PM Modi inaugurates India's first 8K-resolution LED Dome Planetarium in Mysuru

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated COSMOS-Mysuru, India's first 8K LED dome planetarium. The facility combines immersive technology with an extensive astronomy education and outreach programme.

In Short

• The facility offers immersive visualisations of celestial objects and astronomical phenomena
• IIA conducted over 150 outreach events, reaching more than 40,000 participants
• Programmes covered schools, workshops, lectures, technical discussions and online sessions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated COSMOS-Mysuru, India's first LED Dome Planetarium, marking a major advancement in planetarium technology and astronomy education in the country. Developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), the facility in Mysuru is among the world's first planetariums to feature an 8K-resolution LED dome.

The state-of-the-art facility is expected to transform how students, researchers and the public experience astronomy by offering immersive visualisations of the universe, celestial objects and astronomical phenomena.

Unlike conventional planetariums that typically use projection systems, the LED dome technology offers high-resolution visuals across the entire dome, enabling audiences to explore complex astronomical concepts through immersive presentations.

BUILDING AN ASTRONOMY CULTURE IN MYSURU

The planetarium is also the culmination of a three-year astronomy education and outreach initiative undertaken by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics across Mysuru city and the surrounding rural district.

Recognising the relatively low level of astronomy engagement in the region, the institute launched a comprehensive programme to build awareness and prepare communities to make effective use of the facility.

Over three years, more than 150 individual events were organised, reaching over 40,000 participants across diverse communities. The programmes included activities in rural and urban schools, student and teacher workshops, public lectures, technical discussions and online sessions conducted in both English and Kannada.

The institute also established collaborations with local stakeholders and developed networks to strengthen astronomy education across the district.

An accompanying radio programme further expanded the outreach, with more than 60 episodes broadcast in Kannada and English.

BEYOND PUBLIC ASTRONOMY SHOWS

With the planetarium now opening up new possibilities, the institute plans to transition towards a more structured programme of activities based at its campus.

These will include academic training workshops, data-analysis programmes and the use of the LED dome as a teaching tool to help students understand astronomical observations and scientific concepts.

The initiative aims to take astronomy education beyond conventional classroom teaching and create opportunities for hands-on learning.

With its advanced display technology and an established outreach network, COSMOS-Mysuru is expected to become an important centre for astronomy education, scientific engagement and public understanding of the universe.

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