A Universe of Experience

Spitz and Evans & Sutherland pioneered the planetarium and immersive computer graphics fields. We design, fabricate, program, and create content for dome theaters and dome classrooms around the world.

Spitz logo
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Worldwide Reach

Spitz and E&S theaters deliver breathtaking experiences to hundreds of millions around the globe

Countries

Theaters

Years

World Class Clients

Our installations are the focal points of major science museums and planetariums, and deliver signature experiences at the world’s most prominent theme parks and attractions.

Griffith Observatory logo
European Southern Observatory logo
Adler Planetarium logo
IMAX logo
Stiftung Planetarium Berlin logo
SeaWorld
U.S. Space & Rocket Center logo
California Academy of Sciences logo
Liberty Science Center logo

Innovation is in our

DNA

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1947

First widely used planetarium projector

  • Armand Spitz‘s revolutionary Model A1 made the planetarium affordable for schools and museums of all sizes
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1963

First graphical computer interface

  • Ivan Sutherland invents Sketchpad, considered to be the first computer-aided design (CAD) program – a major breakthrough in the development of computer graphics
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1966

Model A3P & “Spitz Classroom”

  • The workhorse Spitz A3P went on to become the world’s most popular planetarium projector, with nearly 1,000 installations worldwide
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1966

First computer-controlled planetarium

  • The Spitz Space Transit Planetarium  includes a third axis of rotation and precision planet projector control able to simulate travel away from Earth
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1968

First head-mounted VR

  • E&S demonstrates virtual reality with a prototype nicknamed Sword of Damocles, in reference to a component suspended somewhat ominously above the operator
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1973

First Dome IMAX

  • Spitz creates the first dome IMAX theater: a tilted-seating Spitz STS Planetarium which includes a new IMAX dome projector. To this day, IMAX uses Spitz domes exclusively
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1977

First animated, textured computer model

  • The groundbreaking “E&S Hand” also becomes the first 3D computer graphic shown in a Hollywood movie – 1977’s Futureworld
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1981

First digital planetarium

  • The E&S Digistar offers the first 3D starfields and complex wireframe animations in a planetarium, launching a revolution in immersive visual display
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1982

E&S powers Star Trek II SFX

  • Digistar provides tactical bridge displays for USS Enterprise, as well as 3D moving starfields which open and close the film
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1990

Powder coated dome

  • Becoming the standard for IMAX Domes around the world, Spitz electrostatically applies epoxy powder coating to deliver a perfectly uniform optical finish conventional paint can’t achieve
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2002

Digistar 3 transforms planetariums

  • E&S debuts the first fully interactive real-time 3D planetarium and fulldome 180 x 360 video projection system
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2006

Spitz joins the E&S family

  • Evans & Sutherland becomes the first full-capability dome theater provider, delivering inner and outer domes, projection and computing, content, theater design, and integration of all elements
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2008

First seamless projection dome

  • Spitz NanoSeam™ is the first projection dome with no folds, overlaps, or irregularities, making seams invisible under projection. Over 200 have since been delivered
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2019

DomeX LED dome

  • E&S is leading the revolution in shared immersive experience. DomeX provides brightness and contrast far exceeding conventional projection, heightening the sense that You Are There
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2020

Cosm Acquires E&S and Spitz

  • E&S and Spitz become cornerstones of Cosm, a global technology company that enables people to experience entertainment in a new way, across three primary markets: Sports and Entertainment, Science and Education, and Parks and Attractions
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2020

Cosm Experience Center

  • Experience the DomeX LED Dome and our complete technology capabilities at the Cosm Experience Center, our demonstration and R&D facility in Salt Lake City
Armand Spitz with Model A1 and kids
Ivan Sutherland with Sketchpad
Spitz A3P planetarium projector
Spitz Space Transit Planetarium projector
E&S "Sword of Damocles" virtual reality prototype
Spitz STS "Space Voyager" planetarium
E&S Hand 3D model
Digistar starfield with planet orbits and spacecraft
Star Trek II still featuring E&S computer-generated imagery
Photo of powder coated dome
Digistar 3 product photo
Spitz - An E&S Company logo
NanoSeam dome at Adler Planetarium
Photo of DomeX LED dome
Cosm ES Xpitz logo
Cosm Experience Center

Immersive Experience is Our Passion

Providing design and engineering, imaging and spatial computing, dome screens and architectural domes, Evans & Sutherland and Spitz are the world’s only turnkey provider of complete dome theaters.