Indira Gandhi Planetarium

The Indira Gandhi Planetarium (ISO: Indirā Gāndhī Tārāmaṇḍal), also known as the Patna Planetarium (ISO: Paṭnā Tārāmaṇḍal), is located in Patna's Indira Gandhi Science Complex.[2] The planetarium was constructed through Bihar Council on Science & Technology at a total cost of about ₹110 million (equivalent to ₹1.2 billion or US$15 million in 2023).[3] It was conceptualised in 1989 by Bihar Chief Minister Shri Satyendra Narain Sinha with construction[4] commencing in the same year, and opened for the public from 1 April 1993.[3] It is named after senior Indian National Congress leader and former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi.

Indira Gandhi Planetarium
Indirā Gāndhī Tārāmaṇḍal
Established20 July 1989
LocationIndira Gandhi Science Complex, Patna, Bihar
Coordinates25.611°N 85.144°E / 25.611; 85.144
TypePlanetarium [1]
Visitors985,100 (2007)
DirectorDepartment of Science & Technology, Bihar Government

The Indira Gandhi Planetarium is one of the largest planetariums in Asia. It attracts many domestic as well as foreign tourists. The planetarium has regular film shows on subjects related to astronomy. It also holds exhibitions, which attract many visitors.[5]

The planetarium uses traditional opto-mechanical projection of celluloid film.[6]

Criticism

In contrast to more modern digital projectors, the opto-mechanical system uses films that are difficult to change. As a consequence, the same film may be shown for years.[6]

Modernisation

In 2021, modernisation works were taken up for Patna Planetarium.[2][7] Patna Taramandal is undergoing a major revamp, and will be equipped with an advanced projection system, acoustic sound and new hanging dome-shaped screen.[8] A high-capacity optical telescope will also be set up on its premises.[9][10]

Competition

The first digital planetarium of Bihar was planned to open in late 2016 at the premises of Shrikrishna Science Centre near Gandhi Maidan in Patna.[6] The planetarium has been developed at a cost of ₹50 million (equivalent to ₹72 million or US$900,000 in 2023) and is equipped with a Carl Zeiss digital projector system.[11]

See also

References
  1. "Aplf-planetariums.info". Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2008.
  2. "Gear up to view cosmos as Patna planetarium to reopen in July".
  3. "The Planetarium". Archived from the original on 10 April 2009.
  4. "The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Bihar | Planetarium loses star shine". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2010.
  5. "Planetarium". Archived from the original on 16 April 2009.
  6. "Digital show for science lovers - May-end date for planetarium launch". 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 12 May 2016.
  7. "MoU set to be inked today for modernisation of planetarium".
  8. "Dome-shaped screen from US being installed at planetarium in Patna".
  9. "Pushback seats, hanging domescreen at Patna planetarium soon".
  10. "Patna: March 2023 deadline for renovation of planetarium".
  11. "State's first digital planetarium on cards in Patna | Patna News - Times of India". The Times of India.


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