Mahesh Sharma, the MoS for Culture (Independent Charge), Tourism (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation has inaugurated the first ever Science Centre and Planetarium set up by the National Council of Science Museums in the Union Territory of Puducherry. The Science Center and Planetarium has been set up with an expense of 5.5 crore rupees. It is the 47th Science Museum in the country. It has interactive exhibition galleries on Marine Biology and Fun Science, in addition to a 8 meter dome digital planetarium and an open-air science park. The planetarium can accommodate 55 people at a time.

In the world of planetariums, projection mapping technology has made it possible to experience space while we are here on earth. Constructing a planetarium is not an easy undertaking, let alone the cost. Also, projectors are a planetarium’s most significant piece of equipment because they give the illusion of being in space. These are also not inexpensive items. Depending on the model, planetarium projectors can cost as much as a million dollars. In many cases, projection mapping is what makes the difference and as such the contribution and effort of firms like Immersive-Me and others like them who make this possible cannot be understated. It is this understanding and expertise in producing mesmerizing dome projections, which when combined with an informative presentation of the cosmos, tends to leave a lasting impression on the hearts and minds of a planetarium’s audience.

The 48th Science Centre will be opened shortly in Dehradun. The National Council of Science Museum is currently in the process of developing 21 more science centres in different parts of the country.

Tidbits

• The oldest and still working planetarium can be found in the Dutch town Franeker. It was built by Eise Eisinga (1744–1828) in the living room of his house.
• Planetarium domes range in size from 3 to 35 m in diameter, accommodating from 1 to 500 people.
• Archimedes is attributed with possessing a primitive planetarium device that could predict the movements of the Sun and theMoon and the planets.

GK Questions

• What is the name of the first Planatarium established in Asia? Nehru Planatarium in Pune.
• Who was the first Indian to travel in Space? Rakesh Sharma.
• The Headquarters of ISRO is in ______ ? Bengaluru.