175 lenses works with mesmerizing mechanical precision. It is capable of projecting more than 8,000 stars in its semi-spherical dome 20 meters in diameter.

• The experience: Watching the Mark IV light up is magical. You can observe the daily rotation of the sky, the movement of the planets, and feel immersed in the universe with a "deep black" quality that digital screens sometimes envy.

☄️ Cosmic Architecture

Before entering, take a moment to admire the exterior. The building was designed with comet shape, evoking the movement of the stars. Its interior is no less impressive: the floor plan is shaped like a eight-pointed star. It is architecture designed to look to the sky.

🧑‍🚀 What else will you find?

In addition to the star-studded performances, the venue is a small space museum:

• Spacesuits: It displays replicas of astronaut suits (including a life-size model).

• Scale Model Ships: You will be able to see 12 scale models of famous spaceships and themed murals.

• The Name: It is named “Lic. Felipe Rivera” in honor of an illustrious Michoacan (originally from Zinapécuaro) who, being a lawyer by profession and an astronomer at heart, discovered a Nova star in the constellation of Perseus in 1901.

📍 Why visit it from Pátzcuaro?

It's the perfect getaway if you're traveling with children or teenagers who need a break from viceregal history. It's educational, engaging, and visually stunning. Plus, its location is strategic: it's on Avenida Ventura Puente, right next to the Convention Center y del famoso Morelia Orchidarium (which we'll talk about later), so you can kill two birds with one stone.