Mysuru: The state-of-the-art COSMOS-Mysuru Planetarium is one of the world’s first LED dome planetariums set to offer an immersive visual experience with resolution exceeding 8K.

Developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in partnership with the University of Mysore, the facility has been supported by the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Atomic Energy and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman contributed Rs. 5 crore through her MPLADS funds and laid the foundation stone in 2022.

The Planetarium will be inaugurated by PM Modi tomorrow between 4 pm and 5.45 pm.

The main attraction is a 15-metre tilted LED dome at the Sky Theatre, which can accommodate around 160 visitors. Unlike conventional planetariums that use projectors, the facility uses 6,148 LED panels powered by approximately 42.7 million pixels to deliver high-resolution visuals.

Screening of 12-minute introductory film

The planetarium will screen a specially produced 12-minute introductory film, ‘Our Home, Our Cosmos’, highlighting Mysuru’s cultural heritage and its association with science and astronomy.

Other programmes include ‘Cosmos Odyssey’, tracing humanity’s understanding of the universe, and ‘Voyager’, based on the historic space missions. Shows will be available in English, Kannada and Hindi.

The facility also houses two interactive exhibition halls, a lecture hall with seating for over 150 people, a training centre and a modern recording studio. A museum will display artefacts from IIA observatories, along with geological and biological specimens.

Outdoor attractions include astronomy models inspired by Jantar Mantar, ISRO exhibits and an open-air amphitheatre. The centre plans to conduct astronomy programmes, telescope observations, teacher-training workshops and science outreach activities, particularly for students in rural areas.

Officials expect the facility to strengthen Mysuru’s position as a centre for science education and attract more science enthusiasts and tourists to the city.