Swami Vivekananda Planetarium
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox museum
| name = Swami Vivekananda Planetarium
| native_name = Pilikula Planetarium
| native_name_lang =
| logo = SVP at Pilikula in Mangalore.jpg
| logo_upright =
| logo_alt = Logo of the Swami Vivekananda Planetarium in Mangalore
| image = Swami Vivekananda 3D Planetarium (Dome) in Mangalore.jpg
| alt = Swami Vivekananda Planetarium - Mangalore - Dome
| caption = Dome of the planetarium
| map_type = India Karnataka#India
| map_caption = Location at Mangalore
| coordinates = {{coord|12.8686971|N|74.8384518|E|region:IN-KN|format=dec|display=inline,title}}
| established = {{Start date|2018|03|01|df=y}}
| location = Mangalore, Karnataka, {{flag|India}}
| type = Active 3D 8K digital projection
| director = K. V. Rao{{cite web
|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/planetarium-with-advanced-technology-to-become-mangalurus-major-tourist-attraction/article18620485.ece
|title=Planetarium with advanced technology to become Mangaluru's major tourist attraction
|date=30 May 2017
|access-date=19 April 2018
|newspaper=The Hindu
}}
| curator = Pilikula Regional Science Centre
| architect = Evans & Sutherland
| publictransit = City Buses 3A, 3B, 3C, 3K, 3S
}}
Swami Vivekananda Planetarium, also called Pilikula Planetarium, at Pilikula Nisargadhama in Mangalore is the first 3D planetarium in India. It is also only such planetarium in the country with hybrid modern technology innovations coupled with 3D technology of 8K digital and opto-mechanical (hybrid) projection system. It is a part of the Pilikula Nisargadhama (covering an area of {{Convert|370| acres}}), which is also named Dr Shivaram Karanth Biological Park. It is planned and built to provide the best learning experience for students and enthusiasts on Zodiacal system of planets. Its creation is attributed to Pilikula Regional Science Centre.
History
Swami Vivekananda Planetarium is the first state-of-the-art 3D planetarium in India. It was initiated in 2013 to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda by the then chief minister of Karnataka, Jagadish Shettar, who had laid the foundation stone to build it in two years at a cost of {{INRConvert|35.69|c|lk=on}}. However, the project overran its schedule completion, and the planetarium could be opened only on 1 March 2018. It was set up with grants from KSTePS (Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society) of the Karnataka government. The planetarium's objective is intended to give the viewers (students in particular and the public) to see the stars and planetary systems in the universe.{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/661383/reach-stars-3d-hybrid-planetarium.html|title=Reach for the stars at this 3D Hybrid Planetarium in Pilikula|date=24 February 2018|publisher=Deccan Herald News Service, Mangalore}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/countrys-first-3d-planetarium-inaugurated-at-pilikula/article22899334.ece|title=Country's first 3D planetarium inaugurated at Pilikula in city|date=2 March 2018|access-date=27 March 2018|newspaper=The Hindu}}{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/indias-first-3-d-planetarium-to-open-in-mangaluru-in-dec/articleshow/57653764.cms|last=Pinto|first=Stanley|title=India's first 3-D Planetarium to open in Mangaluru in Dec|date= 15 March 2017|publisher=Mangaluru News – Times of India (indiatimes.com)}} Its creation is attributed to Pilikula Regional Science Centre.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kibaDwAAQBAJ&dq=Swami+Vivekananda+Planetarium&pg=PA96|author=EduGorilla Prep Experts|
title=DRDO MTS Tier-1 Exam 2022, Multi Tasking Staff - CBT 1, 10 Full-length Mock Tests (1600+ Solved Objective Questions)|year= 2022|page=96|publisher=EduGorilla Community Pvt. Ltd.}}
The planetarium was planned and established as the first planetarium in the country with 8K digital and opto-mechanical (hybrid) projection system.{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/662329/countrys-first-planetarium-3d-hybrid.html|title=Country's first planetarium with 3D hybrid tech opens in Pilikula|date=2 March 2018|access-date=27 March 2018|newspaper=Deccan Herald}} Five technical persons were initially sent to Utah, US, for training to operate the planetarium. The planetarium also has a provision of {{INRConvert|1.5|c}} for annual maintenance.{{cite news|url=http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/news/state/mangaluru-sentosa-like-island-in-pilikula-plan-on/articleshow/58916770.cms|title=Mangaluru: Sentosa-like island in Pilikula? Plan on|date=31 May 2017|access-date=21 April 2018|publisher=Bangalore Mirror}}
==Technical specifications==
The planetarium has a dome diameter of {{convert|18|m|ft|abbr=on}} and a seating capacity of 170; the seats can be tilted by 15 degrees to enhance the viewing experience of the audience. It has a Megastar IIA optical projector integrated with digistar and active stereo 3D 8K digital planetarium system manufactured in US by Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation. The projected 3 dimensional images on the screen are a part of a new level of full dome innovation.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/3d-planetarium-at-pilikula-to-open-on-march-1/article22847437.ece|title=3D planetarium at Pilikula to open on March 1 |date=25 February 2018|access-date=20 April 2018|work=The Hindu}} The 32 lenses of the 8K ultra-bright LED-based projector, from Ohira Tech Japan, is said to be capable of beaming "20 million stars uniformly and seamlessly over the nano-seam panels of the dome, thereby avoiding the overlapping of projected visuals."
Programmes
The planetarium was inaugurated on 1 March 2018 and started the first public show on 2 March 2018. Eight shows are held daily with each show lasting 25 minutes. Some of the 3D shows screened are We are stars, Dawn of the space age and Mysteries of the unseen world.{{cite web |url=http://www.pilikularsc.com/planetarium.html|title=Welcome to Pilikula Regional Science Centre|accessdate=1 January 2020}} The shows cover space technology, planets, nature, environment science, history and geography, which are presented in English, Hindi and Kannada.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/eight-shows-on-saturdays-sundays-at-pilikula-planetarium/article22912879.ece|title=Eight shows on Saturdays, Sundays at Pilikula planetarium|date=3 March 2018|access-date=20 April 2018|newspaper=The Hindu}} The first inaugural show screened was We are stars which covers the story of space of billions of years from the time of the Big Bang to the modern day.
Access
The planetarium is located at the Pilikula Regional Science Centre at Moodushedde, {{Convert|9|km}} away from Mangalore.{{cite web |date=1 March 2018 |title=Good news for stargazers, India's first virtual 3D Planetarium comes up in Mangaluru |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/good-news-stargazers-india-s-first-virtual-3d-planetarium-comes-mangaluru-77229 |access-date=27 March 2018 |publisher=The News Minute}} which is well connected by road, rail, and air services with the rest of the country. Mangalore railway station, in the city centre, is connected to the major cities including Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi. Mangalore International Airport is located about {{Convert|7|km}} away from the city centre. By road, it is {{Convert|350| km}} west of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/how-to-reach-mangalore/articleshow/49383962.cms|title=How to Reach Mangalore by Road, Train And Air - Best Way To Reach Mangalore | date= 20 October 2015|publisher =Times of India}}
Gallery
Image:Entrance to Swami Vivekananda Planetarium at Pilikula in Mangalore.jpg|Entrance
Image:Swami Vivekananda Planetarium - Mangalore - Inside.jpg|Inside
Image:3D 8K resolution Projector at the Planetarium in Mangalore.jpg|3D 8K resolution projector
Image:Pilikula Regional Science Centre in Mangalore - 3.jpg|Planetarium viewed from the Pilikula Regional Science Centre