Imagine witnessing the awe-inspiring beauty of the night sky with all its celestial wonders coming alive in a dazzling, true-to-life display before your very eyes. India’s one-of-a-kind LED dome planetarium promises just that, and it’s set to be ready by 2024. It promises to bring the celestial wonders of the universe to life in a dazzling display.
The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru is managing the project and has awarded the work to a consortium led by Japan’s Konika Minolta Inc, along with RSA Cosmos of France and Maharashtra-based Orbit Animate. The project, which costs Rs 85 crore will be built on a 3-acre land at the University of Mysore (UoM) campus.
Unique Hemispherical Dome
Unlike traditional planetariums, India’s one-of-a-kind LED dome planetarium will not rely on special projectors to cast images and movies on a passive dome. The 15-meter diameter dome will be made of panels of LED lights, directly controlled by a computer system, providing superior contrast and 8K resolution. The dome, inclined at a 15-degree tilt to the ground, will accommodate 150 visitors at a time.
Revolutionizing the Sky Theatre Experience
The new planetarium will revolutionize the sky theatre experience, providing precision-oriented true-to-life images that offer better contrast and eliminate problems of conventional projection systems, where images often get washed out. There are only two such installations in the world in Japan for public viewing, and both are operated by the same company.
Beyond Science Outreach
Apart from science outreach, the planetarium will also act as a national data analysis training and resource center for students and teachers. The institute has already begun conducting various astronomy outreach activities and data analysis workshops to build content.
Building the Future of Sky Theatre
The LED dome planetarium is a remarkable innovation that showcases the exciting future of sky theatre. With the advancement of technology, new possibilities have opened up to provide an immersive experience to people, enabling them to connect with the vast universe and its mysteries. The planetarium is an opportunity to cater to the burgeoning interest in science among people, as nations set their eyes on the distant universe, and new celestial observations pave the way for discoveries.
