The Swami Vivekananda Planetarium at the Dr. Shivarama Karantha Pilikula Nisargadhama here will be inaugurated on March 1.

The planetarium, on the premises of Regional Science Centre, will be thrown open to public from March 2.

According to Sasikanth Senthil S., Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada and chairman of the governing council of the nisargadhama, it is the first planetarium in the country having active 3D, 8K digital and opto-mechanical (hybrid) projection system.

Addressing presspersons after a preview show at the planetarium on Saturday, he said there would be six shows daily. The entry fee would be ₹60 per adult per show and ₹25 for children. People can book online tickets through ‘BookMyShow’ from February 27.

For those who attend the inaugural ceremony on Thursday, free passes would be given for the next two day shows, he said.

Mr. Senthil said the nisargadhama would introduce a comprehensive fee package of ₹100 per head per person from March 1. With this, visitors can see all tourist attractions inside the nisargadhama. It applies to watching the science show at the planetarium. However, the single ticket facility for each tourist attraction like for the zoo, science centre, lake garden and boating, botanical garden and cultural village would continue.

The Deputy Commissioner said a digital gallery would be set up in the planetarium this year.

He said Antrix Corporation Ltd., the commercial arm of ISRO, would organise an exhibition at the venue on the inaugural day. There would be demonstration of water rocket by ISRO.

J.R. Lobo, MLA, Mangaluru City South, said the planetarium has cost ₹36 crore.

He said the Pilikula Development Authority would be constituted this year as both Houses of the State legislature have approved the Bill to this effect.

Uncomfortable seats

Swami Vivekananda Planetarium has a 170-seating capacity. But the seats in the first three rows are the most uncomfortable for viewers, who do not get a full view of the 18 diameter dome during the science show.

During the preview on Saturday, reporters in the first three rows were not able to push the seats back to a comfortable level to get a full view of the dome. One had to either turn their head either to the right or left of the seat by taking their head out of the headrest, which is not flexible.

Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil S. said it could be corrected as seats could be tilted back to the comfortable level. Terming it a minor issue, he said it would be done before the planetarium is opened to the public.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mangaluru – February 24th, 2018