“Forum départemental des Sciences” in Villeneuve-d’Ascq: a 14 m concentric hybrid planetarium by RSA Cosmos and Konica Minolta

The Forum départemental des Sciences – Centre François Mitterrand in Villeneuve-d’Ascq has reopened its planetarium to the public on October 18, 2025, after an ambitious renovation led by RSA Cosmos – Konica Minolta Planetarium. As the installer of the original system in 1996, RSA Cosmos is strengthening a long-standing relationship with this historic client, built on renewed trust and collaboration.

A historic planetarium transformed

With its 14 meter dome, the Forum’s planetarium is one of the largest in France. Since its opening in 1996, it has welcomed generations of visitors fascinated by the sky and space, hosting over 35,000 sessions and more than one million visitors. Until recently, the planetarium still operated with its original SN88-II opto-mechanical system by RSA Cosmos. This historic projector has now been carefully dismantled and will be displayed in the Forum’s lobby, a tribute to the venue’s past that also celebrates its renewal.

An innovative hybrid system

The renovation propels the planetarium into a new era with the integration of a hybrid system combining optical and digital projection, all within a concentric configuration. This rare setup makes the Forum des Sciences one of the few centers in France to adopt such a configuration, ensuring a fully immersive 360° experience.

Technical highlights:

• Konica Minolta Cosmo Leap Σ starball, delivering an exceptionally precise and realistic starry sky
• Six Sony GTZ 380 video projectors, offering a bright, seamless 6K digital projection
• RSA Cosmos’ flagship software, SkyExplorer, providing scientifically accurate content, a breathtakingly realistic representation of the Universe, and total immersion for audiences of all ages
• A brand-new 3D immersive sound system
• New seating and carpeting, for greater comfort and a modernized aesthetic
• A complete dome cleaning, ensuring optimal visual quality

The result: a faithful and spectacular night sky, enhanced by cutting-edge immersive experiences powered by SkyExplorer.

Preserving the identity of the venue

This modernization reflects a strong commitment to preserving the planetarium’s identity—continuing to offer visitors the pure beauty of the starry sky made possible by an optical projector.

“We are delighted to see all these years of collaboration with RSA Cosmos come to fruition through the renewal of our theater. RSA Cosmos’ proposal perfectly met our expectations. Keeping a concentric setup with a central planetarium and prioritizing visitor comfort were well understood and carefully studied. The result is a hybrid system that allows us to preserve our choices in cultural programming and scientific mediation.”

— André Amossé, Head of the Mediation Team

A renewed experience for the public

Since October 18, visitors are able to experience a more realistic sky than ever before, enhanced by a brand-new 6K hybrid projection system that fully harnesses the capabilities of SkyExplorer. The venue has been completely redesigned, featuring new seats, modern carpeting, and optimized acoustics, while remaining true to its history through the display of the former SN88-II starball at the entrance. 

With this renovation, the Forum départemental des Sciences reaffirms its position as a key center for scientific mediation in the Hauts-de-France region.

 

For RSA Cosmos, this project embodies the continuity and lasting trust built with the Forum des Sciences since 1996, and highlights the company’s commitment to supporting its clients over the long term.

WATCH THE TIMELAPSE VIDEO OF THE PROJECT !