PM Modi inaugurates COSMOS-Mysuru planetarium with 15-metre LED dome
The facility at the University of Mysore is India's first LED dome planetarium featuring 8K-resolution visuals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the COSMOS-Mysuru Planetarium at the University of Mysore campus in Karnataka. According to the Times of India, the Prime Minister shared pictures of the facility on Instagram, describing it as a must-visit and a remarkable addition to India's scientific landscape.
The facility, which stands for Cosmology Education and Research Training Center, is India's first LED dome planetarium. Located near the foothills of Chamundi Hills, the centrepiece is a 15-metre tilted LED dome that uses 6,150 LED panels and 4.2 crore individual LEDs to provide 8K-resolution visuals.
Unlike conventional planetariums that use projectors, this dome displays visuals directly across its LED surface. The Sky Theatre will screen astronomy programmes in Kannada, English, and Hindi, covering subjects such as stars, planets, and galaxies.
The project was developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the University of Mysore. Beyond being a tourist attraction, it is intended to serve as a centre for astronomy education, research, and training for students and teachers.
The larger facility plans to include an astronomy museum, exhibition halls, lecture halls, classrooms, and training laboratories. The IIA aims to use the centre to encourage interest in STEM subjects and astronomy among the public and students.