Jeffco Rogue Planetarium: Bringing the Cosmos Back to Lakewood

The Darkening of Our Local Sky

When I was a child, I felt hopelessly lost—a kid adrift in a crowd, searching for a sense of purpose. That all changed the day I stepped into the local Jefferson County planetarium right here in Lakewood, Colorado. Seeing the unblemished night sky projected above me wasn't just an educational field trip; it was the moment I found my life’s trajectory. It gave me hope, a cosmic perspective, and a relentless drive to study the universe.

Recently, the decision was made to demolish that very facility, allowing the lights to go out on Jeffco’s curiosity. But we cannot let the entropy of institutional bureaucracy steal the stars from the next generation. If the physical building is gone, we simply bypass the state machine and take the universe directly to the people.

Welcome to the Rogue Planetarium Project.

Who I Am

My name is Ariel Manzanares-Scisney, and I am the founder of Majesty in Monotony. Since that transformative childhood visit, I have dedicated my life to the sciences and education. I am an astrophysics graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder and have conducted research at Harvard University on the origins of life.

From 2013 to 2016, I served as a planetarium director at the Fiske Planetarium in Boulder, acting as head laserist, navigating educational shows, and delivering live presentations to thousands of local space enthusiasts. I later honed these skills at the Charles-Hayden Planetarium in Boston. Over the past seven years, I have also served as a professional academic tutor, providing high-level STEM and macroeconomics mentorship to over 600 students.

I know exactly what it takes to operate a world-class immersive theater, and I know exactly how much our local students need it.

The Mission: A Mobile Universe

Our goal is to raise $56,000 to purchase a state-of-the-art Digitalis Educational Dome and projection system.

Instead of being locked into a single building, this portable, inflatable planetarium will allow us to become a mobile hub for immersive learning. We will travel directly to schools, community centers, and local events throughout Lakewood and Jefferson County, rehumanizing education and offering a world-class perspective to the Front Range.

What Your Donation Funds

Every dollar raised goes directly toward the hard assets required to launch this mobile theater:

The Digitarium Projection System & Software: The technological engine required to render the cosmos in stunning, scientifically accurate detail (Quoted at ~$31,300).

The Inflatable Dome: A highly durable, portable theater that can accommodate entire classrooms of students.

Educational Media & Licensing: The foundational programming to teach everything from basic astronomy to complex astrophysics.

We are not asking for a handout; we are asking you to help us invest in the intellectual infrastructure of Jefferson County. Let’s bring the universe back to Lakewood. Don't let the lights go out on our children's curiosity.

Thank you for your support, your shares, and your belief in the stars.

"No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made to your GoFundMe"