PM Modi inaugurates India's first LED dome planetarium in Mysuru
The COSMOS-Mysuru Planetarium, developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, serves as an astronomy education and research centre.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the COSMOS-Mysuru Planetarium at the University of Mysore campus on Friday. According to Moneycontrol, the facility is India's first LED dome planetarium.
Located at the foothills of Chamundi Hills in Karnataka, the centre was built by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA). It is designed for astronomy education, research, and training.
The facility features a 15-metre tilted dome consisting of approximately 6,150 panels with 4.2 crore individual LEDs. Unlike conventional planetariums that use projectors on a passive dome, these LED panels can be controlled in real time to provide an immersive experience.
The Sky Theatre will screen professionally produced astronomy programmes and an in-house film regarding the connection between the history of Mysuru and astronomy. Shows will be available in Kannada, English, and Hindi.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who attended the ceremony alongside Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, said the planetarium is an important addition to the city's tradition of scholarship. She stated that the centre makes astronomy accessible and helps children understand stars and planets.
Sitharaman also credited the scientists, engineers, architects, and construction teams for the achievement. She noted that the facility adds to Karnataka's presence in sectors such as aerospace, biotechnology, and space technology.