PM Modi Inaugurates COSMOS-Mysuru Planetarium, India’s First LED Dome Planetarium in Karnataka

Key Features of India’s First LED Dome Planetarium

Here are key features of India’s first LED dome planetarium:

1. Location and Builders

The planetarium is on the University of Mysore campus, at the foot of Chamundi Hill. The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) built it with the University of Mysore.

2. Technology and Seating

• A tilted dome 15 metres wide
• Over 6,000 LED panels with about 4.2 crore LEDs
• 8K-quality visuals of around 42 megapixels, with no projector needed
• 168 seats

3. Shows on Offer

The first shows are “Our Home, Our Cosmos” (on Mysuru’s history and astronomy), “Cosmos Odyssey” and “Voyager”. They run in Kannada, English and Hindi.

Main Objective of Opening COSMOS-Mysuru Planetarium

The planetarium aims to make learning about space exciting for young people. PM Modi asked the COSMOS team to arrange regular visits for school and college students from the region. He said it adds to Mysuru’s long record in education, from the University of Mysore to the Wadiyar family’s role in setting up the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.

What Did PM Modi Say on India’s First LED Dome Planetarium?

1. Science and Spirituality Together

PM Modi said Indian traditions of science and spirituality have always grown side by side. He pointed to ancient scholars like Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Bhaskaracharya and Nilakantha Somayaji, who studied the sky without modern tools.

2. India’s Space Progress

He listed Chandrayaan-3 (first landing near the Moon’s south pole), Aditya-L1 (India’s first space-based solar observatory) and space docking and undocking (India is the fourth country to do it). He said lessons from an Indian astronaut’s recent International Space Station visit will help Gaganyaan, India’s human spaceflight mission.

3. Science for Society

Modi noted that over one crore students have benefited from more than 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs. He also mentioned the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Scheme, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation and the “One Nation One Subscription” scheme for research journals. He said India’s slogan has grown to “Jai Anusandhan”.

He said the planetarium’s biggest success would be children who visit it today returning one day as scientists.