Mysuru has opened India’s first tilted 8K LED dome planetarium, a Rs 115 crore facility designed to expand immersive astronomy education and scientific outreach in Karnataka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 160-seat COSMOS planetarium at the foothills of Chamundi Hill.
Jointly developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics and the University of Mysore, the facility uses 6,150 individually controlled LED panels instead of conventional projection systems. The panels carry 4.2 crore pixels across a curved dome measuring 15 metres in diameter, producing high-contrast visuals across the entire sky theatre.
The technology allows the planetarium to integrate real-time data into its displays, according to details released about the facility. Its active pixel array is described as exceeding the standard 8K benchmark, while the LED-based system is intended to provide seamless visuals without the limitations associated with projector-based planetariums.
The sky theatre will screen an in-house film examining the links between Mysuru’s history and astronomy. Shows will be available in Kannada, English and Hindi, giving the facility a multilingual public education role in addition to its technology showcase.
Speaking at the inauguration, Modi emphasised the importance of scientific research, innovation and opportunities for young people. He also pointed to the expanding role of India’s space sector, including private companies and start-ups developing and launching rockets and satellites. The prime minister said satellite applications support activities including fishing, real-time train tracking and crop insurance.
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman described the planetarium as an addition to Mysuru’s established tradition of learning and scholarship. She said COSMOS could make astronomy more accessible through immersive learning and help children understand stars and planets while encouraging them to ask questions.
The facility is also expected to support student mentorship and science education beyond Mysuru. Officials said the planetarium would focus on outreach to rural schools, including through Kannada-language content. This positions COSMOS not only as a visitor destination but also as part of a wider effort to connect scientific infrastructure with students outside major urban and institutional centres.
Karnataka chief minister D K Shivakumar announced state government support for a proposed COSMOS centre at Hampi. The announcement places the Mysuru facility within a possible wider network of public science infrastructure across the state, although details such as the Hampi centre’s timeline, cost and implementation arrangements were not provided.
The Mysuru planetarium has a capacity of 160 seats and is located near Chamundi Hill. Its next public-facing programme will include multilingual astronomy shows and the in-house film linking the city’s history with the study of the sky.
