M P Birla planetarium attracts 1 million visitors in last 17

The new look M P Birla Planetarium, the first public planetarium in Asia, has been able to attract one million visitors after it reopened 17 months ago, director of the planetarium, Debiprosad Duari, has said.

The planetarium was shut-down in March 2015 for renovation and had reopened on July 22, 2017.

About one million people visited the revamped planetarium with the shows having generated tremendous interest among the viewers, especially students, Duari said.

The students are offered a special discount when they visit the planetarium in a group of more than 25 students. They have to carry a letter from the head of the institution where they study, he said.

The planetarium was now conducting shows with the help of the most modern version of an 'opto mechanical projector', Duari told PTI on Saturday.

Nine ultra high resolution digital projectors, named 'Velvet', were also being used, he said.

"We have installed the latest generation Hybrid Projection System, manufactured by he Carl Zeiss Company of Germany.

"Installation of these projectors enable us to depict the night sky as it appears to the naked eye," Duari said.

The planetarium was now planning to introduce new programmes in the New Year to meet the curiosity of the people about the "amazing world of astronomy and help in moulding a scientific outlook," he said.

Built in 1962, the planetarium is the first public planetarium in Asia and the second largest in the world. A landmark in Kolkata, it used to attract close to seven lakh visitors annually before it was shutdown for renovation.