Mysuru has a new window to the universe. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the COSMOS-Mysuru Planetarium on Friday, November 13, opening India’s first LED dome planetarium to the public and giving the heritage city one of the most advanced astronomy centres in the world.
The inauguration was the centrepiece of the Prime Minister’s visit to Mysuru, coming hours after he launched infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 15,600 crore in Bengaluru and inaugurated the elevated section of Namma Metro’s Pink Line. In Mysuru, he first took part in a tree plantation drive under the Bharat Van programme before unveiling the planetarium at the University of Mysore campus and addressing the gathering.
A dome made of light, not projectors
What sets COSMOS-Mysuru apart is the way it shows the sky. Conventional planetariums use projectors to throw images onto a dome. This one turns the dome itself into the screen.
The Sky Theatre houses a 15-metre dome tilted at 15 degrees, built from around 6,150 LED panels carrying roughly 4.2 crore individual LEDs, or 42.7 million pixels. The result is visuals sharper than 8K resolution, with stars, planets, eclipses and comets rendered in deep, vivid detail. The theatre seats around 160 visitors at a time.
Built by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in partnership with the University of Mysore, the facility is among the world’s first LED dome planetariums. It 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.
The three-storey centre stands on about 3.5 acres provided by the University of Mysore at its Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Centre for Higher Learning campus, at the foothills of Chamundi Hills. It was built at a cost of around Rs 115 crore.
What visitors will see inside
The planetarium opens with a specially produced 12-minute introductory film, “Our Home, Our Cosmos”, which traces Mysuru’s cultural heritage and its connection with science and astronomy. Two more programmes follow: “Cosmos Odyssey”, which traces how humanity’s understanding of the universe has grown, and “Voyager”, built around historic space missions. Shows will be available in English, Kannada and Hindi.
Beyond the dome, the complex has two interactive exhibition halls, a lecture hall that seats more than 150 people, a training centre and a recording studio. A museum will display artefacts from IIA observatories along with geological and biological specimens. Outside, visitors will find astronomy models inspired by Jantar Mantar, ISRO exhibits and an open-air amphitheatre.
More than a tourist attraction
The centre is designed to work as a science education and training hub, not just a place to watch the stars. Officials said it will run astronomy programmes, telescope observation sessions and teacher-training workshops, with a special focus on students from rural areas.
The project has been years in the making. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman laid its foundation stone in March 2022 and contributed Rs 5 crore from her Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme funds. She was present in Mysuru on Friday for the opening.
For Mysuru, the planetarium adds a major science destination to a city better known for its palace and Dasara. For students across Karnataka, it puts a world-class astronomy facility within reach, one that teaches in Kannada as well as English and Hindi.
What happens next
The University of Mysore will run the facility day to day, including its public programming and academic activities. Details of regular show timings, ticketing and the programme calendar are expected to be announced in the coming days.
The opening also caps a busy day for the Prime Minister in Karnataka, which included the Pink Line metro launch, the flagging off of the Bengaluru-Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express and the inauguration of four redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
FAQs
Where is the COSMOS-Mysuru Planetarium located?
On the University of Mysore campus at the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Centre for Higher Learning, at the foothills of Chamundi Hills in Mysuru.
What makes it different from other planetariums?
It is India’s first LED dome planetarium. Instead of projectors, the 15-metre dome itself is made of around 6,150 LED panels with 42.7 million pixels, producing visuals sharper than 8K.
How many people can watch a show at once?
The Sky Theatre seats around 160 visitors per show.
In which languages are shows available?
Shows will be screened in English, Kannada and Hindi.
Who built the planetarium?
The Indian Institute of Astrophysics built it in partnership with the University of Mysore, with support from the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Atomic Energy and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser.
The dome is lit, the shows are ready, and Mysuru’s sky just got a lot closer.
