Did you know that Swami Vivekananda Planetarium at Pilikula Nisargadhama in Mangalore is the first state-of-the-art 3D planetarium in India?

Swami Vivekananda Planetarium at Pilikula in Mangalore is the first 3D planetarium in India. It is not only the first planetarium but the only such a planitarium in the country with hybrid modern technology innovations coupled with 3D technology of 8K digital and opto-mechanical (hybrid) projection system. It is part of the Pilikula Nisargadhama (covering an area of 370 acres (150 ha)), which is also named Dr Shivaram Karanth Biological Park. It is planned and built to provide the best learning experience for students and enthusiasts on Zodiacal system of Planets. Its creation is attributed to Pilikula Regional Science Centre.

It was initiated in 2013 to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda by the then chief minister of Karnataka Jagadish Shettar who had laid the foundation stone to build it in two years at a cost of Rs 35.69 crores but the project overran its schedule completion, and the planetarium could be opened only on 1 March 2018. It was set up with grants from KSTePS (Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society) of the Karnataka government. The Planetarium's objective is intended to give the viewers (students in particular and the public) to see the stars and planetary systems in the universe.[3][4][5] Its creation is attributed to Pilikula Regional Science Centre.

The Planetarium has a dome diameter of 18 m (59 ft) and a seating capacity of 170; the seats can be tilted by 15 degrees to enhance the viewing experience of the audeince. It has a Megastar IIA optical projector integrated with digistar and active stereo 3D 8K digital planetarium system manufactured in USA by Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation.The projected 3 dimensional images on the screen are a part of new level of full dome innovation.[2][3] [9] The 32 lenses of the 8K ultra-bright LED-based projector, from Ohira Tech Japan, is said tio be capable of beaming "20 million stars uniformly and seamlessly over the nano-seam panels of the dome, thereby avoiding the overlapping of projected visuals.

The planetarium inaugurated on 1 March 2018 started the first public show on 2 March 2018. Eight shows are held daily and each show lasts 25 minutes. Some of the 3D shows screened are We are stars, Dawn of the space age and Mysteries of the unseen world.

The planetarium is 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) away from the Mangalore city . 

Source: Extracts from artcile in Wikipedia posted by me on 29 January 2023

Narasipur Char