Spatial Analysis of Planetarium Service Areas:

A Case Study in the Eastern Part of Tokyo Prefecture

Abstract

　This paper attempts to analyze the service areas of planetarium projection services using examples of the eastern part of Tokyo Prefecture. By focusing particularly on the users, providing methods, and purposes of use to the services, three types of planetarium services are considered: 1) the general use of fixed planetariums by individuals, 2) the educational use of fixed planetariums by groups, and 3) the educational use of mobile planetariums by groups. Using GIS, distribution maps of users (individuals and elementary schools) are depicted, and primary and secondary service areas (radii of circles including 60％ and 80％ of all users, respectively) are defined. It is found that the general use of fixed planetariums by individuals forms the secondary service area of about 10 km. On the other hand, the educational use of fixed planetarium by groups forms a secondary service area of about 5 km. The different size of such service areas is related to the restrictions on access to the services by individuals and groups. The narrow service area of educational use by group forms a kind of blank area of service, and a mobile planetarium business becomes viable at expanding the secondary service area of about 30 km.