Prime Minister Modi opens India's first LED dome planetarium in Mysuru

UPDATE - follow-up to Modi in Mysuru: COSMOS Planetarium a new chapter in India's scientific journey, says PM | LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the COSMOS LED Dome Planetarium in Mysuru on November 13, 2026, alongside launching multiple major transport and infrastructure projects worth over ₹15,600 crore in Karnataka.

Project Details

Developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics on the University of Mysore campus at the foothills of Chamundi Hills, the facility features a 15-metre tilted dome built with roughly 6,150 panels and 4.2 crore individual LEDs. It includes a Sky Theatre with seating for about 160 people, exhibition halls, an astronomy museum, and training facilities to promote space education. The centre will initially screen a 12-minute introductory show titled 'Our Home, Our Cosmos' in English, Kannada, and Hindi, alongside licensed productions named 'Cosmos Odyssey' and 'Voyager'.

Transport and Demands

Earlier in Bengaluru, Mr. Modi flagged off the Pink Line Metro and the Bengaluru-Mangaluru-Goa Vande Bharat Express while inaugurating four redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Upon his arrival at HAL Airport, he was received by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Governor Sudha Yadav, Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna, and Bengaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje. During the engagements, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar submitted a memorandum seeking greater Central funding for Metro projects, pointing out that the State bears over 80 percent of the financial burden. The Chief Minister also raised demands regarding drought relief, faster project clearances, the Mekedatu project, and concerns over the Kasturirangan Committee report on the Western Ghats.

Context

India has a rich historical tradition in astronomy dating back to ancient scholars like Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Bhaskaracharya, and Nilakantha Somayaji. Modern installations like the COSMOS Planetarium aim to bridge heritage with advanced technology to inspire the next generation of students and researchers in science.