Ben Panfil

Ben Panfil is the Director of the Pacific Planetarium, the community-focused dome located at Digitalis headquarters in Bremerton, Washington. He presents live shows in both the fixed and portable domes, bringing immersive astronomy experiences to local schools and organizations. Beyond presenting, Ben creates original content and visuals for the dome, promotes public programs, and leads the development of new educational initiatives. He also collaborates with the Digitalis software development team, actively testing new features in Nightshade.

Ben’s journey into planetariums began while studying Animation at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. There, he discovered the creative potential of dome-based storytelling while working with the Peoria Riverfront Museum. After graduating, he joined the museum as a full-time presenter and designer, producing astronomy shows and visual content for both the planetarium and broader museum exhibits.

In 2024, Ben moved to Washington to join the Digitalis team. As an educator, he brings together artistic design and scientific curiosity to inspire wonder and deepen understanding of the universe.

His favorite subject to explore in the dome is cosmology. He enjoys helping audiences connect with the vastness of the universe and especially loves discussing the discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope, from the early cosmos to distant exoplanets.