Armand Spitz

Armand Spitz was an American astronomer and inventor known for revolutionizing planetarium technology in the post-World War II era. He recognized the high costs associated with traditional planetarium projectors and developed a more accessible design, notably replacing the expensive globe used for accurate projections with a dodecahedron, a suggestion inspired by Albert Einstein. This innovation significantly increased the number of planetariums worldwide, including the notable Planetario de Montevideo, which opened in 1955 and is one of only three of its kind globally. Spitz's contributions have left a lasting legacy in the field of astronomy education and public engagement.