Swami Vivekananda Planetarium, Science museum and planetarium in Pilikula, Mangaluru, India.
Swami Vivekananda Planetarium is a public science museum in Mangaluru, in the state of Karnataka in southwestern India. It sits within the Pilikula Nisargadhama complex and features a large dome under which shows about stars, planets, and cosmic events are projected.
The planetarium opened in March 2018 as part of the celebrations marking the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Planning and construction took several years and were supported by the state government of Karnataka.
The planetarium is named after Swami Vivekananda, an Indian thinker who championed education and curiosity as core values. School groups visit regularly, making it a common first encounter with astronomy for many young people in the region.
Several shows run throughout the day, so visitors can plan their time without feeling rushed. Since the planetarium is part of the larger Pilikula Nisargadhama complex, it is worth setting aside extra time to explore the surrounding area as well.
The dome is slightly tilted and built with panels that have almost no visible joints, so the projected image covers the entire field of view without interruption. This kind of construction is relatively rare among planetariums of this size in India.
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