Swami Vivekananda 3D Planetarium at Pilikula to open on March 01

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb 24, 2018 :  The 3D Planetarium at Dr Shivaram Karanth Biological Park in Pilikula  opens its gates to public  this year. A source working on the Swami Vivekananda 3D Planetarium said everything has been set up for the planetarium, and that a trial run for the same is on, and that it may be inaugurated on March 01. It will be India’s first such planetarium.

The planetarium, named after Swami Vivekananda to mark his 150th birth anniversary in 2013, will have all modern innovations coupled with 3D technology to present students and enthusiasts the best learning experience on Planet.Work on the planetarium commenced in 2014 with an allocation of Rs 22.5 crore. Currently, the cost has gone up to Rs 36.5 crore. A five-year maintenance contract will be given to a USA-based company, which is supplying technologies for the planetarium.
 
Mangaluru is the first city in the country to have this facility on par with cities such as Hong Kong, Macau. The Planetarium will have all modern innovations coupled with 3D technology to present students and enthusiasts the best learning experience on Planet. The Planetarium in Bengaluru is concentric with central projection and circular seating. However, the new Pilikula Planetarium will be of unidirectional with a dome diameter of 18 meters. About 150 - 180 seats may be fixed based on the size and type of chairs. Currently, there are around 20 planetariums in the world with 3D technology.

There will be six shows in a day, each show of a duration of 25 minutes. Online tickets are also available through bookmyshow.com. Ticket cost for the planetarium will be Rs 60 for adults and Rs 25 for children. We also have a plan to launch single ticket of Rs 100 so that families can experience the entire Pilikula for a day. If it works out well then we will continue it for a long-term.

Deputy Commissioner Shashikanth Senthil, MLA JR Lobo, Director of Pilikula Science Center Dr K V Rao, V Prasanna and others were present.