3D planetarium to be ready by January end: Seetharam

The 3D Planetarium with latest world-class technical specifications, currently under construction at Pilikula near here, is expected to be thrown open to public by January end or February first week, State Minister for Science and Technology M R Seetharam said today.
Addressing reporters after reviewing the progress ofthe work, he said the planetarium would be named after Swami Vivekananda.
The planetarium, to be run after by the Pilikula Development Authority, has a capacity to seat 200people, he said.
The 3D hybrid planetarium, built at a cost of Rs 35.60 crore, was unique in terms of its latest specifications and would be unidirectional with a dome diameter of 18 metres to present modern inventions coupled with 3D technology to students and science enthusiasts.

The project started with an estimated budget of Rs24.50 crore and later extended to Rs 35.60 crore.
The new planetarium will have Megastar IIA optical projector fromOhira Tech Japan integrated with digistar and active stereo 3D8K digital planetarium system from Evans and SutherlandComputer Corporation.

Pilikula being a tourist destination with its biological park, heritage village and a science centre, wasthe ideal location for the planetarium, the minister said.
He further said 2D planetariums would be built at Hubballi,Bagalkote and Vijayapura and a mini planetarium and sciencecentre at Kodagu.
A proposal has been sent to construct a 2Dplanetarium at Gadag.