The CUBEX star projector has unique characteristics. It is a star projector that projects more than two thousand stars down to, and including, magnitude 5. It includes an independent projector that shows the Sun, the Moon and the five naked eye planets: from Mercury to Saturn.

A motor smoothly recreates movemenet of Earth’s diurnal motion allowing it to simulate the rotation of the celestial sphere. Its speed, from 1 rotation every 8 minutes to 2 rotations per minute, can be regulated by the operator. The direction of rotation can be reversed to show the rotation of the celestial sphere in both hemispheres. This feature, combined with the CUBEX star projector’s capacity to project the celestial sphere from any latitude of 0 to 90 degrees (Equator to the poles), allows the CUBEX to represent the sky and its movements as it would be seen from any point on the surface of the Earth.

The technological heart of the CUBEX is its projection cube on whose six faces are accurately and sharply placed all the stars in both hemispheres down to magnitude 5. With a quick and simple change of cubes, both the Northern and the Southern Hemispheres can be fully viewed and enjoyed.

Even though each cube has the stars of both celestial hemispheres represented, if one has the Northern Hemisphere cube and inclines it to view the sky as seen from the equator (0 degrees latitude), there will be limitations for viewing the stars close to the South celestial pole. If one wishes to see these stars, it will be necessary to change cubes from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere one (whose north celestial pole stars are also invisible).

The projector also includes 2 fully adjustable gooseneck side lamps for reading and drawing ease inside the dome. This lighting is used at the beginning and at the conclusion of the program and can be used during a presentation if it is necessary for the audience/students to read or take notes. The brightness of these "house" lights is controlled by a dimmer switch on the console.

In the interior of the cube is a high intensity halogen lamp that emits sufficient light to generate crisp and brilliant star images. The brightness of the projector lamp is fully adjustable. A cut-off shade located around and at the same height as the lamp filament defines the horizon below which the stars are not projected. A gimbaled lamp housing system keeps the projector in a vertical position and generates the horizon for any latitude.

A secondary planet projector is located underneath the star projector. This projector can show the five visible (naked eye) planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn; in addition, it can project the Sun, and the Moon with its phases.

This projector is separate from the star projector which means that one can show either the stars or the planets independent of each other. Brightness controls for star and planet projectors are also independent. Despite this autonomy, the planet projector is synchronized with the star projector to enable the planets to move along with diurnal rotation.

Small mirrors on the planet projector allow the planets to be moved in Declination and Right Ascension and to be placed in their correct position among the stars. The projectors are grouped along the ecliptic pole opposite that of the star projector cube in order to more easily position the planets within the zodiacal strip.

Having an independent planet projector frees the star cube from having to physically support extra components. This design permits the star projector to do its job of projecting all the stars in the celestial sphere without any obstruction from cumbersome add-ons.

The CUBEX comes with an ideal accessory to illustrate the constellations: a hand held projector/pointer. One standard-sized photographic slide can be inserted at a time into the projector to show a constellation outline or any other image the operator wishes and its brightness can be regulated. It can also be fixed onto a table platform (included) and used as a permanent projector. A hand-held projector gives the operator the flexibility of being able to move the image around and to "animate" the mythological figure on the dome (particularly effective when telling the story of why and how a constellation got where it is!).

The CUBEX star projector with included accesories and the dome blower come in a "heavy duty" case able to support any type of transportation situation, be it automobile, bus, airplane, etc. The aluminum reinforced main case comes with wheels incorporated at its base for easy transportation by one person.

The carrying case serves as a platform on which to install the projector once inside the dome. Also it can be used by the operator to place any accessories one may need during the presentation.