Pilikula 3D planetarium to be ready by May 2016

Pilikula 3D planetarium to be ready by May 2016

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru : Official information indicates that the Swami Vivekananda 3D Planetarium at Dr Shivaram Karanth Biological Park in Pilikula near here will be ready for the public use by May 2016.

The planetarium is built at a cost of Rs 24.50 crore, named after Swami Vivekananda to mark his 150th birth anniversary in 2013. The Planetarium will have all modern innovations coupled with 3D technology to present students and enthusiasts the best learning experience on Planets. While the construction of buildings for the 3D planetarium is 70% complete, global tenders will be invited through e-procurement for equipment soon.

Then chief minister Jagadish Shettar had laid the foundation stone for the 3D Planetarium at Dr Shivaram Karanth Biological Park in Pilikula in March 2013. It was supposed to be completed in two years’ time, but it will overrun that deadline by a year.

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.

Dr Shivarama Karanth Pilikula Nisargadhama director (training) KV Rao said the instruments will be procured through global e-tendering. ``The instruments will come from either from Japan, France, United States or Germany,’’ he said. The 3D Planetarium will be the first of its kind in India considering its technical specifications. The 3D Planetarium is different in terms of its technical specifications. 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. The Warsaw-based ’Heavens of Copernicus’ was the first one to introduce it in Europe. While many adopted "Passive 3D systems", the Eye of Montsec, the UNESCO-supported Starlight Foundation granted Montsec Observatory, Barcelona, is equipped with next generation technology "Active 3D".

Rao said after the equipment which costs around Rs 10 crore are procured, the nature of show content will decide what type of system Pilikula planetarium will have and it will be decided by an expert committee.