Mysuru: A Mobile Digital Planetarium, mooted by the State Government to impart scientific knowledge to students of Government High Schools on Astronomy through entertainment, was launched in city yesterday at Government High School in Vinayakanagar here by Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep.

The scheme has been launched by the Department of Information Technology and Bio-technology and is said to be the first time in the country a mobile planetarium has been launched.

The entire planetarium is an inflatable huge balloon capable to seat 30 to 40 students at a time. The programme is beamed through a digital projector with a revolution of 360 degree and students can watch with a view span of 180 degree.

The mobile planetarium will visit Government High School at People’s Park today, Maharaja’s bifurcated PU College tomorrow and Government High School in Rajendranagar on Sept.11. Further programme would be notified by the DDPI regarding schools in urban and rural areas. The scheme was simultaneously launched at four regions in the State.

Chief Minister Siddharamaiah had announced the scheme on Aug.23. Totally five vehicles have been pressed for the scheme, two for Belagavi, one each for Mysuru, Bengaluru and Gulbarga regions. The cost incurred for each vehicle including equipment is Rs. 1.2 crore, explained Project Manager H. Veeresh.

DDPI Dr. B.K.S. Vardhan, BEO (North Zone) Uday Kumar, School Development Management Committee Chairman Srinivas, Head Master T.J. Anand and others were present.