Indira Gandhi Planetarium, Planetarium in Patna, India
The Indira Gandhi Planetarium is a space science center in Patna, Bihar, built around a dome-shaped main structure. Inside, a projection hall features a spherical screen where astronomical images and simulations are displayed to seated audiences.
Chief Minister Satyendra Narain Sinha conceived the Indira Gandhi Planetarium in 1989, the year construction began under the Bihar Council on Science & Technology at a cost of about ₹110 million. It opened to the public on 1 April 1993 and was named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Modernisation began in 2021, and in 2023 six Christie projectors installed by ZEISS replaced the opto-mechanical celluloid system; work finished in April 2024.
The planetarium draws school groups and families who come to watch shows about the night sky and the solar system together. Presentations run in both Hindi and English, making the experience accessible to a wide local audience.
The center welcomes visitors of all ages, from school children to adults. Visiting on a weekday tends to be quieter, as weekends and public holidays attract larger groups.
The building is shaped like a cross-section of an apple, a form chosen to reference Newton and gravity. The sources do not record this detail, but the planetarium's 2023 upgrade replaced its celluloid opto-mechanical projector with six Christie projectors installed by ZEISS, adding high-resolution 3D projection under a new hanging dome screen.
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