Hybrid Planetarium Opens in India with Zeiss Technology

The Priyadarsini Planetarium, India’s first hybrid planetarium with a tilted dome, has reopened its doors and includes technology from Carl Zeiss AG.

Priyadarsini Planetarium. Courtesy of Zeiss.

A new projection dome uses the Starmaster optomechanical planetarium projector and a digital full-dome system with nine projectors for still and video production. Housed in the state of Kerala's Science and Technology Museum, the planetarium uses the digital projection system to superimpose individual constellations and astronomical phenomena with pinpoint accuracy. This combination of analog star projection and a digital planetarium clearly presents celestial phenomena, the company said.

"This is the most advanced and versatile planetarium in India,” said museum Director Arul Jerals Prakash. “It opens up the wonders of astronomy."

The new planetarium, with a diameter of 17 m and a tilted auditorium, replaces the older, 15-m facility, which had a horizontal dome. In addition to the dome and projection technologies, Zeiss also provided sound and illumination systems for the planetarium. Shows and live presentations will be offered in English and Malayalam, the local language.

For more information, visit www.zeiss.com/planetariums.