Mysuru: The city is now home to India’s first tilted 8K LED dome planetarium, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the Rs 115 crore COSMOS facility at the foothills of Chamundi Hill here Friday.The 160-seater planetarium, jointly developed by Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and University of Mysore, is one of its kind in the world in terms of its massive active pixel array and real-time data integration.Unlike conventional planetariums that rely on projectors, COSMOS uses individually controlled LED panels to produce high-resolution visuals. The dome’s 6,150 individually controlled LED panels carry 4.2 crore pixels, higher than the standard 8K benchmark, producing ultra high-contrast images seamlessly across the 15-metre diameter curved surface.Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Modi stressed the need to prioritise scientific research, innovation and opportunities for young people. He said opening up the space sector to private players had enabled companies and start-ups to develop and launch rockets and satellites.“Our satellites help fishermen, track trains real time, and provide data for crop insurance,” the PM added.The sky theatre at the planetarium will also screen an in-house film exploring the links between Mysuru’s history and astronomy, with shows in Kannada, English and Hindi.Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman described the facility as an important addition to Mysuru’s tradition of learning and scholarship. “India’s first LED dome planetarium brings many important benefits. COSMOS makes astronomy accessible through an immersive learning experience. It helps children understand stars and planets and encourages them to ask questions,” she said.Chief minister D K Shivakumar announced Karnataka govt’s support for a proposed COSMOS centre at Hampi, stressing the need to decentralise scientific infrastructure.With Kannada content and student mentorship, COSMOS is expected to take science education to rural schools.Points for GFX:160-SEATER SKY THEATREUses 6,150 individually controlled LED panels carrying 4.2 crore pixels, exceeding the standard 8K resolutionProduces ultra-high-contrast visuals seamlessly across its curved surface, unlike conventional projector-based planetariums160-seater sky theatre offers immersive astronomy experienceIn-house film to explore links between Mysuru’s history and astronomy, in Kannada, English and HindiFocus on students and rural outreach
